Musical composition Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers. Although today composition is considered to consist of the manipulation of each aspect of music (harmony, melody, form, rhythm, and timbre), according to Jean Benjamin de Laborde (1780): Composition consists in two things only. Musical compositions[edit] A piece of music exists in the form of a composition in musical notation or as a single acoustic event (a live performance or recorded track). Piece is a, "general, non-technical term [that began to be] applied mainly to instrumental compositions from the 17th century onwards....other than when they are taken individually 'piece' and its equivalents are rarely used of movements in sonatas or symphonies....composers have used all these terms [in their different languages] frequently in compound forms [e.g. Composition as musical form[edit]
Music theory Music theory considers the practices and possibilities of music. It is generally derived from observation of how musicians and composers actually make music, but includes hypothetical speculation. Most commonly, the term describes the academic study and analysis of fundamental elements of music such as pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form, but also refers to descriptions, concepts, or beliefs related to music. Because of the ever-expanding conception of what constitutes music (see Definition of music), a more inclusive definition could be that music theory is the consideration of any sonic phenomena, including silence, as it relates to music. Music theory is a subfield of musicology, which is itself a subfield within the overarching field of the arts and humanities. The development, preservation, and transmission of music theory may be found in oral and practical music-making traditions, musical instruments, and other artifacts. History of music theory[edit] Fundamentals of music[edit] Play .
Music Theory & Ear Training Scales and emotions See also a post about making chords from scales. So maybe you want to write a song or an instrumental in a particular mood or style, and you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the scales. Here’s a handy guide to the commonly used scales in Western pop, rock, jazz, blues and so on. Click each image to play the scale right in your browser with the aQWERTYon. These scales have a major third (E in the key of C), which makes them feel happy or bright. Major scale Happy; can be majestic or sentimental when slow. Mixolydian mode Bluesy, rock; can also be exotic/modal. Lydian mode Ethereal, dreamy, futuristic. Lydian dominant mode Also known as the overtone scale or acoustic scale, because it is close to the first seven pitches in the natural overtone series. Phrygian dominant mode Exotic, Middle Eastern, Jewish. Harmonic major scale Majestic, mysterious. These scales have a flat third (E-flat in the key of C), which gives them a darker and more tragic feel. Natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) Dorian mode
Chord Progressions Chord progressions are the canvas on which musicians paint their masterpieces, and it’s a canvas which is a piece of art in itself. A chord progression can be subtle and in the background or it can be blatant and up front; it can be simple and catchy, or it can be technical and complex, it can stay in one key or it can change like the seasons. In any of these cases a chord progression is what drives the song as it literally shapes the music that accompanies it. Chord progressions are like a cozy home where melody and rhythm can kick their feet up. This guide is meant to inject an interest in songwriting in new and old guitarists alike, I hope that at some point after reading this you will pick up your old guitar, blow off the dust, and join me in playing music. Chord Progression Guide This handy little guide will help all musicians create their own catchy chord progressions on the fly! Major Chord Chart Above is a chord chart for the 7 most used keys. Minor Chord Chart Chord Theory
Know Every Note on the Guitar in 9 Days | Deft Digits Guitar Lessons Knowing every note on the guitar is a challenge unique to the instrument. A saxophone has only one way to finger each note, while a guitar usually has a few different strings and four fingers to choose from. String a few notes together and the permutations of how to play them will wreck your brain. Pianists have a similar problem with ten available digits, but you can memorize the notes on a keyboard in a matter of minutes; the same pattern of white and black keys repeats every octave. The challenge with navigating the guitar fretboard is its two-dimensional layout. Why Know the Whole Fretboard? If you don’t know every single note on the guitar cold, without hesitation, then I highly recommend taking a little time to get that under your belt. The primary advantage to knowing every note on the fretboard is in creation. If you haven’t started playing yet, come back to this after you’ve learned some music. Day 1: Open Strings Know your open strings like you know your alphabet. Conclusion
Outline of basic music theory | Oscar van Dillen Professional music theory: an outline of basic music theory. Preface and Chapter 1 of the Outline of basic music theory – by Oscar van Dillen ©2011-2014 The beginner’s learning book can be found at Basic elements of music theory. Overview of chapters: Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Sound and hearing Chapter 3: Musical notation Chapter 4: Basic building blocks of melody and harmony Chapter 5: Consonance and dissonance Chapter 6: Circle of fifths and transposition Chapter 7: Concerning rhythm, melody, harmony and form Chapter 8: Further study Preface This outline offers a concise and complete overview of basic music theory. In order to speed up consulting this online book, its chapters can as of now be found on separate pages; unfortunately the original one-page version exceeded acceptable download times, because of the length of the total materials presented. © Oscar van Dillen 2011-2014 Chapter 1: Introduction integrating hearing-reading-singing-writing
Random Song Title Generator - Creative Titles And Band Names | MODPlug Central Stuck on a title for your song? Need a crazy name for your band? Let the MODPlug Central title generator get your creative juices flowing with some randomly generated titles. Just click the GIVE ME A TITLE button and you will be presented with a random title - do not enter any text into the form: Just click on the button, and a song title (or band name - you be the judge) will appear in the box. The "Give Me A Title" button can be continuously pressed until you get a song title that you like. Custom Web Programming by StudioKraft.
Writing Better Songs - Part I Have you ever stopped for a moment to imagine just how many songs, in total, have been written? Consider... many thousands of years of songwriting, countless millions of songwriters during that period... there must literally have been billions of songs penned. What aspiring songwriters need to do is stop and ask themselves this question: "What can I do to make my songs stand out from all the others?" In this multi-segment feature, we'll try to go about answering that question. Types of Songs Most songs written in the last one hundred years can be loosely grouped into one of several categories; songs written around a chord progression, songs written around a melody, or songs written around a riff. Songs Written Around a Chord Progression - A favored method of songwriting by musicians like Stevie Wonder, the concept of writing around a chord progression involves initially creating an interesting series of chords, and then basing the vocal melody on that chord progression.
Writing Better Songs: Part II - Writing in Minor Keys In the previous feature, we examined the basics of writing songs in major keys, and before you tackle Part II of this feature, it's advised that you familiarize yourself with that aspect of songwriting. Sometimes, the theme or mood you wish to create with a song doesn't suit the generally "happy" sounds that a major key tends to provide. In these situations, a minor key is often the best choice for your song. Which isn't to say that a song written in a minor key has to be "sad", or that a song written in a major key need be "happy". There are thousands of songs written in major keys that certainly not uplifting (Ben Folds Five's "Brick" and Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" are two examples), just as there are many tunes written in minor keys that reflect positive, happy feelings (like Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing" or Santana's "Oye Como Va"). We've got lots more to discuss, but before we do, we need to learn what chords we can use in a minor key.
Writing Better Songs - Part III - Writing an Effective Melody To get the most out of this feature, it's suggested you read Writing in Major Keys and Writing in Minor Keys before proceeding. Writing an Effective Melody Of all the aspects involved with creating new songs, working on writing a strong melody is undoubtedly the most commonly overlooked in modern pop/rock music. This wasn't always the case; the "pop" songwriters of the 1930's and 1940's focused greatly on writing melodies. Generally, the process of writing a song is much different nowadays.
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting This easy-to-use guide will show you how to write a song, from finding a great title to writing your melody. Hands-on songwriting exercises will jump start your creativity, while ‘how-to’ video tutorials are a fun way to find out more. by Robin Frederick. What comes first, melody or lyrics? If a song genuinely expresses your feelings, then it’s a good song. So, how do you write a song that moves other people and makes them want to listen? ‣ What is song craft and why do I need it??? Good songwriters use song craft to give their songs emotional impact and create a memorable experience for listeners. The simple, time-tested ideas on this page will help you create a song that expresses your feelings and moves listeners, keeping them involved and interested in what you have to say. ‣ How does a song get started? Getting started can be one of the hardest tasks in songwriting. There’s always the temptation to jump right in and begin with the first thing that occurs to you. ‣ What happens next?
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