Here is a tutorial about the composing, orchestrating, and recording/production process. It is intended for beginner composers, orchestrators, sound-engineers, home-studio owners. A good place to start with music and to learn a few tricks that will save time and help them along the learning music composition.
Making Music Made Easy As Soup
- Ever wanted to make music but didn't know where to begin?
- Ever tried to make music, but hated the sound?
- Ever made music, but felt it was weak?
Here is a crash course on making music that works, sounds good, and brings people to the edge.
Introduction
There are three elements to making music:
- Melody,
- Harmony,
- Rhythm.
To succeed in making music that works, you need to masterfully combine these 3 elements into a magical "soup" of sound, also known as music. Let's start with some theory. First, we need to understand the role of each of these elements.
Melody
This is the substance of the "soup". If you were making Minestrone soup, this would be the vegies. If you were writing a persuasive essay, this would be the main arguments. If you were painting, this would be the subject matter. The Melody of a song is the part that you sell to your audience.
Not all songs have a melody, just like not all soups have meat (e.g. Minestrone) and not all persuasive essays have arguments (although it'd have to be a damn good essay to still be any good) and not all paintings have subject matter.
The point is, the melody is the substance. Also, a fact of little importance, melody is the only one of the three elements which alone consitutes intellectual property i.e. you can't get sued for stealing just a harmony, or just a rhythm, but you can for stealing a melody.
Next: Learn about music harmony.
Tutorial for Beginners
Music Harmony
Harmony is the colour of the musical soup. The Harmony of a song is what sets the mood and gives context to the melody. Not all songs have harmony, just like not all soups have added flavours
Rhythm in Music
The rhythm of a song is what makes the listener move - from the tiniest bobbing. All melodies and mostharmonies are partially defined by their rhythms.
Music Instruments
Music harmony and music rhyttm are carried through to the audience by musical instruments. A musical instrument can be anything from 2 stick being banged together to a piano or a voice.
Synthesis
Musical Synthesis is the practical aspect of making music. Choose how many verses, chorus', bridges, interludes, etc. you will have e.g. Verse Verse Choruse Verse.
Drums
In most basic drum beats, the high hat or the ride cymbal plays on every crotchet beat, or every quaver beat; the snare plays on the 2nd and/or 4th beat of the bar;
Bass Guitar
The most common purpose of the bass instrument is to provide HARMONIC FOUNDATION. What this means is that the bass instrument plays the notes which define the harmonic structure of the piece.
Piano And Orchestra
Piano can be considered the most versatile instrument. The piano should be treated like a mini orchestra. It can play almost as low as the human ear can hear and the highest note is the highest in an orchestra.
Guitars
The guitar can be considered one of the most versatile instruments in terms of the roles it can play. Sometimes it will play a purely rhythmic role, sometimes purely harmonic, sometimes purely melodic, and other times it will be any combination of the three.
Home Studio
Home studio no longer means a $100,000 mixing desk plust $1000 of accessories. It is rather a computer with some good software, and a decent microphone and decent speakers (or headphones).
Editing and Mixing
Editing is an art that takes a lifetime to master. Neat secrets that'll make your mastering easier.
References
Learn more about the details of music composition, home recording, musical instruments and techniques
Ross Unger's Releases
The Man in the Iron Mask Musical
The Baggage Handlers
Limited Edition T-Shirt
Garden of Eden Musical
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Copyright ©2007 - 2012 Ross Unger, Australian composer. All Rights Reserved.
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A tutorial about the composing, orchestrating, and recording/production process. Intended for beginner composers, orchestrators, sound-engineers, home-studio owners. A place to start with music and to learn a few tricks that will save time and help them along the learning music composition.