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Learning to compose music requires preparation, skill, time, and effort, and builds on solid musicianship.

Anyone can learn to compose if they are willing to apply themselves. It takes a commitment to doing the work to learn, along with some trial and error. Most composers use music notation to write music in a score or lead sheet. Some work primarily with recordings.

Songwriters are also composers. There are as many ways to write songs and compose music as there are people doing it. The trick is to find out what techniques work best for you. The more you practice and study music, the better composer or songwriter you will become.

Keep reading to find out what music composition is, why people compose music, and how you can learn to do it too using some simple steps to get started.

Why Compose Music?

People want to compose music for all kinds of reasons: for money, fame, artistic fulfillment, and fun. Maybe you want to impress your friends, family, or classmates. Maybe you want to live forever in posterity through your music. Or maybe you just love music and composing.

History is replete with fine composers, and for every famous composer there were perhaps thousands who toiled away in relative obscurity. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to create new music, write songs, and compose music for films or videogames, this article is for you.

Is composing music hard?

Tom Stein

However you look at it, composing new music is grueling hard work. It requires strong musical skills and some basic knowledge. To create new compositions you need effort, determination, and grit.

You don’t need to understand every aspect of music making, but it helps to play an instrument well. You should be able to write your music down and create quality demo recordings. Being musically literate and tech savvy will make it easier for you to compose good music.

It’s rare to find composers who do not play at least one instrument well. This means that if you’re serious about becoming a composer you should first focus on learning to play a musical instrument, or singing. (Voice is considered an instrument.)

Many composers study the piano because the linear nature of the keyboard allows them to see the notes in a graphic way, but there are plenty of examples throughout history of composers playing other instruments, or even as multi-instrumentalists.

The better you are at all aspects of music, the more natural it should be for you to compose music.

Here’s a tutorial for beginners on how to get started with writing music:

What is Music Composition?

Music composition is the creation of new works or pieces of music. Compositions can be for vocal or instrumental music. Composers who write songs are called songwriters and the people who write the words are called lyricists.

In Western traditions, such as with Classical music, the composer usually writes musical notes on a score, while pop songwriters usually write a lead sheet showing chords and melody.

Often, recordings are the main product of the composer. This is especially common with pop, rock, rap, and other modern styles. New compositions can be written down or recorded, or both.

More than one composer can work on a single piece; although unusual with Classical music, this is common with modern music and especially pop. Composers, songwriters, or lyricists are just called writers and often work in teams to create new songs. A music producer can also be part of the writing team.

Composers create new music for a wide range of uses, from listening or dancing to films, videogames, theater, advertising, and TV. With pop songwriting, the goal is usually to score a hit song.

Some well-known composers composed music for church services, called sacred or liturgical music. For example, J.S. Bach spent his career in the service of the church as an organist and a composer writing new pieces for services every week.

At its core, composing involves the ordering and structuring of sounds together in a work of sonic art, which may or may not be designed to accompany visual images.

What are the four basic elements of music composition?

Tom Stein

The four elements of music composition are melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. The first three may seem self-explanatory, but timbre (pronounce: “TAM-burr”) may require some explanation.

As musicians use the word, it is nearly synonymous with the word tone, or the unique and distinct sound quality of a note. For example, the same note played on a guitar and a piano will have a different timbre.

Melody is defined as different notes occurring in succession, while harmony is different notes occurring at the same time. Rhythm refers to the placement of notes in time.

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Can Anyone Learn To Be A Composer?

Anyone can learn to compose music. It helps to be an excellent musician. While it requires certain effort to learn and can take time, there are very good resources available to support learning how to compose.

There are many different kinds of composers. There are composers of Classical music and Jazz, music for films and videogames, TV shows, advertising (jingles), Broadway shows, and music for meditation or healing.

Songwriters are also composers. Anywhere you hear music, someone had to compose and record it. The style of music influences their approach to composing.

There is not a single way to compose music. Using notation to create a score is the traditional approach, but there are now digital tools for writing and recording music. Today’s composers often fuse the writing and production together.

To learn to compose, you should understand the basics of music theory and play an instrument well. Most composers learn to use music technology tools, such as a digital audio workstation (DAW) software, peripherals, MIDI controllers, and plugins.

People think composing is mysterious because they don’t understand the process. They think some kind of magical genius is required, but it’s really more about being persistent, diligent, and methodical in your work.

Most composers develop their own way of working and stick to it. Others may continually experiment with new and different methods and approaches. If you can put in the time and effort to learn how music is put together, you might already have the makings of a composer.

What skills do composers need?

Tom Stein

Playing an instrument well is necessary for most composers. Transcription, or writing down the music you hear is another important skill. This takes some practice.

Transcribing involves identifying rhythms, single notes (melodies, scales), and harmony (chords), and then writing them down. Writing and reading music are required for most kinds of composing.

Composers should be fluent with recording software, sequencers, and recording equipment to allow them to hear how their music sounds. Recordings are important to protect ownership through copyrights, as are written scores.

To earn money from your music, you’ll also need to understand the music business. Learn how to register and license your works to get income from royalty payments.

It’s important to understand music theory. Students who attend music school can get specialized training in all aspects of musical performance and composition as well as in music business.

How Do I Start?

Every composer starts out staring at a blank sheet of paper (or a computer screen). It’s like the artist staring at a blank canvas, or the author sitting down to write.

Here are some possible steps to get started with a composition:

  • Some composers start with an idea, or a concept, musical or otherwise. Others might start with a chord progression or by writing melodies. Some might create a theme, or start with a motif (short fragment of melody). EDM or Hip-Hop composers might use beats and loops or samples.
  • You could start with creating rhythmic pattern, or drums and bass groove. Think about implying a certain mood, like music for a videogame or
  • Or start with a title. Or a maybe “riff” on the guitar. There’s no one way to do it. Whatever works for you, will work.
  • You might have melodies swirling around in your head. The trick is to capture those melodies by either writing them down or recording them (or both). Putting notes on a staff, using a music sequencer, or using notation software are all fine, whichever comes easiest to you.
  • Add harmony or counterpoint to your melody. Maybe add a bass line. Think about You might favor strings, brass instruments, reeds, percussion, guitar, or piano. All instruments have different colors; think of it like the artist’s palette.
  • Using repetition is also a favorite technique of composers. Bringing back motifs in a slightly different form, or blending with a new motif can be very effective in creating a mood.

Recording can be done by entering notes into a recording software program (e.g., Logic Pro X or Cubase) using a DAW, or by singing or playing into a microphone and recording device.

To claim ownership of a composition, the music must be “fixed” into one medium or another. That is, if you want to earn money from your compositions they must be written down or recorded so they can be published and licensed. Music that hasn’t been written down or recorded cannot be protected or monetized.

Ultimately, you need an idea and some inspiration to get started with composing a piece of music. It’s like sitting down to write a story; you need to begin with some idea of what it’s about in your mind.

Here’s a beginner’s guide to composing music for videogames:

Here’s some info on how to get started with composing, including finding the inspiration and ideas:

How can I start composing music?

Tom Stein

There is no one single way to compose. Before starting, it’s important to listen to and analyze a lot of music. It’s helpful to learn to play an instrument, or several. Learn to read and write music and study music theory. Learn how to produce recordings using DAW software and MIDI.

Thinking about the basic musical elements, you could start with a rhythm, a melody, or a chord progression (or harmonic setting). Choose a format or structure for the music, or perhaps a theme and a vibe or mood you want to portray with the piece.

Songwriters and composers strive to create a repeatable method of composing, building on their knowledge, experience, and skill. Being methodical about composing can boost productivity, and the more you write, the higher the likelihood that you will write something good.

Try different methods of composing. Not all music needs to be written down, so it’s possible to write songs just using an instrument and your voice. The most important thing is to just start, so you can find out what works best for you.

What Happens Next?

Now that you’ve found an idea, have your inspiration, have some thematic ideas, a motif, or decided on the mood you want to create, you will need to make other important decisions about your composition.

Here are a few more steps you can take:

  • If you’re a songwriter, you might have lyrics and a melody but need chords.
  • Experimenting at the piano or playing guitar could be the way to move forward. Maybe you have chords and need to write a melody.
  • You can decide about the form by having an intro, verse, chorus, refrain, solos, or other sections.
  • Record your composition or hear it played by live by musicians.

Much of the composing process can be described as additive. You are adding and developing new motifs, or adding harmony or lyrics to an existing melody. You could be adding a counter-line, new instruments, or digital processing effects (FX).

Start with a bare-bones idea and build it out from there. You could add some cadences, to bring more dissonance, adding some tension that leads to a resolution. Or strings to sweeten the harmony and make it richer. Or a drum fill, to lead into a new section.

Composers use their skill and technique to add all the parts of a composition together so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The more you learn, the more technique you can use to make your compositions shine.

Maestro Rick Beato explains cadences and how to create emotion in composing music:

Here’s an explanation of how tension and release create interest in music compositions, including 5 different techniques to do so:

Should I Get A Teacher?

To learn the basics of music theory and how to play an instrument, it’s best to take some lessons, or attend music classes. Some private teachers offer composition lessons. You can also study music theory privately.

Nearly all successful composers benefited from studying with great teachers who became their role models. Even experienced composers study with a teacher sometimes.

If you already know music theory and can play, find a teacher who is a successful composer. You’ll get access to their professional network to help you get commissions later. You’ll be able to to observe their working methods and learn the tricks of the trade. You can be inspired by their unbridled creativity.

Depending on where you live, it might not be easy to find a teacher. Remote learning is second-best, but could be an option.

What is the best way to compose music?

Tom Stein

The answer depends on the style or genre of music. For example, composing popular songs usually means finding a group of chords that work well together, writing catchy melodies with lyrics, and then creating sections such as verses, a pre-chorus, and a chorus.

You could instead write a melody and lyrics first, and then find the right chords to fit. Songwriters can start out with a basic concept for a song based on a subject (e.g., unrequited love), or by building the song from a title, a bass line, or a drum groove.

Composers of instrumental music might start with a blank sheet of score paper and then write down the notes of their composition. The same process can be done on a computer, using sequencing or notation software such as Logic Pro X or Sibelius, respectively.

Some composers write using a musical instrument and then notate it afterwards. There are as many ways to compose music as there are composers doing it.

Can I Learn On My Own?

If you’re motivated to search for them, there are plenty of useful videos online to teach you about composing. Some claim to teach you from the very beginning but will assume some level of musical knowledge and training.

Here’s a sample tutorial for beginners from Composing Academy:

There are online courses you can take, and even free MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from famous colleges and universities. There are also some good books you can read to learn theory, plus music production software and apps to help you learn.

You could also study arranging and music production on your own in order to enhance your composing abilities. If you look for them, there are plenty of high-quality learning materials available, much for free.

Self-teaching does have a few potential pitfalls. If you’re the kind of person who learns well this way, great, but not everyone does.

The risk is that you can lose your momentum and initiative, and stop making progress. Even if you get off to a good start, you can tire quickly, and there’s no one there to hold you accountable.

Another pitfall is that you end up with holes in your knowledge. There are no fully complete learning materials. You might be able to find much useful knowledge, but this won’t always translate to ability.

Master musician and teacher Rick Beato shows how to develop musical ideas:

You still have to apply your knowledge, which takes time and practice. Guidance from a professional could make a big difference in your learning progress. Studying with a teacher can give you a broader perspective on the art form.

Learning to compose music requires steady practice to make progress. Book knowledge isn’t everything. Certain working skills, methods, and approaches can only be learned from a master. That’s why all of the composing greats studied with someone.

Every expert started out knowing nothing about their subject, and had to learn. In the beginning they copy those who came before, before they eventually spread their wings to fly.

You can learn a lot studying music on your own. But there comes a time when a teacher is needed. A good teacher will guide you to deepen and broaden your knowledge and skills.

Can I teach myself to compose music?

Tom Stein

There are some self-taught composers, but these are the minority. While not everyone needs school, it’s at least advisable to find a teacher who can help you focus your learning.

Traditionally, aspiring composers chose to study with a master. Many experienced composers continue their studies with a teacher.

There are more self-taught songwriters, perhaps because composing popular songs is less complex than Classical music. Writing great songs is still hard work and requires talent and dedication to learn.

Composing and songwriting is often solitary work, but it is important to hear new music played by live musicians. Many songwriters are part of a band, and some composers have the advantage of an orchestra at their disposal.

It’s also possible to hear how your music sounds using MIDI technology and a digital audio workstation (DAW). There are many free resources available to support learning skills required of today’s composers.

Getting Your Music Heard

It’s important to hear everything you’ve written performed by live performers, whether an orchestra, chamber group, choir, jazz combo, or rock band. That can happen in a music school where you can find project bands dedicated to playing new music. Or you could write for community music groups or a youth orchestra, for example.

Music technology also allows us to hear what we’ve written, using a using a sequencer with a DAW and MIDI controller. Digitally sampled sounds are very realistic, and orchestral mockups can sound close to the real thing. While the music software might be expensive, hiring a live orchestra would cost much more.

For composers who want to place their music in films or TV, getting to know music supervisors and placing their music in sound libraries is a good way to start. Make sure you learn how to protect your compositions with copyrights and learn about music publishing.

Wrapping It All Up

Music composition is available to everyone. It’s up to you to gain the needed skills to excel at this art form. The more you know about music, the more quickly you can learn to compose, and the more rewarding it will be.

Learn music first. Learn to play an instrument well, or how to sing. If you’re serious about becoming a composer, learn all you can about music theory, music technology, and the business side of music, so you can record and protect your compositions or songs and get paid for them.

While there’s a lot of info available online and in books for the self-taught, it’s wise to find a teacher to speed up your learning. You could enroll in music classes at a school or college to study composition.

There are bachelor’s and master’s degrees available in music composition. A few schools offer doctorates, which are recommended for anyone who wants to teach. To study composition at a music school you don’t always need to play an instrument expertly.

Finally, don’t be afraid of composing. There’s no mystery about it, once you understand how it works. Gather your knowledge and improve your technique as you go. Finding inspiration and ideas is the beginning, but the endpoint is beautiful music.

If you’re interested in composing music for film, watch this tutorial on writing cinematic music:

If you’re interested in learning to compose piano music at various levels of difficulty, here’s a short video on how to do it:

Here’s some general advice and tips for aspiring composers:

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