261 Answered Questions for the topic Composition (Music)
04/12/19
How can I improve my piano accompaniments?
When I play piano or keyboards, I've noticed that I keep slipping into playing the same chords (and variations thereof, such as very simple bass lines) with my left hand while I use my right hand...
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04/12/19
Looking for a high level Music Programming language?
I'm looking for a high-level programming language. I did some googling and found a number of examples (some summarized here http://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~sasha/proj/musicpaper.pdf) but haven't found...
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04/11/19
What gives a piece of music its personality and feeling?
What makes a piece of music sound angry, dark, sad, happy, or otherwise?
"La Chute" by Yann Tiersen sounds so angry to me and "A Dark Knight" from "The Dark Knight" movie sounds so dark and...
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04/11/19
How many voices do violins usually play in modern orchestral music?
I've been into arranging and composing for orchestral music for a few years now, however, my music is usually fully computer-rendered (ewql), so I don't have any practical limits of how many...
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04/10/19
Composing For Drums as a Non-drummer?
As an instrumentalist I am primarily a guitarist, but as a composer I write for a range of instruments. The one thing I am particularly struggling with is writing for drums. Although I've managed...
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Composition (music)
04/10/19
What is Locrian Harmony?
I like utilizing modes in my the pieces I write, but there is one mode I've never been able to fully grasp and utilize and that is the Locrian mode.
The chords that naturally occur in the Locrian...
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04/09/19
What are the elementary skills of composition?
I'm interested in learning music composition, but in spite of music being as old as time itself the majority of resources I've come across so far seem to suggest that a beginner learn sections of...
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Composition (music) Music Theory
04/08/19
How did classical composers write music?
How did classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven write music for instruments they didn't play, such as the timpani or trumpet?
Is it all music theory or were they just so genius that they...
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04/08/19
Why aren't songs with 11 beats 13 beats, common?
I wonder why haven't I heard songs that have 13 beats or 11 beats (or may be 17 beats or other complex number) per measure.Are there any songs like that and why don't people and music directors...
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Composition (music) Music Theory
04/06/19
What is a key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor?
I have trouble deciding what accidentals to put in the key signature for pieces in Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian or Mixolydian modes.
Is there any kind of convention to follow?
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04/06/19
Fundamental and In-Depth Music Theory for an Absolute Beginner?
I know nothing about music theory, but I have been playing the guitar for over 5 years and have been only working with tabs. I want to learn music theory **from scratch, fundamentally and...
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04/04/19
Is it acceptable to change tempo in the middle of a song or is this a bad idea?
I wrote a song that could be classified as Pop or Country that starts out at a medium slow tempo in the first two verses and bridge.
Then there is a section after the bridge that can best be...
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04/04/19
Is it possible to write a melody which can't be notated?
Is it possible to have a piece which can't be notated using the musical notes we currently have?
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04/04/19
How do I use slash chords in music composition?
After studying pop music composition for a while I noticed that many composers use slash chords in their music. How do I use those in my own composition? When is it more preferable to use slash...
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04/03/19
How can I improve my piano accompaniments?
When I play piano or keyboards, I've noticed that I keep slipping into playing the same chords (and variations thereof, such as very simple bass lines) with my left hand while I use my right hand...
more
Follows
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2
Expert Answers
•2
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04/03/19
How to make melodies effectively?
Are there any tricks that help make melodies besides just experimenting until you find something that sounds nice?
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04/03/19
What exactly should I have to learn to understand why certain combination of chords are harmonic when played in a sequence?
I am an intuitive music composer trying to move to a technical music composer. As a dummy, I see music as a composition of 'pieces' (my word). Each piece is a set of notes that are melodical when...
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04/03/19
Training and Influences of J. S. Bach?
Johann Sebastian Bach is undoubtedly among the most celebrated of Baroque composers, and to many the great composer in all history. The era of the late 17th and early 18th centuries in which he...
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04/03/19
tips for writing the drum notes to a song in a band?
I play the drums in a band, and the song has already been written and everything that the vocalist, guitarist and bassist will play. The drums were left out and I have to write them to fit the...
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04/02/19
Well-known composers or piano pieces generally suitable for someone with small hands?
One of my struggles with playing the piano is that I have small hands. I can reach an octave - mostly. I can reach it, I just can't maneuver between octaves quickly. Often times a piece will have a...
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Composition (music) Composition
04/02/19
Selling arrangements online?
This summer, I want to earn money to buy sequencing software. I really enjoy arranging songs (as well as writing them) so I thought it would make sense for me to try to sell some online. Can I do...
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03/27/19
Is it possible to write a song without a key?
Is it possible to say "This song has no key"? Are there songs that have/follow no key? Is it possible to create song without adhering a key?
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03/27/19
Compositions or songs written for black keys only?
I was taught to do improvisation by practising playing random tunes using just the black keys on a piano, and although it had a very oriental sound, the tune was quite pleasant if you introduced...
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03/27/19
What purpose do accidentals serve in music?
I'm having trouble writing music containing accidentals.If the diatonic scale contains 7 related notes, what purpose do accidentals serve? If the accidental notes are not related to the overall...
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Composition (music) Music Theory
03/26/19
How can I turn any (pop) song into a jazz song?
I tried jazzying up Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It's basically a D-G-A chord progression (1-4-5), wich is quite simple. I thought that adding 7th chords and some altered timing, would at least give...
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