342 Answered Questions for the topic Composition

04/11/19

Who did introduce the mediant keys in to music harmony progression?
Which composer(s) introduced as the first time mediant chords and mediant keys in their compositions - or in which period the use of this kind of modulation was coming up?
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1
Composition Songwriting

04/10/19

How best to coordinate parts spacing when composing by hand?
Forgive my enactment, but it seems like the easiest way to explain: Let's say, hypothetically, it's a piano piece. I'm on a train, composing on paper, no piano in sight. I have a strong idea for a... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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... more
Follows • 3
Expert Answers •2
Composition Songwriting Dance Melody

04/10/19

How am I supposed to go about writing a waltz?
This and other dances in general I have kind of been avoiding for the first 10 years that I composed. But I figured that if I am going to start composing dance music as well as sonatas, symphonies,... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2
Composition Songwriting Jazz Harmony

04/09/19

Audiation: dealing with key changes when you hear in terms of solfege?
So, I'm a musician who believes very much in the value of audiation: that is, not only hearing pitches in my head, but also hearing them in terms of both the current harmony and the current tonal... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Composition Songwriting

04/09/19

Help in composing music for spa or relaxation?
What are the important elements of harmony, rhythm and orchestration in composing relaxation or spa music?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2
Composition Songwriting

04/07/19

How to synchronize sustain strings with the rest of the orchestra?
I am trying to write a track that has sustain strings and when I listen to it, it seems to me that the strings are delayed with respect to the rest of the orchestra. Strings have a slower attack... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

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... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

04/06/19

I find composing for transposing instruments hard?
So I have gotten into writing orchestral works and I have a bit of a problem. You see, I can transpose, but I am not used to adjusting the notation of the transposition. So if I transpose from C... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

04/04/19

How do I find suitable chords for a melody or a song? Or How do I come up with chord progression?
I have spent some time reading a book that taught me different types of chords and different scales and I understand them very well. But the book didn't really expand on how to actually use these... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Composition Songwriting Arranging Midi

04/04/19

Converting midi composition into orcherstral arrangement?
I have re-discovered several of my old compositions from several years ago, and would now like to work on/finish them. Unfortunately, they are in MIDI format written in a very "un-arranged" manner,... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

04/04/19

Can someone explain the rhythm of a Mazurka?
While perusing some Chopin and Liszt sheets, I tried to play a Mazurka or two. But, I simply don't understand how the rhythm works. It feels awkward and unbalanced when I try and I just don't *get... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

04/04/19

Significance of pop songs with progressions that alternate one chord with one that's three semitones below it?
I've noticed a couple of pop songs that use one chord progression that alternates between swapping one chord (either fifth or fourth) with one that's three semitones below it (to third or... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2
Composition Songwriting Cadence

04/04/19

What types of cadences work well in natural minor mode?
I am currently interested in writing a piece in the natural minor mode, and it seems like "v - i" cadence does not quite work as well as compared to the harmonic / melodic minor modes, which use "V... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Composition Songwriting

04/04/19

Will there come a day when there is no more available music to write?
For music, there is 12 notes, so I suppose one day every combination of notes will be used, and so there will be one day with no more music to create, because they will be all already created, am I... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

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... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

04/03/19

Books on composition as insightful as Goeschius?
I've been a magpie for books on composition/orchestration, and it seems to me that the books written by Percy Goeschius are the best, most insightful and well-written that I've come across. Hia... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

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 • 2
Expert Answers •2

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?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

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... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

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... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Ask a question for free

Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.

OR

Find an Online Tutor Now

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.