Chords, Scales etc for composing

[Abi]

Hi ppl out here, I have some questions.. or rather doubts to say. Well I have learn playing keyboard b4 in Yamaha. But my skill are just intermediate slightly above begginers I would say. Well I have learnt to play basically chords and notes thats all. But I would right now wanna compose with softwares. My question is how can I compose? What are Chords and Scales all about? How to apply them? What abt bass notes? How do I i compose using these Chords, Scales and Bass notes? Are they really essentials to be followed or just some samples of guidelines? If any ppl here are composers pls advise me thanks a million!

Abi

 

[ericlee]

to be honest, your questions demands more than just simple answers. The ballgame of songwriting requires an in-depth knowledge and application of all major chord progressions, starting with the 1645 or 1625 or equivalent. Then we need to look at inversions if you are alternating bass notes.

Then of course there is the melodic content, how you construct melodies, build tension and release, create hooks..

and of course, there are other elements like transposition, alternate endings, intro hooks, chord substitution, the relationship between chord structures and different groove elements, constructing lyrics, lyrical content and lyrical styles, rhyme, metre, forms, etc.

So it's not a question that can be easily answered with a few lines. I would advise you to find a good coach, buy books on this, ask around, surf the net, etc. and start writing songs and ask more experienced songwriters to critique your songs.

Best wishes,
eric lee
www.northwoodmusic.net
www.ericlee.net

 

[DoubleBlade]

When you play chords , you can play the chord as a broken chord instead of a full block chord. For instance ,

A F major chord consist of the notes F , A , C
Instead of playing the full F chord , you can play the note F , A and then C or a C , A , and then F etc. Another way is you can disregard the A note and play F and then C followed by some appaeggios maybe. There are so many ways to compose using chords.

You can even add passing notes in between. You can play F , A , B ,C for example since the note B is regarded as a passing note.

As for the bass notes , What I like to do is when I play a broken chord and the minute I hit the LAST NOTE of a broken chord , I start to hit the bass notes in a form of an appaeggio.

Chords , scales and bass are essential when it comes to composing. You can say that they are "essential guidelines".

 

[SoMA]

Hi Abi,

Eric is spot on. A lot of your questions are the same questions students ask me about songwriting. Where do i start? what should i do with the chords i've learnt? How can i create catchy melodies?These techniques must be slowly learnt and practice. Keep writing songs or even sections of songs and ask your friends or fellow songwriters/musicians comment on your work. Take their feedback positively and improve on your songs to make them killer tracks!

You need a strong foundation and knowledge on chord progressions and music fundamentals. It's frustrating to try and write a strong melody and be fumbling ard or "han-tam" out the chords. The more you understand chord progressions and practice how to play these chords voice-led to one another on the keyboards, all this will become second nature and you can concentrate on developing a strong melody, groove and lyrics.

SoMA has a 6 months songwriting programme where students with no music background come in to learn basic harmony and chord progressions, then put that foundation into keyboard skills using the pop/jazz chord approach.
After that, the 3rd and 4th module combines for 10 weeks, where students learn one technique of developing melodic hooks each week, write and record a song at home, and then bring it back for positive criticism from the peers and the trainer. They will then further improve on the song, and learn how to arrange these songs using cakewalk and individual digital workstations at our labs.
Finally, they will pick their 3 best songs, and record their demo CD/portfolio in our recording studio with live musicians =)

Everything you need to know, learn and grow as a professional songwriter, all in 6 months. Feel free to msg me about your songwriting woes, i love to chat and discuss ideas with fellow songwriters.

Oh and we're giving out free ipod nanos for every sign-up by 21st October!

We also have 5 school holiday programmes - which includes a songwriting course of 12 lessons where these tools and techniques of developing melodic hooks, contrasting sections, and other essential elements of songwriting will be taught - all at a special promotional rate only for students this school holidays.
Check out www.soma.com.sg for more details.

Keep writing and writing and rewriting! just like everything else, the more you write and get ppl's feedback and rewrite, the better you get. Eventually, you don't wanna just write stuff, you wanna write stuff that people wanna hear, buy and sing-along to. That's our ultimate reward as songwriters =)

 

[ramius32]

Ultimately although all the courses or degrees do help in understanding the music chords and all, it still boils down to that 'feel'. Without it no matter how good u are in theory without that 'feel' you are nothing. A lot of famous musician are actually degree holders or anything. However a basic understanding of chords and notes will really help as a songwriter. Like they said too much rules will screw you.

Just my 2 cents worth of opinion.

 

[Mobius]

U can look at songwriting this way, its like writing an english composition/essay, u need to know the english language before u can write an english essay. The chords and scales are like the english words and grammar, they can be taught to u, and shown to u how they can be used. But when u write an essay, its all up to u how to use them, just like songwriting. U know the chords and scales, how u use them, all depends on u. Your first few attempts at songwriting may yield or not yield good results, but practice makes perfect, keep writing them and u will slowly improve.

 

[Scream_ed]

WHoa yeah, Mobius. No analogy better than that! Haha...Anybody can write an essay, but not everybody's essay will be readable. Though I dun dispute the need for personal inputs and feel, I feel that if you write with the purpose of letting others hear your song, then the song should communicate clearly, in words and music.

Just a 2-cents suggestion to SoMA. Why dun you organise a little introductory session for people to get to know your program in SoMA? Seeing a little demo and hearing the intro in person will have a stronger appeal than promoting thru (typed) words alone. Your presentation at the Sep soft gathering was more about recording technology. You can do one regarding the nuts and bolts of songwriting. Of course, you have your bizness considerations. I'm just throwing some ideas around.

 

[turbochicken]

i'm starting to get sick of soma trying to advertise their courses with almost any related topic. publicity is good. but overdoing it isn't. be eager to let everyone know, yes. not desparate.

 

[SoMA]

hey Scream_ed,

we do have free introductory sessions where you'll sit into one of the songwriting diploma classes, and after that speak with our songwriting instructor keith, who will demonstrate some techniques to you, and give you an overview and a rundown of the modules you'll learn, projects you'll be working on, and your CD portfolio recording sessions. Yes it is difficult to explain through words, i totally agree =)

You can check out our website, or call us at 6336 3313 and look for evelyn. Just say u'll like to schedule a course preview for yourself =)

 

[guitarman78]

Abi:

Try to experiment with chord movement and tensions.

Example: Tonic (1) is stable and resolved, Subdominant (4) is not very stable, can choose to resolve or not resolve, Dominant (5) chords are highly unstable and must be resolved.

Know the characteristics and functions of different chords. Like in the key of "C", a G7 will definitely resolve to a Cmaj7, an Fmaj7 can remain at the end point or it can also resolve to a Cmaj7. An Em7 may revolve to Am7 or move on to Fmaj7, Am7 may remain or resolve back to C. There is a deeper reason why a subtonic (2), Dominant (5) will definitely resolve to a Tonic (1).

For this, you have to look at how individual chord tones have moved to resolve to the next. Example ... from Dm7 to G7. Dm7=D,F,A,C. G7=G,B,D,F. In this progression, D and F are the common notes .... whereas A moved down to G and C moved down to B. That's why the transition between Dm7 and G7 i so smooth .... because of the movement of notes.

There are many other combination of chords Like Flatten 5th, #11th, 6th, etc where it is highly unstable and desperately needs to resolve ... but these chords are also very exciting because jazz musicians loves highly unstable chords when they can play very interesting sounds over ie the melodic minor. But these chords always serves a function in a progression and to know how to use them, we need to understand them.

Hence, the study of Chord substitutions, chord tensions, melodic patterns and progressions can really help in terms of compositions.The reason for knwoing all these is not because we want to undermine creativity. But chords theory is based on centuries of experience from our predeccesors to tell us how to define what we hear.

But ultimately .... we don't wanna end up in a mass production of music. Songs should ultimately still comes from the heart and soul. These are tools where we could learn. I believe Bernini didn't just learn how to make sculptures the moment he is born. He must have the vision and had learnt the right technics to do so.

Well on the other hand .... I'm not sure is Curt Kobain or Dimebag Darrrel had learnt all these before they compose. I guess it depends on Genre. Dun wish to sound like an expert .... i believe what i say here, most of you might already have known ... just sharing ... have fun and rock on!!

 

[SoMA]

Hi Turbochicken,

Thanks for the headsup. Point taken. We're trying to help out as much as we can =)

 

[Abi]

Hey thks ppl.. and Soma for your guideline btw saw your website on courses on songwriting and production its quite interesting seriously...thanks all who replied..

 

[lppier]

One of the best ways to start is to "steal" chord progressions from songs that you like, modify them and create your own tune over them. Of course, you have to make sure that your song doesn't sound like the song you copied la hehe... do songwriting research, read books, and keep writing. You will improve for sure.

Pier.