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Question:i know a lot of scales and all chords. i can write lyrics and stuff. my primary instrument is the guitar both acoustic and electric. but i also own drums. how do i start?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i know a lot of scales and all chords. i can write lyrics and stuff. my primary instrument is the guitar both acoustic and electric. but i also own drums. how do i start?

The previous answers focus on the recording aspect of composition. To truly get to the nuts and bolts of writing music you'd start with ledger lines, a treble clef, and a key signature.

Use a pencil with an eraser until you are ready to write out the finished product.

And you know all the chords? Fantastic--all 2,500 of them? What "stuff" are you drawing reference to in the composition?

Thank you for selecting my reply as best. With your knowledge of three different positions of the known chords you're on the way to the higher plateau. Find an extensive chord book showing diagram and music notation for them. It would be a huge asset. Report It


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  • punk_rock_guy_chris's Avatar by punk_roc...
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  • Just start out with fitting rythms and music with lyrics and voice. You may want to invest in a recording program so you can record your music and let other people hear it.

    Start by recording the drums to get the meter and rhythm ready for the other parts. Then play the drum track through headphones to keep the beat while your record the guitar. Then play both the drum and guitar tracks while you record the vocals into a third track. Then play all three back at once using full song; note to play all 3 back at once you'll need a good multi-track recording program IE Audacity, which is FREE.

    Once you get some input on the full song and people like it...it's time to work on polishing it. Try using pro-studio effects (chorus, reverb, compression, EQ) on the individual guitar/drum/vocal tracks and mixing them together again. Try different combinations until you get that clear, recording-studio-quality sound.

    Melody is the language of music.

    Start by humming a melody.

    Harmony, rhythm, timber, arrangement, etc, ultimately all serve the melody.

    Come up with a simple melody (which is harder than it sounds) then put chords to it.

    Good luck!

    I start by finding a few chords that sound good together, mess around with them until you have a rhythm or sound that you like, see if a melody starts to come to you. Have a tape recorder nearby, when it sounds like something is developing (any little something) just record whatever you're doing. You might go back and like it later or hate. If you like it you can build off of it later. Don't worry about the lyrics at first. Just sing whatever comes into your head or la la la. Worry about the lyrics after you get a good melody going. This often works for me but everyone operates differently. Most of all enjoy it. If you start getting frustrated stop and go back later. Good luck!