Starting a composition
Sometimes it feels like the most difficult part of creating your own music is knowing where to start.
Don't worry about the whole piece - it can be easiest to start with something small.
You may have some initial ideas like a melody, a chord sequence, some rhythms, or a certain mood that you want to convey through your music.
Your initial idea may only consist of a few notes or a few bars.
Be prepared to experiment with how you build from this. Try out lots of ideas so you can compare them.
If something just doesn't work, don't worry about ditching it. Concentrate on the ideas that sound interesting and that you can develop more.
Things may not always sound perfect the first time you try them, but this initial stage is all about trial and error.
In this video, Fatherson talk through their approach to creating a song. They discuss developing rhythm, structure and harmony.
Fatherson
Singer-songwriter Dan Smith from Bastille and his producer Mark Crew discuss writing music using MIDI technology. Dan talks through their process of creating the track 鈥楲aura Palmer鈥 from a single chord sequence to the full song.
Dan Smith using midi technology
Use your musical knowledge, music you have previously performed and music you have listened to as inspiration for developing your own original music.