To the ordinary man and women on the street, music could be something that "just is" by that I mean exists because somebody sat and played any note and ambled along until they were happy or decided to take a break. It's true, some people like to compose like this, but these tend to be musicians that already know music theory and have the ability to layer chords and improvise lead lines. In truth, this style of composition is generally meandering, and pretty selfish in its style. Which ultimately makes it feel a little pointless.
Maybe you were in a band and had a jam session? This is another well rounded form of composition, not knowing where the chords are or having sheet music in front of you at the start, but simply strumming chords or playing a sequence of notes. I was in a band as a drummer and this was how most of our songs started out. But I know music theory and so did my band mates, so at the end of the jam session we would sit and write the notes out and lyrics along with drum notation. If we had just tried to remember the performance it would not have been the same every time we played it. Maybe it would have not made much sense to those that listened to it either, and making them, the listener, understand your music is very important.
When you start learning about music theory, you really will have that moment when the light bulb flashes in your head. Whether you're composing blues or jazz or even dance music, you've discovered that "sweet" progression that makes your tune sound amazing. Or even if you go into a music shop and pick up some sheet music, look at it and hear the music in your head, that feeling of achievement is one to savour. Trust me, that is a feeling that is addictive. Really addictive, and once you've achieved it your desire to continue, to progress and to make the best music you possibly can will be a huge driving force.
In this series of articles my intention is that you have a go, pick up some music sheets, and try them out on your chosen instrument. To enable to allow you to express yourself properly in musical form. After all that's what you would like to do isn't it?
Maybe you were in a band and had a jam session? This is another well rounded form of composition, not knowing where the chords are or having sheet music in front of you at the start, but simply strumming chords or playing a sequence of notes. I was in a band as a drummer and this was how most of our songs started out. But I know music theory and so did my band mates, so at the end of the jam session we would sit and write the notes out and lyrics along with drum notation. If we had just tried to remember the performance it would not have been the same every time we played it. Maybe it would have not made much sense to those that listened to it either, and making them, the listener, understand your music is very important.
When you start learning about music theory, you really will have that moment when the light bulb flashes in your head. Whether you're composing blues or jazz or even dance music, you've discovered that "sweet" progression that makes your tune sound amazing. Or even if you go into a music shop and pick up some sheet music, look at it and hear the music in your head, that feeling of achievement is one to savour. Trust me, that is a feeling that is addictive. Really addictive, and once you've achieved it your desire to continue, to progress and to make the best music you possibly can will be a huge driving force.
In this series of articles my intention is that you have a go, pick up some music sheets, and try them out on your chosen instrument. To enable to allow you to express yourself properly in musical form. After all that's what you would like to do isn't it?
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