The Fundamentals of Music Composition: Learn Music Composition Step by Step: Music

By Aventuras De Viaje

Teach Yourself to Compose Music!

 

Learning music theory and writing sheet music will allow you to better hone your skills as a singer and a composer.

 

This guide offers both beginners and more advanced singers and songwriters the skills and information to learn how to read, write and compose music.

 

Start delving deeper into music theory today, because this is the ultimate guide to use when learning how to create music.

 

Get it now.

 

Discover all the Elements of Music Composition

• How to read and write music notation
• Ear training
• How to read any composition in 4 simple steps
• Note transposing
• 7 steps to creating your own arrangement
• Where to find the technology and other resources to help you on your musical journey
• Informative images and tables for easy reference
• Interactive exercises for faster learning

 

… and much more!

 

Acquire all the essential music knowledge and skills you need, because this will help you create and improve your own music compositions, no matter what your skill level.

 

Get it now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SF Nonfiction Books
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201909260

Book preview

PART I

MUSIC THEORY

As the title states, this section will cover the basics surrounding music theory. In this section, the guide hopes to educate you on how to read, write, and use music theory as a tool to be able to create the best possible music compositions.

This section will be split into four different chapters: each covering different basics in music theory that you will need to create compositions. While these are not rules and regulations to follow and anyone can create musical compositions, I feel that along with these basics and knowledge you can ensure to create better, more cohesive sounds.

The chapters are split into music notation basics, reading music notation basics, writing music notation skills, and reading any types of music notation.

BASIC MUSIC NOTATION

Music notation is the way music is written down to be able to read— more commonly known as sheet music. This is a clear and universally understood method of being able to read any track and play it on a set instrument. To be able to read sheet music you first need to understand the basics surrounding music notation.

Still, before you can delve deep into music notation you need to understand the basics surrounding music notes and how they are structured. This topic was briefly discussed in the Singing Lessons Book, but I will delve deeper into the information here. Music notation or music notes do not differ much when it comes to singing and playing them; knowing how to use them with regards to music notation will help your journey to music composition greatly.

There are a few things that need to be considered when you look at music notation concerning composition. Firstly, you will need a few supplies and a basic knowledge surrounding how to use those supplies. The first item that you will need is sheet music paper, preferably blank paper. It is quite easy to use and can even be drafted yourself. If however, you prefer starting the writing process in a notebook or journal before transferring over to the sheet music you are, of course, free to do so.

Notes are generally written on sheet music to keep everything organized; this helps both you and anyone who might need to read your sheet music for singing or playing purposes.

Sheet music or at least the lined paper used for sheet music creation will allow you to make notes and alterations while you are busy with the writing process.

Here there is ample space for note-taking both in the margins and between note sections.

The paper you will use, more commonly known as staff paper will look as follows:

Imagen 1

The image above shows what staff paper looks like. Staff paper is generally composed of 5 lines that are horizontally situated.

There will be ample space between lined sections and on the side margins for notes. This makes it easier to keep track of composition notes and changes throughout your writing process. On each staff, you will find both spaces and lines. Remember, sheet music or staff must be used from the bottom upwards. The next diagram will make that far easier to understand. Each staff section has 5 lines and 4 spaces.

Imagen 2

The image above indicates the staff lines and spaces. Lines are indicated by red, and spaces are indicated by blue.

Staff sections are also split into 4 measures using bar lines. There are two different types of bar lines: regular bar lines that are used to split measures and double bar lines that are used to indicate the end of either a section or a song.

Imagen 3

The image above indicates the different types of bars one finds in a staff. Barlines are indicated by red; measures are being indicated by blue.

Music notation is almost always written on the staff but oftentimes notes will either be higher or lower than the staff lines. These notes are often referred to as Leger Lines. You will most often just use a small horizontal line to indicate these notes, should they be higher or lower than the range in your composition.

Imagen 4

The image above identifies and shows the three different methods and ways that ledger lines can be indicated on a staff. They can be indicated in a stepping motion as well as straight down or up, depending on how the note would rise or fall.

When you consider notes that are written on staff they are grouped into two categories: either space notes, thus written in the spaces between the lines, or line notes, thus written on the lines found within the staff. Space notes are often fully seen since they fall between the lines on the staff while the line notes will always have the line running through