Music-making tips?

[MagicalStarRain 599]

I plan on trying my hand and voice at making music. I've only ever sang songs on Youtube, but I'd like to sing my very own songs for once. Do you have any advice on making music?

 

By the way, I use a Mac, so no methods that can only be used on a PC/Windows computer.

[Sky Warden 2,243]

I'm no expert musician, but I know music a little. I play piano. Basic music theory I learnt with that instrument. My little advice is to determine what do you want to say to the listener. Is it about your romance life? Or about your loving parents? It's now about showing people that you can play an instrument, it's about sending a message.

 

What makes me shiver whenever I listen to "Colors of the Wind" is the lyrics and the tunes. The tunes follow the feeling and the lyric of course, so for me, the most important thing in art (including music) is the thing you want to tell the consumer.

Good luck with your Mac by the way. That's the computing stuff I don't know most.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Sky Warden

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,825]

For me, it works like this. I hear something in my head that I like, since I have a mac, I quickly put it down in Finale Printmusic as a draft. Then I work around it. For my lyrics, I create lead sheets, which include the melody only. I then make the full score with all the instruments I need. 

 

Since you have a mac, I suggest downloading finale notepad 2012, a free music making software. It works by choosing instruments and then inputting notes onto a staff. 

 

The best thing to do when making songs is go what your mind is thinking.

 

Here's a song I wrote about Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash's new sister relationship: http://mlpforums.com/topic/47690-under-my-wing/

 

Listen to how the melody goes with the lyrics, and how I'm conveying the new relationship to the listener. It's all about themes in music.

 

Well, hope this advice helps.  

[Gay Bird 421]

All you need to make music is to know how to play and sing, and have some basic knowledge of recording. I use a Zoom H4n as an audio interface that I plug my microphone or guitar into, but there's alot of much less expensive options as far audio interfaces go, and when I started out, I didn't even know what an audio interface was. (basically it's an external sound card with lots of inputs and outputs) I origonally just used a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch audio cable plugged in to my mic-in jack. A good microphone is essential to any singing, but you don't have to go too expensive. I use an MXL, and i've used a blue snowball in the past and I can recommend it, especially at the price it's at. You also need a basic DAW (digital audio workstation). You probably have garageband, but FL studio is good, or you could spend a bit extra and go with Logic. As long as the program you have has midi capabilities and some good midi drums (unless you want to buy time at a recording studio to record drums). Checklist time!

 

-Good Microphone

-Garageband (or other DAW)

-Audio interface (optional)

-Musical Ability

 

If I confused you or you have any questions I'll be happy to help.