Newbie

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum here. I've been playing violin my whole life and have also dabbled in guitar and piano. I also have sang in a few choruses.
I always become so inspired when I hear music I love and it drives me to try to create music of my own.

My main problem is that I feel that since I don't play piano very well it is hard to write multiple parts at once. I am trying to write music for the few instruments I play so that I can eventually record them myself, but it's hard because I can't hear everything all together at once.

Also, sometimes I will write something one day that I think has great potential and then the next day be embarassed by it and think it's bad.

I am just having a tough time and would appreciate some advice on how to get started. I was a music history major so I took some theory classes and I know most of the basics, but i'm just stuck!

For composing multiple parts without amazing piano skills, a notation program can be very helpful. You just input the notes for as many parts as you want, and the computer plays it back. Finale Notepad is a free notation program, and both MakeMusic and Sibelius make great programs that can cost you a bit of cash.

On the subject of intermittently being embarrassed by your music, I think that happens to everybody (I know it happens to me). The key is to stop listening to Beethoven and put on some John Williams (I kid, I kid). Seriously, though, I would just not look at the piece for a while, and only come back to it after a few weeks. Time apart makes the heart grow fonder, y'know?

Originally Posted by spherenine

For composing multiple parts without amazing piano skills, a notation program can be very helpful. You just input the notes for as many parts as you want, and the computer plays it back. Finale Notepad is a free notation program, and both MakeMusic and Sibelius make great programs that can cost you a bit of cash.

On the subject of intermittently being embarrassed by your music, I think that happens to everybody (I know it happens to me). The key is to stop listening to Beethoven and put on some John Williams (I kid, I kid). Seriously, though, I would just not look at the piece for a while, and only come back to it after a few weeks. Time apart makes the heart grow fonder, y'know?

hahha I enjoyed that John Williams reference. Thank you for the advice!

hehe welcome to YC
What I have to say about Multiple parts writing - well, I find it a breeze because I am a pianist...so i see what you are saying there. However, I find it hard to write medium outside of the piano haha. If i intend on writing a trio for example, I will predominantely use the piano more than the violins and cellos. So what I do in that case then, is write down or record myself thrashing the piano, and then take it to my notation program (finale in my case) and see what happens. Most people would disagree with this creation process...but I find it works wonders. I can write for other instruments much better on finale because I can hear them.

What you should probably do then is (and I know this is gonna probably annoy a lot of people) - start small: write a piano part that really just uses the left hand to start with, like with a Alberti bass...and then play/write/sing a melody over the top...just randomly...and then write it down. This is a very unstructural way to write pieces, but for now...hear me out. So there we go, we have 2 parts...though they dont seem to be much, they will soon serve their purpose.

I wouldnt give the guitar 'chords' to strum throughout because then you will find it becomes to 'pop-py'. So perhaps play that melody on the guitar (the one you sung/playerd/wrote) and see how that goes. Then the violin can do things like 'echo a melodic motif' in the background.

BUT: FIRSTLY...get a figure happening in the left hand of the piano. Then a melody on one instrument (for example, guitar)...after you have written a pretty decent 8 bars of music - THEN sit down and think. Play it through a few times (this is where a notation program helps), and listen with your inner ear to where the violin could enter, whether it echo, or just pluck chords.

Basic structure, and its hard to instruct without blabbing (which i have done a fine job of), but hopefully that helps. Its really a thinking process to start with.

Then there is counterpoint...but start small, and work your way up. Write for the instruments you know best first...Piano and Violin, Guitar and Violin, Piano and Guitar, Two Violins...but always start small.

Again, welcome.
Nick Goodridge

Originally Posted by goodridge_winners

hehe welcome to YC
What I have to say about Multiple parts writing - well, I find it a breeze because I am a pianist...so i see what you are saying there. However, I find it hard to write medium outside of the piano haha. If i intend on writing a trio for example, I will predominantely use the piano more than the violins and cellos. So what I do in that case then, is write down or record myself thrashing the piano, and then take it to my notation program (finale in my case) and see what happens. Most people would disagree with this creation process...but I find it works wonders. I can write for other instruments much better on finale because I can hear them.

What you should probably do then is (and I know this is gonna probably annoy a lot of people) - start small: write a piano part that really just uses the left hand to start with, like with a Alberti bass...and then play/write/sing a melody over the top...just randomly...and then write it down. This is a very unstructural way to write pieces, but for now...hear me out. So there we go, we have 2 parts...though they dont seem to be much, they will soon serve their purpose.

I wouldnt give the guitar 'chords' to strum throughout because then you will find it becomes to 'pop-py'. So perhaps play that melody on the guitar (the one you sung/playerd/wrote) and see how that goes. Then the violin can do things like 'echo a melodic motif' in the background.

BUT: FIRSTLY...get a figure happening in the left hand of the piano. Then a melody on one instrument (for example, guitar)...after you have written a pretty decent 8 bars of music - THEN sit down and think. Play it through a few times (this is where a notation program helps), and listen with your inner ear to where the violin could enter, whether it echo, or just pluck chords.

Basic structure, and its hard to instruct without blabbing (which i have done a fine job of), but hopefully that helps. Its really a thinking process to start with.

Then there is counterpoint...but start small, and work your way up. Write for the instruments you know best first...Piano and Violin, Guitar and Violin, Piano and Guitar, Two Violins...but always start small.

Again, welcome.
Nick Goodridge

Thanks Nick! I will give your suggestions a shot and let you know how it works out!