How to write an introduction for a piece ?

Hello everyone,

I am trying to compose instrumental rock music and instrumental

acoustic guitar music (flamenco/jazz style).

But the problem I have is, I know how to develop a motive and construct themes etc. but nonetheless when I start creating a melody and than add chords or whatever (drum rhythm, synths, bass lines etc.) to it ... the music that is coming out of it doesn't sound like a piece, that makes sense. You know what I mean ? it doesn't sound like it has a beginning, a main body, an end and so on. It doesn't give me the feeling of a story being told. From the first note on it sounds like you are already somewhere in the middle of a song. So I thought maybe it is because too many instruments are introduced right on from the beginning, but then I listen to music of great musicians and they often start their pieces with all the instrumentation in there right from the beginning and it works, it sounds like the starting point of the song, but when I try to do it it doesn't sound like a beginning, it doesn't make sense.

Most of the time I start composing a piece by creating a melody and then

any ideas why? i got so many question about composing, but this one is one of the most important for me to be answered. hopefully someone can.

thanks guys.

Maybe you could seclude a few parts to create more build up into the main body of the piece. Do something focusing on the main chord progression, repeat it and go straight into the main section, possibly seperated by a short break.

It would help to see an example. Even if its just the 8 or so measures that would fall after the into you're trying to create and maybe the intros you've tried as well.

I have been playing guitar for 27 years now (damn that makes me sound old) and I can give you many suggestions. But my first suggestion (if you haven't already) is to learn a handful of AABA tunes, 32 bar song form etc.

Learn them well. Internalize the form. I used to think I wrote cool tunes until I began learning jazz standards...Summertime, Body and Soul, There Is No Greater Love...some are easy, some not so easy. It was then I began to see how to craft a good melody...something which tells a story.

You may not even like jazz but these tunes were considered pop songs in their day and are some the greatest melodies (and lyrics) of the 20th century. You will learn more by osmosis and intuition this way than by any technical suggestion I could give you.

Let me know your thoughts.