(Beginner's) Compositional Resources

When I joined this group (about 5 months ago), I had the idea that getting into composition would be a breeze. Ha...haha....that sounds funny to me now.

I have no clue as to what specific rules, or guidelines, I should follow when trying to compose a piece, even a simple one. I've tried looking through google for resources on these things, yet I haven't found anything useful.

Can any of you recommend a place where I should start? I want to start off with the basics, then move on to (I guess) more advanced things, such as counterpoint (I still don't know how to compose w/it) and harmonics (I have a good understanding of harmony, I sing in a choir and have played the piano for years).

Are there any good books I should look into? I've heard about Tonal Harmony, but that title is pretty expensive...

What music do you feel like composing? Classical? Jazz? Pop? I think knowing what style you wanna write in will help you focus your creativity.

Regardless of whatever idiom you write in, I'd start off with something simple, like solo piano. Figure out a chord progression you like, write a melody around that, and then change things enough so that the listener never gets bored.

In regards to what book you should get, don't worry about that for now. Write without one and see where your instincts guide you! Knowing the theory is very good, just remember that theory is based on music, not the other way around.

Another way of tackling this question would be for us to pretend that you asked me how to ask a girl out on a date. These are my thoughts:

1. Just do it
   
2. Ignore all the thoughts that are impeding you from doing it
   
3. Be yourself
   
4. Make sure you showered that morning :P

Sound good?

Peace on Earth,

-John

Great response, John, especially point 4. The trick with composing is establishing your own rules. There are no inherent rules in music making (laws of nature aside), so you have to impose some upon your music in order to get anywhere. You create a canvas on which to paint and choose the colors that you'll use. Once you have some ideas rolling around, the trouble is getting them on paper or into the computer. This is where some theory, rather than just your ears, can be helpful. If you can read multiple clefs you can dive into score study. Find some recordings and scores of pieces that you're really drawn to and see how the composer notates what you hear and creates the sounds you like. Look up any terms you don't know (symbols might be a little harder). You can apply what you learn to your own compositions. Of course, you have to know what to look for (just ask on this site if you need more info).

If you still want books, here are a few suggestions:

Hearing and Writing Music by Gorow (this just scratches the surface)

Harmony & Voice Leading by Aldwell & Schachter

The Study of Orchestration by Adler (expensive but well worth it if you heavily pursue composition)

Counterpoint by Kennan

Post-Tonal Theory by Straus

The Study of Fugue by Manne

Note that none of these books teach you how to compose, but they will give you plenty of ideas.

Harmony by Aldwell & Schachter is really a great book, one of the best available, but I think Schoenberg's books are a little better. Schoenberg won't just teach you a bunch of rules, but would make you think compositionally.

As for orchestration, consider Rimsky-Korsakov, as well.

Kennan's book on counterpoint is great. You might also consider those by Schoenberg and Felix Salzer.

On composition and form - definitely Schoenberg - Fundamentals of Musical Composition.

On contemporary music - Twentieth Century Harmony by Vincent Persichetti. You might also look up Techniques of the Contemporary Composer by David Cope, which is a short and handy summary of the essence.

P.S.: There are tons of similar topics around. Why not make one sticky topic?