Game and fil mmsuci where tos tart?

Where to start? I have no clue where to start never made any music

Start by listening to the music in the games and films you've been playing. From there, work out a theme or feeling for a composition you want to write. Maybe the music should sound adventurous, for example. Practice writing whatever comes to mind for the feeling of adventure.

Have fun with it. It will be challenging at first to come with the musical equivalent for various feelings. It's so much easier if you're actually enjoying the music you're making and if you really want to finish the project.

Best of luck!

-John

Start by listening to the music in the games and films you've been playing. From there, work out a theme or feeling for a composition you want to write. Maybe the music should sound adventurous, for example. Practice writing whatever comes to mind for the feeling of adventure.

Have fun with it. It will be challenging at first to come with the musical equivalent for various feelings. It's so much easier if you're actually enjoying the music you're making and if you really want to finish the project.

Best of luck!

-John

I have no idea how to write music

...

Well, first of all, where are you at??

I mean, 'I have no idea how to write music' is really very unhelpful in terms of asking where to start. Can you play an instrument? Do you understand notation? What is your eventual ambition etc. are all factors into how to start off. If you're completely clueless about the first two, then I really suggest you grab a book on music theory and familiarise yourself in reading music, since that will simplify the rest of it. And TBH, I really don't recommend splashing out on sample libraries, stuff like Logic if you're starting out. There is no point spending money on something you may not use or enjoy!!

Once you give us a clearer picture of what you CAN do, that's where we can start trying to help. Or if the only musically related thing you've ever done is listen to music, hopefully I can dig out some stuff to download/look at.

Hope this helps!!

CheeseLord put it quite well.

However, be mindful that jumping into the subject of music theory will not get you writing epic music immediately. So you may be initially disappointed by what the knowledge will inspire - but it is essential information to internalize.

After you have a familiarity with music theory (namely intervals, chord theory, reading / writing music, and the standard nomenclature), start working your way into the subjects of counterpoint and harmony theory. In my opinion, counterpoint should come before harmony, but also studied in parallel.

During this time (yes, right now), you should be creating music in any way you can manage to do so (with a digital audio workstation, on staff paper, with a voice recorder, or just in your head as an idea). Even if you do not think you understand it, just do as best you can and don't let the results discourage you.

You will learn best through study, practice, and experimentation - but only if you are persistent.

Don't even THINK about making game and film music, before you are familiar with making music - so focus on that.

Great advice in this thread

Learn enough to play stuff you like and know the basics behind it - I would say don't study counterpoint or harmony, but study the music you like. and get to know the sound of it!

Hi there!

Before you start making music, you should be able read music first. I'd also say you'd need some basic knowledge in orchestration before trying to write for small ensembles.

Music composition is hard, but rewarding work and it requires a passion for the art to be successful.

I'll link you to some free software for writing music & tell you how I started out, but I'll need to know where you currently stand in music composition. "I don't know how to write music" isn't specific enough.

Do you know some music theory?

Do you know basic orchestration? (if only just the theory)

Do you play an instrument?

Can you read notesheets?

Before you start making music, you should be able read music first. I'd also say you'd need some basic knowledge in orchestration before trying to write for small ensembles.

I'm sorry, but I'll have to scream two big NO's on that postulate.

yeah, knowing things is overrated

I'm sorry, but I'll have to scream two big NO's on that postulate.

Agreed, I don't read music well, and I dont know orchestration at all, but I compose alot.... usually you feel the need to write music first....its just something that happens...or at least thats how it happened to me lol

I'm sorry, but I'll have to scream two big NO's on that postulate.

It's a plus to know these things before you start; it's not a requirement. I didn't start out knowing the basics either, but it does help.

Basic knowledge in this case would be knowing how the instruments sound and how well they go together, for instance. There's no correct answer if you don't follow the rules as what each person likes and/or thinks works differs among individuals. If you want to follow the rules of, let's say orchestration, then how you arrange your instruments and use them together does matter.

I began composing before I actually started my composing classes in College and I was also going through the whole process of disagreeing with the mere notion that I would benefit from having some knowledge in the subject.

What I learned, however, sped up the rate at which I improved. Now, 2.5 years after I began composition, I'm writing mostly short but largely orchestrated pieces, which I feel is quite the improvement from my first 3 works that consisted largely of 3 chords in A Minor.

Whether my music is enjoyable to listen to or even half-decent is up to the listeners to decide. From a technical standpoint (notesheets, playability, orchestration, etc.), I'd say I am average.

Basic knowledge is a benefit, not a thing to be shunned. If future composers aren't as lucky as I was & can't learn music in school there are plenty of online resources that are free which will give you the same knowledge.

I'm sure a lot of free composers will disagree with me, but I suppose it's how things change. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not all that fond of a few of those changes.

I'm not entirely sure how you could write music without being able to read notesheets (if only just being able to tell a C from an F#), though-- I thought it was a must?

I know I can't take something I improvised and consistently perform it without writing it that.

I know there are a lot of composers who started out without any sort of education, like Hans Zimmer. Zimmer is completely self-taught and look where he is today.

My point is just that basic knowledge helps. If you're going to try your hand at composing music without it, chances are you'll find yourself frustrated and end up quitting before you can get started. That's what kills most of today's composing talents; a lot of them either don't have the luxury of professional education, or they aren't encouraged to develop their talent, or they jump right into the fray and try to write but don't know the absolute basics. (of course there might be a multitude of other reasons)

In the latter example, maybe they upload their works to the Internet and someone leaves extremely negative comments on their music. On the Internet, people won't sugarcoat anything which I think is good, but people who are genuinely trying to help you are overshadowed by people who are trying to halt your development or who just don't want to give you good feedback.

I know myself how discouraging that can be for a beginning composer. If you have basic knowledge in music composition, at least you have a fairly solid starting point. You'll more than likely know how to improve your music.

Edit: Sorry, I tend to be rather long-winded when people disagree with me but don't elaborate on their reasons. It's not really that constructive and it doesn't help the OP at all.

OP question was: "Where do I start with composing game and film music?"

We've learned that OP does not appear to have any practical knowledge with music composition, and we do not yet know if he or she has ever composed music before. Admittedly I've yet to take the time to check his/her profile about that.

I'm merely offering what advice I have based on my own experience and education. If you wish to dispute my advice, I ask that you do so properly and explain your reasons for disagreeing. Unless you do so, your post could easily be considered spam.

And I can understand people wanting to break the rules, but another composer and a good friend of mine once said that "to break the rules you have to understand them first".

And that statement is always in the back of my head, and it is also the reason why I encourage new composers to learn the basics and at least a little bit of theory before they venture into the world of music composition.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone. I am trying to help new composers so that if they jump into the fray they'll be prepared for, and anticipate the amount of work that goes into a composition rather than be discouraged by it.

Agreed, I don't read music well, and I dont know orchestration at all, but I compose alot.... usually you feel the need to write music first....its just something that happens...or at least thats how it happened to me lol

What you're talking about is practical knowledge; you started out, probably with little to no knowledge at all, but persistence leads to improvement, and with improvement comes skill. I haven't listened to your pieces yet, but it takes talent to start out with virtually no knowledge at all and persist.

(edit) I don't mean that in a negative way at all, btw! Please don't misunderstand. I'm only assuming from what you described that you started out almost completely blank, which makes it even more impressive to me that you're writing the music that you do. Not just because you've got talent, but because when you write music in the way you described it's real. I can only describe it like painting a picture with sound. Unfortunately, to many composers I've spoken to before, music is just a bunch of dots on a notesheet to them. They don't believe in any kind of music "soul" or in emotion in music.

I took the liberty to listen to some of your works and I quite enjoy them. I think they're brilliant. For one who doesn't know orchestration at all, you do have a good ear for sound. Or talent, if you prefer that word!

Orchestration can be two things: It can be what you like, or it could be the standards set by others. It's something you learn as you compose in the case of the former and the more you compose, the better you'll get.

My point isn't that you can't compose music without basic knowledge! It is that basic knowledge will make it easier to get started.