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frootza
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11m 29d

Composition Advice (#1)

Posted by frootza - May 29th, 2015


Composition Tips #1

Being an Honest Composer

Limitations

All instruments have limits of what can be physically played by musicians in a live setting. I hear quite frequently, compositions which sound great in terms of their actual sound output. But, the music itself is, in reality unplayable by actual musicians. You need to keep in mind what the players can actually play, otherwise you will be trapped within the realm of digital performance which isn't ideal.

Mind you, there is absolutely nothing inherintely wrong with writing like this. Writing from your heart so to speak. Most would encourage you to just write whatever you feel. This too, is great practice. You can write some great music, but it will never be performed live UNLESS you actually learn what can be done.

Why should you even be concerned with the limitations of live performers? Why should you even bother to write for musicians?

The first question:

Musicians spend years harnessing their craft, in the same way you may have spent years harnessing your production and writing skills. It is unprofessional, and to some, almost insulting, to receive a piece designed to be played by one's designated instrument, only to find that the music can't be played. Not because they aren't skilled enough to play the piece, but because the instrument is unable to handle what has been written. Even the most virtuostic of performers have their limits, due largely in part to the instrument's design itself.

The second question:

Digital performances can sound great. They often DO create the illusion of realistic performances. But it feels much more rewarding having your work performed by real people than it does having your work "played back" by a VST. Keep the idea of writing for live performers in mind. It can be done! In doing so, you will increase your chances, greatly, of having that work performed. You may even be asked by an orchestra member who enjoys your piece, if they can purchase your score so that it can be played in front of a live audience, or recorded in a studio by real players.

Examples...

#1) You write a piano composition. You hear the playback, it sounds wonderful. In fact, it is wonderful. You wrote an excellent piece of music! A pianists asks you for the score, and you happily oblige and give it to them. Upon reviewing the score, the pianist realizes that the left hand part features octaves. Playable, of course. But the octave part you've written happens to jump up a seventh. The tempo is too fast, being written at Presto. What happens now? Your work falls under the category of a digital performance.

#2) You've written a brass arrangement. It sounds really great! The band you've worked out a deal with is eager to play the arrangement for a rehearsal. It turns out that your flugelhorn part holds a high C for 10 measures straight at 60 beats per minute. What happens now? There is only one flugelhorn player in the band, and they can't play the high C for ten measures. The composition loses it's playability. Again the works becomes a strict digital performance.

#3) You write a metal song. It's really awesome, and you've air drummed through the parts, and it feels playable for you. The bridge arrives as the drummer is reading through the piece. The bass drum is playing a semi complicated 32nd note pattern. Six measures into the bridge, the drummer's heels tire out, they slow their playing down and lose the tempo. You are upset that the drummer couldn't handle the part you wrote, and you try playing the same part on the drum kit. You realize that you can't even play the same part you wrote at half the tempo. What happens now? Digital performance land.

How to begin applying these ideas to your own work.

1) Have a reference sheet handy which includes the range of the instruments you are writing for. You want to avoid accidentally writing a part which is too high or too low for the instrument to reproduce

2) Ask yourself, occasionally... "How hard will this be to play? What skill level am I writing for? How many musicians would be required to play this?" When it comes to transcribing your score, if you've had these questions in mind, the transcription process will be much smoother.

3) Look at a picture of the instrument you are writing for. Having a handy, clear image of the fretboard or piano can help with writing a more cohesive piece. You may have written a harmony to be played by a single player that needs to be performed by two players separately, or you have have written a piano chord that would require a second player to accomplish.

4) Learn as much as you can about the instruments you are writing for. Watch videos. Go to a rehearsal. See a few shows that feature live players and watch what they are doing closely. The more you learn about each individual instrument, the more effectively you will be able to write for said instruments.

5) Find players, and ask them to review your work. You don't need to have them play the entire piece. But if there is a particular section that you are questioning, then it would be useful to get a second opinion. As you improve, these players just might want to play your music! Which, is of course, one of the primary purposes of me sharing my viewpoint here. :)

Enjoy the journey! More tips to come as I think of new and relevant topics to address that I feel I'm qualified to advise upon.


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