Learning music the right way
Some of you may or may not be aware of my misadventures composing garbage jingles in GarageBand.
My secrets are that I don't know any sheet music, nor do I know how to play an instrument. But I feel like I know what sounds good. But not quite how to make it.
What the fuck am I gonna do?
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Comments
with practice, they will sound more righter
that is how you do it
If you want the basics of notation and music theory, I suggest the AB Guide To Music Theory -- it's a couple small books that pretty much cover everything you need to know to get a basic understanding of western music theory. Doesn't have practice exercises though, and I gotta say I think those were a lot more useful in aiding in retention than I gave them credit for as a kid.
I can help explain any concepts you don't get, as can other people here who know music theory.
play notes over those chords
magick
Earlier this semester I emailed a bunch of pro journalists to ask for advice on how to enjoy a job in the industry for an assignment, and the best tip I got was that you have to be constantly unsatisfied because the drive to improve one's work is what pushes you to get better at it, and I think that's applicable here too. Experimenting and trying things that you haven't are going to be key in making your work better, and you don't always have to put it out to the world immediately after you make it; if you're doing things for yourself (as I do, most of the time) you can let things simmer for a bit and then come back to them with fresh eyes.
You don't have to necessarily get everything you make to 100% perfection because it isn't going to happen, but what you can do is look back and understand what you'd change or tweak as time goes by, and then apply that knowledge as you move forward. As far as my work goes I know I need to do a better job of EQing and understanding the importance of levels because I have moments where the feeling I'm trying to go for falls flat because there isn't enough of an aural oomph to the sound; I started to get a feeling for this by listening to my own work alongside that of other artists I enjoy that employ similar methods to the ones I do and really thinking about what made it work for theirs but not my own.
Like CA said, it isn't gonna be an instant thing, but it'll be so worth it if you stick with it. I never would have dreamed of making songs like the ones on my last full-length when I first put out my own stuff on Bandcamp, and I'm willing to bet when five more years pass I'll feel the same way about whatever I've gotten done at that point, assuming I'm still doing the whole Trevor Whatevr thing.