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How to Create a Compelling Ostinato

Ryan Leach on Aug 16th 2011 with 30 comments

Twice a month we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Audiotuts+. This tutorial was first published in September 2008.

The ostinato pattern is a staple of modern music; across every genre you’ll find countless examples of pieces that at their core revolve around a single repeating ostinato pattern.

In this tutorial we’ll look at how to create an ostinato pattern from a simple outline, give it a unique and intriguing sound, and use this pattern as a basic building block for creating your own original compositions.

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How to Add Interest to Your Chord Progression

Joel Falconer on Mar 18th 2011 with 24 comments

Twice a month we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Audiotuts+. This tutorial was first published in August 2008.

Sometimes we spend hours, days, even months, struggling to find the perfect chord progression to suit the lyrics we’ve written. And then we find it, only to get bored sick of the same chords being repeated over, and over, and over again.

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Using MIDI for Inspiration and Foundation

Using MIDI for Inspiration and Foundation

Björgvin Benediktsson on Mar 4th 2011 with 9 comments

This tutorial can be used for a variety of purposes. You can find public domain songs to use for inspiration, using the preprogrammed MIDI to create something completely different than before. Alternatively you can use the MIDI songs to create better versions of the same songs, for use in musicals, karaoke and the sort. Musicals use a lot of famous pop songs with new lyrics so if you ever find yourself creating music for musicals or karaoke versions for your friends then you can download the MIDI files as a sort of a cheat system to record your stuff on top.

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Inspiration: Starting Tracks with a Vision You Will Want to Finish

Inspiration: Starting Tracks with a Vision You Will Want to Finish

Sean Duncan on Sep 1st 2010 with 4 comments

While it is possible to get a great track just by starting and seeing what happens, it can also be helpful to begin with an idea. With a goal in mind, it’s easier to create a cohesive track where the pieces of the puzzle come together to make a unified image. An idea, even if completely abandoned later on or altered beyond recognition, can serve as a great starting point and as a simple sketch to refer to when the painting gets complicated. This article is about coming up with ideas that start tracks, some places to find ideas, and how to be prepared for it when inspiration strikes.

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Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 3

Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 3

Jon Smith on Aug 11th 2010 with 13 comments
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies

Welcome back to Part 3 of our mini-series in ‘Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies’. If you missed the previous parts, then I do urge you to pop over and read those first, as there is a natural progression of the steps as we build on information learned from each previous stage. You can read Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

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Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 2

Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 2

Jon Smith on Jul 28th 2010 with 7 comments
This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies

Welcome to the second part of this mini-series. If you missed part one, I recommend reading that first to get a better understanding of what is going to be covered in the following steps in this tutorial. You can read Part 1 here.

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Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 1

Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies – Part 1

Jon Smith on Jul 14th 2010 with 16 comments
This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Seven Steps To Writing Memorable Melodies

One of the most common questions I get asked by my students is ‘How do I come up with a really good melody?’

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basix

Beginner’s Guide To Songwriting – Part 3

West Latta on Feb 3rd 2010 with 9 comments
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Beginner's Guide to Songwriting

This is the third tutorial in a series focused on showing complete beginners how to write a simple song. This series will focus predominantly on the process of writing a song, rather than the specific software and hardware techniques, skills and applications you might need in the recording, mixing, and mastering of that song.

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basix

Beginner’s Guide To Songwriting – Part 2

West Latta on Jan 13th 2010 with 8 comments
This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series Beginner's Guide to Songwriting

This BASIX tutorial is the second in a series focused on showing complete beginners how to write a simple song. This series will focus predominantly on the process of writing a song, rather than the specific software and hardware techniques, skills and applications you might need in the recording, mixing, and mastering of that song.

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Improvisation Basics: 12 Bar Blues & the Blues Scale

Joel Falconer on Jan 9th 2010 with 9 comments

A while back we took a look at the most basic lesson in guitar improvisation: the pentatonic scale. Today we’re covering what many would consider the second most basic lesson, and an excellent practice sandbox before you move on to more complicated techniques — the 12 bar blues and blues scale combo.

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