If you have downloaded our interactive poster: Composition Starting Points, this post provides the further information and accompanying videos/audio tracks.
Download the FREE Composition Starting Points poster.
Composition starting points
This interactive poster shares 6 ways to get started with a music composition.
1. Melodic motif
A motif (short idea) tends to be simple. It may only last for a few seconds and although it may not seem very exciting at first, it has the potential to develop into something memorable.
Motif from ‘Imperial March’ by John Williams
The first 9 seconds demonstrate a rhythmic ostinato (repeating pattern). At 00:10 the main theme begins. Listen to the 4 second motif which then develops into a longer theme.
Carol of the Bells (instrumental version by Lindsey Stirling)
Opening of ‘The Simpsons’ theme by Danny Elfman
Watch the first few seconds of the video and listen to when the voices sing ‘The Simpsons’. That’s an example of a short motif!
Carol of the Bells
E natural minor scale:
The opening motif begins with an ascending E minor triad:
The ‘Carol of the Bells’ melody is based on 3 notes of the E minor scale:
Notice how this motif is repeated to create an ostinato.
2. Rhythmic motif
Some motifs may also have pitch but be driven by the rhythm (see Beethoven and The White Stripes examples below).
We will rock you by Queen
Opening rhythmic motif:
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
The opening bass riff with memorable rhythmic motif, drives the whole song:
Symphony no. 5, 1st movement by Beethoven
The opening motif is characterised by the short-short-short-long pattern.
3. Scale / mode
Which one to choose?
There are hundreds of different scales you can use when improvising and composing.
Berklee College of Music has provided this comprehensive list of scales/modes where you can see and hear each one.
Try it yourself
- Choose a couple to try out.
- Have a go at laying/singing them on your instrument/voice.
- Now choose three or four notes and play around with them. Try them with different rhythms and at various octaves.
- If you have access to a DAW, play your ideas along with a drum track or chord sequence.
4. Chord sequence
Start with 4 chords
It’s a good idea to start by choosing a key and then identify the most common chords: I, IV, V, vi (1, 4, 5, 6). Or you could sit at the piano (or guitar!) and try out different chords.
- Once you have a sequence that you’re happy with, record it in some way – in a DAW, on your phone or on paper.
- Remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect. Record something and you can always go back and adapt it.
- Think about songs that you like and have a look at the chord sequences that they use. Could you use those as a starting point, changing some aspects of the sequence?
Block chords
Block chords rearranged
Broken chords 1
Broken chords 2
Top tip!
Try a free online sketchpad like Hookpad, Audiotool or Muted.io to try out some ideas.
Try these chords!
- Extended chords e.g. added 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th
- Chromatic chords e.g. augmented and diminished chords
- Suspended chords e.g. sus2 and sus4 (replace the third of the chord with the 2nd or 4th)
5. Words
Poetry websites
If you want to write your own words, have a look at these websites for inspiration from poetry:
Lyrics generators
If you’d prefer more structured guidance, you may want to turn to AI for assistance:
