"This is part one of a basic composition guide for those of you out there who have talent, but don't quite know the basics and are therefore having the odd bit of trouble"  |  " have recently realised that there are now more and more home-grown wannabe composers out there than I thought. I personally put this down to the easy availability of sequencing software, such as cubase. It makes me think of days past when great games were written in bedrooms."  |  

An introduction to basic chord progressions  |  Includes Letter names & Roman Numerals  |  

"Structural Chord Progressions - In this guitar songwriting lesson earn how to create more tension and resolution in your songs by using progressions not just within sections, but across them. A free jam track is included"

"Songwriting - Part 1 - Guitarist Tom Hess gives some important tools to help with songwriting"

"Songwriting - Part 2 - Guitarist Tom Hess continues his series on songwriting by discussing the process of writing a melody first vs. writing the chords first"

"Writing Guitar Licks - Guitarist Randy Ellefson breaks down how to write hot guitar licks into several easy steps"

"Interval Riff Basics - Chords aren't your only option when playing and composing for rhythm guitar. This songwriting guitar lesson is the first in a series designed to introduce richer sounds to your music, including the use of counterpoint"

"Interval Riff Ornamentation - This guitar songwriting lesson is a follow up to "Interval Riff Basics" continues with ornamenting thirds and fifths to create melody and cooler guitar riffs. Many examples, guitar chord charts, and mp3s are included"

"The Art of Pre-Composition: Part 1 - Guitarist Kole teaches a technique that involves charting specific details of what you want to express in a composition before actual writing begins"

"The Art of Pre-Composition: Part 2 - Guitarist Kole continues his series on Pre-Composition on the guitar"

"Horizontal and Vertical Thinking - Part 1 - Guitarist Kole explains the concept of vertical thinking in composing music"

"3 Ways to get out of a Songwriting Rut! - Guitarist Kole gives some tips on how to spark your songwriting creativity"

"Voice Leading Tips for Writing Better Progressions: Part 1 - Guitarist Mike Philippov shows how your can improve the chord progressions that you write on the guitar"
 
 

"Have you ever wanted to write your own piece of music but weren’t exactly sure how to get started? Well now is your chance. With the help of a couple of excellent web sites, you are going to learn the basics of music theory and apply them by writing your own short composition."  |  

The Author uses 2 websites as resource material and offers step-by-step suggestions how to use them. 
 

Harmonize a melody - Chorale Mode  |  Harmonize a melody - Pop Mode   |  Substitute chords in the harmonized melodies   |  Build chord progressions   |  Harmonization Examples  |  

How To Play Piano For Beginners (And Save $500 In Lessons)  |  Introduction  |  Buying A Piano  |  
Lesson 1: Piano Basics  |  Terms  Lesson 2: Learning Notes   The White Keys   The Black Keys   
Lesson 3: Learning Chords  A Major  B Major  C Major  D Major  E Major  F Major  G Major  
Minor Chords Other Chords
Lesson 4: Learning Scales  A Major Scale  B Major Scale  C Major Scale  D Major Scale  E Major Scale  
F Major Scale  G Major Scale  The Minor Scale  Other Scales  
Lesson 5: Playing Simple Songs  |  Hot Cross Buns  |  Mary Had A Little Lamb  |  Row, Row, Row Your Boat  |   Lesson 6: Practicing

"Here you will find links to all of the music composition lessons on the site. You can, of course, begin with any topic that looks interesting to you. My recommendation is that you make sure that you are familiar with the information in the theory-oriented section before moving on."  |  

KEY SIGNATURES  -    CHORD FORMULAS  -  CHORD PROGRESSIONS  -  CHORD FUNCTIONS

THE SONG WRITING PROCESS  -  TIPS FOR SONGWRITING--Intro, Verse and Bridge  -  TIPS FOR 

SONGWRITING--Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Outro, Solos and Interlude  -  WRITING SONG LYRICS  -  

SONG WRITING SOFTWARE  -  SONG WRITING CONTESTS  -  PROFESSIONAL SONGWRITING TIPS 
 

    * 2.1 Number of notes
    * 2.2 Type of interval
    * 2.3 Quality and triads
    * 2.4 Scale degree
    * 2.5 Inversion

# 3 Types of chords

    * 3.1 Seventh chords
    * 3.2 Extended chords
    * 3.3 Sixth chords
          o 3.3.1 Group 1
          o 3.3.2 Group 2
    * 3.4 Chromatic alterations
    * 3.5 Added tone chords
    * 3.6 Suspended chords
    * 3.7 Borrowed chords
    * 3.8 Polychords
    * 3.9 Guitar and pop chord notation
          o 3.9.1 Power chords

# 4 Chord sequence
# 5 Nonchord tones and dissonance
# 6 Simultaneity
# 7 References

• Memorizing the Fretboard
• Basic Major Chords (C,A,G,E,D)
• Other Major Chords in Barre Form
• Basic Minor Chords (Am,Em,Dm)
• Other Minor Chords in Barre Form
• Moving Open Chords to Barre Form
• Strumming Technique
• Hammer-Ons and Strumming
• Advanced Chord Practice
    • How Chords are Constructed
• The C Major Scale
• The A Minor Scale
• Alternate Picking I
• Alternate Picking II
• Advanced Scale Practice
• Basic Fingerpicking
• Stringing Your Guitar
• 12-Bar Blues: What is it? 
 
 

"Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only genius's do. What a myth! It's a skill that can be learned. What can't be learned is the intuition that guides the creative force. What can be learned is the technique. And the most important part of composing technique has to do with THINKING IN PHRASES."