[Post # 6] Before making some examples of sequences of chords and chord progressions here there are some brief tips for those who want to compose music.
1) Give your compositions always an organization. Later I will go deeper into this issue. For now is enough to say that the organization is essential in music. It helps the listener to orient themselves, it shows that the piece is studied and composed with a certain criterion. As a pop music composer alternate verses and chorus, so in other types of music there is the alternation of different themes in one piece. The way these themes are combined, or fight each other for being predominant in the piece is precise choice of the composer, who "organizes" the songs.
Personally, when I think of an easy listening piece for piano, I prefer is the structure A - B - A. Where A means "first theme" and B "second theme."
2) Use repetitions. But do not overdo with them. Too many repetitions can bore the listeners. Repeating by adding small changes and ornaments can be a good solution. You can switch between two themes repeated in full or you can repeat just part of them. Once again the choice depends only on the composer. I often use also structures like A - B - B - A or A - B - A - B, or A - B - A' (i.e. first theme slightly varied).
3) Do not mix too many fragmented, incomplete, or not fully developed themes. Unless this is the purpose of your composition: to create a collage of indefinite solitary small themes (which I would avoid at the beginning, it should be better left to advanced composers). Generally we can say that 2 up to 3 themes are more than sufficient for a composition.
4) Avoid excessively length. The excessive length may depend on too many repetitions (see point 2) or on too many different themes (see point 3). In this case the listener can be confused, you could lose his attention, he won't be listening the song again. Of course there are many exceptions, but let's leave them for now. We are aspiring composers. Let's say that 3 ½ minutes, maximum 4 minutes are sufficient.
5) Avoid excessive complexity. This is a popular mistake. To surprise the audience and to impress the listeners many composers use speed and sophistication, thinking that these are the key to the success of a song. That's wrong. It is the opposite. Simplicity, clarity, ability to provoke emotions are much more important.
6) Give your creativity the time it requires to find inspiration. Composing music takes a lot of time. Not only the time required to create the various sections of the piece, but also the time to organize it, to correct it, to refine it, to modify it (if necessary) and complete it. A composition may remain unfinished for years.
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  | Learn To Compose And Notate Music - Beginning Level (By Lee Evans and Martha Baker). Evans Piano Education. 24 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.9072) ...more info |
 | Complete Idiot"s Guide to Music Composition For composers. Reference Textbooks; Textbook - General. Complete Idiot"s Guide. Instructional and Composition. Instructional book. 264 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing (AP.74-1592574033) ...more info |
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