This page is a list of links to tips, tutorials for composing, orchestration, perhaps mixing etc. that I want to keep. It’s a dumping ground of links that I might turn into blog posts in the future but for now, I want to save them some place safe. (most recently added links will be at the top)
Also check out my blog posts for other links like these but with a summary or more elaborate description to accompany the links there.
Orchestration 101 (video)
– GrazGorilla takes a simple violin melody and shows multiple ways of adding accompaniment and also how to trade off the melody between various instrument groups.
How to write a MELODY using Melodic Manipulation (video)
– A good tutorial by Chromaticus on how to take a melody fragment and change it in multiple times to generate new material for your composition.
How to FIX a BORING Ostinato (video)
– Ryan Leach discusses how to make your ostinato do more than act as a metronome. Add, remove, lengthen or shorten notes for added interest.
Turn Your Loops Into Full Compositions! (video)
– Evenant shows how to take a small section of music, use fragments from that initial idea and expand it into a full composition.
How to Write for Orchestra: That Big Symphonic Sound (video)
– Inside The Score gives some useful tips to keep in mind on “How to orchestrate your music to get that big, Hollywood, symphonic sound. Sound like a Hollywood composer with good orchestration.“
Paul McCartney Reveals his Songwriting Secrets (audio interview) – Not a tutorial, but an interesting interview with Paul McCartney about his songwriting process and how he got started writing original music back in his earliest days.
How to Develop a Motif into a Full Piece! (video)
– TableTop Composer demonstrates a useful technique in the form of a template for taking a short musical idea and expanding it to a full length piece of music. Click here for the documentation that goes along with the video.
Epic action trailer music | A quick tutorial (video)
– Erik W gives “A quick tutorial on how you can create a generic orchestral “epic action trailer” style type of soundtrack, just using a few tracks!“
FROM PIANO TO FULL ORCHESTRA IN 10 MINS – How to orchestrate a piano chord progression (video)
– GBR MUSIC starts with a simple piano chord progression, then orchestrates it starting with bass root notes, cello a 5th above, violins playing arpeggiated chords and a french horn melody.
How To Write Epic String Staccatos in 5 Minutes (video)
– Alex Moukala goes through this very quickly but there are some good tips for creating interesting and dynamic ostinato patterns.
How to Write Music for TV – Song Structure (video)
– Nick Murray shows his formula for music cues for TV
– he demonstrates ABA and ABC type formats
How to Write a Song in 5 Minutes on the Piano (video)
– Pianote offers some quick tips on taking a simple chord progression, making a short melody and altering the melody to expand the composition
The rule of 3 for melody (article)
– Ryan Leach from envatotuts+ discusses melody idea, repetition, variation as applied to a motif
The rule of 3 for orchestration (article)
– Ryan Leach from envatotuts+ discusses organizing orchestration into no more than 3 layers, often just 2 layers with score and audio examples.
How I Make Epic Cinematic Music. Live Orchestral Composing Tutorial with Olexandr Ignatov (video)
– Olexandr demonstrates some live composing with commentary (lasts about an hour)
how or where do I put the performance script? the samples are not responding to the controller
I’m not exactly sure what you are asking but I’ll guess at a few possibilities.
I assume you’re not referring to a tutorial on this tutorials page, but instead to the installation instructions here?
In the picture that you’ll find at the above link, ensure the libs directory is in the same place as all those instrument directories from when you installed the performance samples.
Assuming the directory structure is correct as explained above, did you drag and drop a .sfz file into an sfz player in your Digital Audio Workstation (which is what you should do) or did you drag a .wav file?