What is the best instrument to learn for composing music?

tomgat · 03-27-2012, 07:02 AM

Hi friends,I really want to get into composing music. I'm too intresting in song lyrics. I find that I can understand the structure of music best with a piano over other instruments. And then drums for percussion. If I learn these 2 instruments well would I have a good understanding of music on a pitch/tone and percussion basis? If that makes sense?

Howard the Duck · 03-27-2012, 07:41 AM

i compose mostly by guitar and singing

i think structurally it is better to compose with a piano, because you can break it down to the chordal part and the overlaying melody

it's much harder to do so with a guitar

Batty · 03-29-2012, 11:13 PM

Got to be Piano

SATCHMO · 03-30-2012, 12:37 AM

Yeah, Piano is definitely the default compositional instrument. All the notes are laid out linearly, there's more chord inversions and voicings available, You can play melody and harmony independently of each other and simultaneously, and on most keyboards you have at least 4-7 octaves to work with.

anticipation · 03-30-2012, 12:42 AM

y'all got it all wrong.

Sljslj · 03-30-2012, 08:08 PM

Damn, everyone beat me to it....

Piano.

**Janszoon** · 03-31-2012, 12:09 AM

Trombone, obviously.

Dr_Rez · 03-31-2012, 02:15 PM

I dont even play piano but to say its anyhting but a piano is ludacris. Sure some styles lend them selves to certain stuff but OVERALL the piano is whats been used for hundreds of years. I mean theory makes SO much more sense when looking at a piano keyboard.

mr dave · 04-01-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Rez

I dont even play piano but to say its anyhting but a piano is

...sorry couldn't resist

The Bullet · 04-05-2012, 07:41 PM

Yeah, everyone says piano and I agree, even though I don't play piano. What ever I could say for it has already been said.

However, I think guitar is almost as, if not as important for any music that uses one. Guitar chords are phrased so differently, pop/rock, jazz, or otherwise (except for classical), and no one has wide enough fingers to play them on the piano. So to answer what you're really asking, which is "will piano and drums teach me the ropes?" I'd say also learn at least the first few basic guitar chords. Just the first few, though. Piano should cover you.

03-27-2012, 07:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
tomgat Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1	What is the best instrument to learn for composing music? Hi friends,I really want to get into composing music. I'm too intresting in song lyrics. I find that I can understand the structure of music best with a piano over other instruments. And then drums for percussion. If I learn these 2 instruments well would I have a good understanding of music on a pitch/tone and percussion basis? If that makes sense?

03-29-2012, 11:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Batty Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Australia Posts: 194	Got to be Piano __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Batt1958/charts Earworms Rool.

03-30-2012, 08:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sljslj The Omniscient Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Reno, Nevada, USA Posts: 998	Damn, everyone beat me to it.... Piano. __________________ MY LYRICS

03-31-2012, 12:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Trombone, obviously. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

03-31-2012, 02:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,360	I dont even play piano but to say its anyhting but a piano is ludacris. Sure some styles lend them selves to certain stuff but OVERALL the piano is whats been used for hundreds of years. I mean theory makes SO much more sense when looking at a piano keyboard. __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

03-30-2012, 12:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	Yeah, Piano is definitely the default compositional instrument. All the notes are laid out linearly, there's more chord inversions and voicings available, You can play melody and harmony independently of each other and simultaneously, and on most keyboards you have at least 4-7 octaves to work with.

03-30-2012, 12:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	y'all got it all wrong.

04-05-2012, 07:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
The Bullet Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 454	Yeah, everyone says piano and I agree, even though I don't play piano. What ever I could say for it has already been said. However, I think guitar is almost as, if not as important for any music that uses one. Guitar chords are phrased so differently, pop/rock, jazz, or otherwise (except for classical), and no one has wide enough fingers to play them on the piano. So to answer what you're really asking, which is "will piano and drums teach me the ropes?" I'd say also learn at least the first few basic guitar chords. Just the first few, though. Piano should cover you.