Creative writing in music can begin in many different ways, depending on the musician’s background and approach. If you’re a singer—or simply someone who comes up with songs and melodies—you might find it helpful to learn guitar or piano to accompany your voice. In this case, the creative process often starts with a melody, with harmonic accompaniment added afterward to shape the mood and enrich the sound.
On the flip side, many guitarists and pianists create music by first developing the harmonic structure. They build a chord progression or song structure that then inspires a melody—or even multiple melodies. Sometimes, melody and harmony emerge simultaneously, whether through inspiration or experimentation.
Regardless of where you start, a composer should have at least a general sense of the rhythm that ties the melody and harmony together. Those with experience writing music on paper or recording it will naturally find it easier to capture and refine the ideas they hear.
Even Mozart, one of history’s greatest composers, struggled with the sheer volume of music he could hear in his mind. In his time, there were no recording devices—he needed an entire orchestra present just to hear what he had composed. Today, modern musicians have an enormous advantage: an array of recording tools that fit virtually every budget.
For example, I once recorded a couple of songs during a two-hour car ride using just a handheld Boss Micro BR recorder and a Traveler Escape acoustic-electric guitar. For under $200, you can get a device with direct line-in inputs, onboard condenser mics, vocal and instrumental effects, stereo capabilities, and even a full mixing suite.
If you own a Mac, you may not realize that you already have an incredible tool at your fingertips: GarageBand. It’s a luxury that composers like Mozart or even early pop pioneers could never have dreamed of.
That said, technology can also become a distraction. Many musicians get so caught up in gear that they forget the most important part: writing the music. The market is flooded with endless choices for home recording equipment, but if your focus is songwriting, keep it there. Choose a recording device, learn it thoroughly, and stick with it—don’t get lost chasing the newest model.
by Henry Bahrou – Guitarist, Music Theorist, and Music Academy Director
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