Learning Musicky stuff

[Babar]

Hello all!

I've decided that since I can (basically) handle graphics, programming and story on my own, I should attempt to learn something about how to handle music. I've also decided that it would be simplest for me to use MIDI or some similar format for music.

My problem is that I know nothing about music at all. I have the basic ability of "This sounds right, this doesn't". I know nothing about notes, octaves, etc. I have a Synthesizer at home that I've scotch-taped "DO RE ME FA SO LA TI DO" to, and can plonk out "The Snake Dance" from memory. Aside from that, I can make random tunes that "Sound right" to me, but then am never able to repeat them. Figuring that the Synthesizer would be my best bet, I scouted around the market for a MIDI cable, but could not find any.

On the PC, I can cut and paste songs and come out with something the whole family can laugh at, but I don't think that is very useful. I had downloaded Microsoft Music Producer, which gives out random tunes according to the inputs you specify, but even to my untrained ear, it all sounds alike. I downloaded Midimaker, and although I enjoyed it's apparent ease of use, it seems to me that it would literally take hours to even come up with a semblance of how I'd like a piece to sound. I then downloaded Anvil, but that just got me confused. I just get frustrated, and load Boyd's "Keyboard Madness" program, where I can at least understand what's going on

I realise I will have to do some heavy help-file reading, but can someone suggest a good (and free) program that a beginner can start using easily? Also, can someone point out some tutorials for a beginner (I am having A LOT of difficulty finding these)?

Another point, will it really be necessary for me to learn notes? I know I shouldn't whine so much, but it seems such a troublesome thing...

* Babar curses his parents for never getting him in piano classes

What I mean is that I can write reasonable stories without having read up on things like "Catharsis", and I can make reasonable graphics without knowing all that much about "Colour Tables". I suppose I have an intense dislike to the idea that there should be a scientific way to make these things. I realise that I might (have to) learn all these things later on to be able to get better, but I don't think it was necessary to learn it all at the beginning. Is there an equivalent of a MSPaint in music where I can just choose the pencil tool and draw stickmen, childish backgrounds and have fun, or do I have to directly jump into knowing everything?

Bahh....perhaps I'm just moving into the Old Dog stage, but please, HELP!

[Nikolas]

Here is a tutorial about theory of music:

http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/theory/theory.htm

Here is a thread I made a little earlier, which might prove useful.

http://www.cgempire.com/forum/music-forum/472-music-tutorial.html

Other than that, I would say that learning notes is rather easy (at least I think so, sice the note names are 7 and that's all! Plus # and b and you're done with ALL the notes). then you get 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 ... 1/64 and you're done with most rhythms.

Other than that...

Saving a melody with your synth, could be made easy if you had it midi connected with your ocmputer, and everything you were playing was written in a music staff at once!

nothing else for now

[Sylvr]

From a music nerd, I can tell you that if you're plunking notes on a staff (that was my impression from the programs you described, but I should check them out), you should learn which notes are which. And perhaps about key signatures.

Edit: I use Noteworthy composer for composing. Once you know what you're doing, you should check out the free version. _{This is not a paid advertisment}

[Kweepa]

Is there an equivalent of a MSPaint in music where I can just choose the pencil tool and draw stickmen, childish backgrounds and have fun, or do I have to directly jump into knowing everything?

Wow, I totally sympathise. Thanks for expressing exactly what I'm thinking!
And thanks for the links Nikolas.

[Phemar]

Babar: I think that MSPaint of midis is called Anvil Studio. It is seriously one of the easiest programs to use, (took me about 5 minutes to learn). I know you said you tried it, but try this tutorial here, then you'll see how easy it all is.

Of course though actually learning how to compose songs is a different thing. You can write a song even with the most basic theory knowledge. At the end of the day it all mostly boils down to experience.

Search some theory tutorials, they'll help you! Hope you find what you're looking for.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I've found that Sibelius is a great tool. Of course, P2P is an ugly word, but the program really is amazing. I haven't yet found out anything it can't do.

[Tuomas]

Does it have the "make my song" button? I bet it doesn't.

Anyway, now about composing. I learned theory from my teacher, so I have no problems with that. Though I'm not that active a composer, meaning, I compose only a little, rather improvise with my guitar. Then my brother, he plays bass in our band, well, he looked in the internet because he wanted to learn theory. Most of our stuff is composed by him and it's great. he doesn't know much, but when something is lacking, I'll add it. It's basically about who has ideas and who can write them down.

I for one only use pen and paper, so learning anvil studio was frustrating. because: the sound was different in midi, frankly I hate the way midi sounds if I've heard it from my guitar, and then... I never knew how to let the notes ring longer... anyway.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

It doesn't, but it does have any other feature you can name, just about.

[Helm]

"Summon Azathoth through dischordant piping of heralds" ?

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

If you like, as long as you write the correct notes that produce just the right dischordancy and if you provide it with the correct herald-piping-midi-sound. But if it's not much trouble, I'd rather you didn't. Me and that guy go way back, and trust me, he ain't one you'd like to have in your sock drawer.