How to Compose a Song on the Computer

The great thing about the computer music revolution is it makes it so much easier to compose music, even for novices. Of course, some amount of talent is necessary, but you can build up a song piece by piece, rather than trying to handle everything at once.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A computer
• A multi-track program
• An audio interface
• Loops

1. First, get yourself a good multi-track recorder. If you’re on Mac: Logic or Garageband. If you’re on PC: Cubase or Pro Tools. There are many others. Make sure you’re able to record a maximum number of tracks—your computer’s processing power has a lot to do with this, not just the program itself. You'll also need an audio interface to record guitar, bass, or vocals.
2. Start with the drums. Lay down a simple drum track and let it play out for three to four minutes. Using a drum machine or loops makes this a lot easier. Loops are pre-recorded drum parts. A lot of loops can be downloaded for free online.
3. Add a bass line. Again, you can use loops. You can splice different bass lines together for the verse, chorus, and bridge.
4. Add synth, guitar, or other instrument. Here, a midi controller is highly recommended—a keyboard that triggers software or virtual instruments. You can switch around between instruments to see what sounds best—for example, play the same part as piano, as synth, as guitar, etc.
5. Add a vocal line. This is what trips people up, especially if they’ve never sung before. A good trick is to play a vocal line on the keyboard first, rather than writing the part with the voice. The same goes for harmonies—try and find the harmony on the keyboard or guitar, instead of trying to sing it. If you're really timid about this, start with an instrumental.

Tips & Warnings

• If this is your very first song, be patient. Don’t expect an immediate masterpiece. The good thing about computer music is you can fix a lot in the mix by changing levels, deleting a part, and adding extra sounds.
• After the basic tracks are complete, add layering: drum fills, pauses, pan instruments left or right, and rerecord any flawed parts.
• Listen carefully to your favorite songs and study how they’re composed. Recording a cover version can be really helpful to see how a song has been layered.