How to Compose a Song

Compose your own music, using basic chords.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Piano or organ
• Basic knowledge of how to play piano or organ

1. Compose the chords first. Decide which chords to play, and in which order to play. For example, playing in C tune, the basic chords are C, F and G.
   Example:
   C - C - F - C
   C - F - G - C
   C - C - F - C
   C - F - G - C
   
   Note: always start and end on the main chord, and always end the tone on the 1st tone of the main chord.
   In this example, song must start and end with C, and the last tone played in the song must be C.

2. Choose among the tones used within the basic chord to compose the song.
   Tones within C: c - e - g
   F: f - a - c
   G: g - h - d
   Example:
   C - C - F - C
   c e e g g g c e f f a c c g e c
   
   C - F - G - C
   c c e g a a a f g h h g g g e c
   
   C - C - F - C
   c e e g g g c e f f a c c g e c
   
   C - F - G - C
   g g g g a a a f g g g h c c c c

3. As you get comfortable doing it - play with adding tones not within the chord. For instance, the 6th tone often sounds good.
   The 6th tone of C: a
   F: d
   G: e
   
   Also the G major (G7) often sounds good at the end, just before you end the song with the main chord.

Tips & Warnings

• Take simple songs you already know, like "Twinkle twinkle little star", and change some of the tones within the song. Creating your own spin of the song.
• You know the chose of chords are good if you copy an existing song to use as chords, such as "Twinkle twinkle little star". Then create your own tones within those chords.