How to Create a Song for Free
Computers have revolutionized the creation and distribution of music. The appearance of the first MIDI-compatible keyboard opened the difficult world of musical creation to novice composers. Today the instruments have changed, along with the way the notes are arranged. The easiest way to make a free song is with a sequencer.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Download the free Linux Multimedia Studio (LMMS) from the Website (Reference 1). There are versions available for both Mac- and Windows-based computers, as well as Linux.
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Install the program, following the on-screen directions. When LMMS is finished, open the program.
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A screen should pop up titled "Set up LMMS." Keep the default settings and click "OK." This will bring you to the main screen.
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Click the "Presets" button on the sidebar to open up your instruments. This button has a yellow star in the middle. These "instruments" are prerecorded sounds for each key range of a real instrument.
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Click the folder labeled "ZynAddSubFX." In this folder are a variety of sounds and presets for you to explore. One such preset is in the folder labeled "Strings." To get a movie-type background-symphony string sound, select "0066-Dual Strings.xviz."
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Click and drag DualStrings over to your "Song-Editor" window. This will enable it for use in your song. You'll notice some gray blocks to the right of DualStrings in the Song-Editor window. Click the first gray block. Another block should appear.
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Double-click the new block to take you into the piano roll, which is where the actual composing of musical notes happens. Each block on the y-axis represents a note on the keyboard. Each block on the x-axis represents an amount of time.
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Experiment with sounds by pressing the keys of the keyboard. Then click around to create sound blocks. When you are finished, push the "Play" button in the upper left-hand corner.
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Add more instruments by dragging them into the Song-Editor window. Edit the piano roll the same way and let your creativity run free.
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Tips & Warnings
- Try to recreate simple songs at first to get an idea of timing and melodies.
- Download MIDI files and import them to see how the more complicated songs look.
- Once you've mastered LMMS, you might want to look at the more powerful, but costly, FLStudio.
- Always remember to save frequently. You don't want your music lost if there is a power outage or the computer freezes.
