Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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This is a very quick primer on getting started making your own music for your own songs. I have deliberately bypassed the usual things about Key/Scale etc to get notes on the piano roll asap. It is more important to be moving than to stall over things that make more sense later. Besides, I did all that already in my Effective Music series.

The finished piece is here: youtu.be/k6KLY0UPnFo?si=SDcZDTtupUQsXQT2&t=487

If you do the work, this will see you delivering entirely usable backings to Demo your songs and have the package to hand off to a Producer - OR- you may choose to do it all yourself (it is a never-ending road).
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00:00:00 Intro
00:00:15 Avoidance
00:01:16 Developing Speed
00:02:07 Death Trap
00:03:41 Getting Started
00:05:02 Do Something & Check It
00:05:14 Turn LOOP Off
00:06:17 Variations
00:08:41 What Do I Hear Next
00:09:58 Keep on Truckin'
00:11:33 More Variation
00:13:04 New Sound
00:14:10 Naming for Control
00:15:32 Bass
00:19:28 Cadence
00:22:05 Verse 1 & 2
00:23:01 Drums
00:33:21 Natural Balance
00:36:54 Chorus
00:39:56 Arrangement
00:41:02 Conclusion