what you can learn in formal lessons are theory and harmony studies. so far i haven't come across any music center offer extensive harmony studies, only college/uni offering those classes. then, you can find teachers teaching classical theory anywhere.

then, what you can learn through online tutorial, or even by RTFM, is how to operate DAW and how to sequence midi. so you don't need to deal with writting scores.

idea making is highly personal, in the music scene, people only exchange ideas (and rarely one-way-share) and learn from each others. you won't learn much from a formal lessons apart from those very basic things like song structure, common chord progressions, phrasing, etc, which you can probably find enough free tutorials online, or even just analyze the song.

how to start? look at post #3 again.

it's the same with arrangement - copy, vary, arrange partial content, and do a completely new arrangement.

Thanks for all the tips given little ice, I sorta understand how it works already. The thing I want to ask is, how do I arrange a song and make it into a music, lets say adding drums and all (besides going to a studio). Is there a software that helps?

sounds like u need to get a band together rather than trying to do everything.

it's called DAW, digital audio workstation, e.g. Reaper, Cubase, Pro Tools, Logic, SONAR, and many more. can record audio and work with midi.


DIY alone is common enough. although more brains more ideas, also often means more argument.

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I really need to find a vocalist for my demo... My dry voice is horrible... ...

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Added on May 30, 2011, 4:58 pmBy the way, what are the possible channel to "expose" my demo?
e-mail to record label/put it up on the forum/etc?

This post has been edited by Stevenc89: May 30 2011, 04:58 PM

writing technique is very subjective..
getting a partner wont mean you will become a better writer although sometimes it is..
no one can teach you how to write,just like no one can teach you to be a better painter.they can just teach you how to paint.how good you become depends on your talent..

most A & R rep (this is the person you send your demos to at music label) have an ear for good songs..they dont usually care how good or bad you sing..their job is to recognise good song and if your song is good then it doesnt matter if you sing like chipmunk..a demo with just vocal is fine,although this is usually accompanied by instruments..its easier to write if you can play instruments..(this is if you are a songwriter,not a singer)

if your song is recognised and you get signed,its not your job to turn the song into a great song, its the producer's job (great producers such as timbaland,david foster,diane warren)..producers have this talent of turning a simple song into the best they can sound...say you send a demo of a song played with a single piano and vocals,this producer will then think of the bass line,guitar leads,piano leads,drum beat,tempo and etc....

Thanks for the info, now I have a clearer picture of songwriting as well as demo production. : )

Hey guys,

I've completed my very first demo song
But is it safe for me to straight away send it to any music label? Or do I have to file it for copyright first?
By the way, if I uploaded the song to any forum or my website, will music label still "accept" the song because it has been exposed to the public?

this is when it gets very tricky..i aint very sure about copyright,but you wont be able to get your song 'copyrighted' unless you are signed...music publishers will get your songs copyrighted if you are signed to them..as an individual,i dont believe any law in malaysia will allow you to get your song copyright/published..

so which means you are not protected and wont be able to get your song copyrighted unless you are signed to a publisher..and it is not easy getting signed to a publisher..getting signed to a publisher is the first step to becoming a professional song writer..once signed,you get paid for your work..

but i have not heard of any publisher/music label stealing songs from demo send in by song writer...so i think its quite safe to do so..and lets just say your song is very very good,i would think they rather sign you up for your potential rather than steal 1 song from you...

many individuals upload their original songs to youtube..this is a way to protect yourself because there is a record of the date your songs is uploaded which means you are the original writer..and music labels cant steal your song because the public have listened to your composition and there would be witnesses to it..i have heard people getting signed from music labels by posting their music on the net,but not sueing the music labels for stealing their ideas...

So the keyword for copyright in music industry is getting signed right?
I never thought of it and I think its impossible for me XD

As a youtube user, people did ask for my permission to use my music in their short film/project... I don't really mind but Im not really sure whether it offer a good protection or not...

Anyway, thanks for the reply. I think I might upload it on the net.

if someone is going to use your work for his/her own benefit and get payment from it, you are entitled to a percentage of that payment..this very much depends on the agreement between both parties..

depends on what u are comfortable with.