I got a sudden urge to try making some music. I haven't really tried to do anything in a really long time, so don't expect anything stellar.

I tried to achieve a melancholic feeling, and I think I got pretty close. I made an okay piano loop in my opinion, but as everything else in my song, it's really repetitive. I tried different arrangements and adding some crash cymbals here and there (bad idea in hindsight), but I still feel it lacks something. If anyone has ideas how to make it more interesting let me know.

AEROPOLIS - Spring Melancholy

All feedback welcome!

beg

991 Posts

April 03 2014 15:09 GMT

in my opinion, let go of songs that even you yourself dont really like. why waste time? just keep writing music.

dont waste a minute on something that doesnt completely satisfy yourself. i think most people tend to stick to whatever they're writing right now, and that's where most shitty amateur music is coming from.

ps: my post wasnt meant to judge your music at all, cause it's not my kind of music anyway. i was just using your own judgement ("song lacks something").

NukeD

Croatia1612 Posts

April 03 2014 15:34 GMT

The piano loop is anoying. Also you cant just make chords the theme. Ofc its gonna lack something. It lacks everything. What you got right now is just the arrangement, the background rhythm. You dont have a theme or a melody. The rhytm is too simple to hold on itself.

I know the problem you are having as a lot of people do when making music. You have this idea and the feeling of the song in your head and while you think that you achieved in composing that you infact didnt. People have no idea how the song should sound like and hear it differently than you because you already know how it should sound like. I hope you understand what I mean.

Right now you have the idea but you lack the knowledge of how to achieve it, the sounds, the progression, the dynamics etc. At least thats what your song is telling me.

Drumms dont make a song, neither do chords. You need a melody.

beg

991 Posts

April 03 2014 17:40 GMT

On April 04 2014 00:34 NukeD wrote:
The piano loop is anoying. Also you cant just make chords the theme. Ofc its gonna lack something. It lacks everything. What you got right now is just the arrangement, the background rhythm. You dont have a theme or a melody. The rhytm is too simple to hold on itself.

I know the problem you are having as a lot of people do when making music. You have this idea and the feeling of the song in your head and while you think that you achieved in composing that you infact didnt. People have no idea how the song should sound like and hear it differently than you because you already know how it should sound like. I hope you understand what I mean.

Right now you have the idea but you lack the knowledge of how to achieve it, the sounds, the progression, the dynamics etc. At least thats what your song is telling me.

Drumms dont make a song, neither do chords. You need a melody.

i dont know about your rules. there definitely is minimalistic music out there breaking most of what you're saying.

EsportsJohn

United States4883 Posts

April 03 2014 17:42 GMT

I think everything is decent except the piano loop. Drop it and consider something more interesting. Also, you need to address the flow of the song: you don't just want a song that has extra things layered on top of it for 3 minutes. Try composing 3 different sections and linking them together via a drum fill or some kind of synth wave or whatever.

Some food for thought:
Skrillex - Scary Monters...Zedd Remix (tbh, all of these remixes are amazing in studying variants on a theme in electronic music)
Blue Sky Black Death - Song About The End Delta Mirror
Deadmau5 - Faxing Berlin (Deadmau5 is a master of transitioning from one theme to another smoothly)

I disagree with the dude above me that you HAVE to have a melody. You need a clear goal and something that's singable, even if it's just random sounds (like dubstep) or the tops of chords. And maybe a little more rhythmic variety (or a more catchy beat).

NukeD

Croatia1612 Posts

April 03 2014 18:15 GMT

On April 04 2014 02:40 beg wrote:

Show nested quote +

i dont know about your rules. there definitely is minimalistic music out there breaking most of what you're saying.

What rules did I express in my post? There are no rules. I just wanted to say that I got the impression that he was not able to express what he wanted to.

He wanted it to be atmosperic I guess but I didnt hear it that way.

EDIT: On the poster above me; of course you dont have to have a melody. I was just thinking that that was the particular song is lacking.

Bunn

Estonia934 Posts

April 03 2014 19:03 GMT

Thank you for feedback all. I think I have a better idea of my weaknesses now.

NukeD is right, that I can't quite express myself. I have the idea in my head, but I can't quite turn it into what I'd want it to be. For example, I can create a minimalistic tune, but I can't make it sound good and interesting, when compared with experienced musicians.

Writing a good melody has proven difficult for me as well. I think I'll have to put more effort into learning music theory (too bad I don't play any insturments

virpi

Germany3598 Posts

April 03 2014 19:55 GMT

the piano loop really is annoying. throw it away asap! some other thoughts:
- for how long are you producing music? the track reminds me of my early works.
- are you using fl studio? that bass sound reminds of the good ol' 3xOSC synth^^
- you need better production. read some stuff about compressing, frequencies, filters, etc.
- unless you want to sound like some oldschool 90s dance music, you need to put more effort into both the sounds themselves and them blending into each other. so far, it's just a bunch of sequences arranged in some (more or less random) way.

I've also tried making minimalistic electronic music in the past. (proof) It's hard.

pebble444

Italy2497 Posts

April 04 2014 01:51 GMT

I think its okay, but i would cut the first 45 seconds off. Also you could try experimenting, instead of just trowing away the loop, why not try to give it to different instruments instead of only piano. I think this piece is still not at full potential. You should experiment as much as possible, even maybe with Pads/ long sounds or the human voice, which always brings attractivness to the ears.