3 Free Composing Exercises For Beginners

Exercise 1: Legato Melody

Writing Task: Compose a simple 8-bar melody using the string section legatos for a smooth and connected sound.

How to: In your DAW, load one or more strings instruments with the legato articulation (use sustains if you have no legatos). To ensure your melody has a clear, memorable contour follow these steps: introduce the main building block, or motif, repeat it to make the listener memorize it. Then let it descend or rise to a new place, and bring it back to the beginning for that sweet feeling of resolution. Imagine a gentle, undulating river, and let your melody reflect this fluidity. 

Use these steps to create a simple yet effective melody:

1. Introduce a 2-bar motif. A simple phrase that you use as building block for your melody. 
2. Repeat the motif. Can be a 100% identical repetition, or be very close to the original motif. 
3. Next, modify the motif. Make it sound similar to the original motif, but make it wander to a different place (for example upward in pitch).
4. Finally, conclude the motif back to the starting note in the fourth.

Sound Examples

Exercise 2: Short, Energetic Phrases

Writing Task: Compose a rhythmic phrase for the brass section using a short articulation to create an energetic feel.

Why?: This exercise is about understanding rhythm and how it brings life to your music. As a beginner, you might not have a wide range of articulations at your disposal, and that's okay. Using just one type of short articulation, like staccatissimo, you'll learn how to craft a phrase that moves and breathes with rhythm. This is a foundational skill for any composer and a stepping stone towards more complex compositions.

How to:

1. Load a Short Articulation: Choose a brass instrument with a staccatissimo or repetition articulation. If you don’t have a dedicated brass library, just use the staccatissimo trumpets or horns of your all-in-one orchestra library (e.g. Nucleus or the free BBCSO Discover). 
2. Create a Rhythmic Phrase: Write a melody or a phrase that uses short notes for a tight rhythm. If you're continuing from Exercise 1, try making a rhythmic variation of your melodic line.
3. Adjust note velocities: Even with a single articulation, dynamics play a crucial role. Make sure to add variation to the velocities (how hard each note is played) to make your music feel more alive. Increase velocity for strong beats, decrease for the in-between beats.
4. Ensure Timing is Precise: With rhythmic phrases, timing is everything. Add small imperfections to make the performance more human, but don't overdo it. Each note should be crisp and land tightly on or off the beat as intended.

Sound Examples

Exercise 3: Percussion Rhythms

Writing Task: Create a lively rhythm using different drums that fill the low, middle, and high frequency ranges.

Why?: This exercise is important because it teaches you to use all parts of the drum sound range - low, middle, and high - to make your music feel full and exciting. It helps you learn how to balance different drum sounds and make sure that there are different levels of movement in the groove.

How to:

1. Start with Low Percussion: Load a low drum sample (like a bass drum or low kick). Start by placing a few impactful hits at the start of each bar. Add slight variations to maintain interest.
2. Add High Percussion: Next, focus on high-frequency elements like shakers, rims, or sticks. Create a rhythmic pattern, perhaps a 16th note pulse, to frame the groove. Consider doubling this pattern with another high percussion instrument for texture.
3. Fill in with Mid Percussion: Use mid-sized drums like toms, taikos, or djembes to add rhythm and transitions. Place rhythmic fills at the end of every 4 or 8 bars to lead into the next phrase. Layer different mid-percussion instruments for richness.
4. Humanize Your MIDI: Slightly randomize timings and velocities to make your groove sound more natural and less mechanical.
5. Layer for Depth: Once you have your basic groove, layer additional drums on top in each frequency range to make the beat fuller and more complex.

Sound Examples