Are There Rules to Writing Music?

[DJVespers]

When writing music are there rules? If there are, do you need to stick to them all the time? Or should they be broken? My take on things in the vid. Cheers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6V-YbzlAgc

[H20nly]

i think the general answer to your question is "no, but..."

there are rules to writing music in a certain genre. for example pop music is intro, 16 bars, hook, 16 bars, hook, bridge... etc etc.

different styles use different timings... i bet no one here could write a classical piece in 4/4, but then again, who knows?

if you've got something in mind or a style of music in mind, it might be better to elaborate on what that is a little more if you're hoping to pick up a tip or two right?




edit: ah... i see your vid. didn't watch/realize before. leaving my answer though

[ark]

Of course there are rules. But those rules describe what people usually do, rather than what people always should do.

It's easy to say that "if it sounds good, it is good;" but as one gains experience, things that used to sound good might no longer do so, and things that once didn't sound good now do.

Rules are a useful way of knowing what people generally expect. You can decide to fulfill those expectations or thwart them. If you fulfill them all the time, your music will be boring. If you thwart them all the time, it will be incomprehensible. The trick is finding a useful balance.

And it's hard to find that balance without first knowing what people are likely to expect.

[hacktheplanet]

Sorta.
If you are trying to appeal to a certain audience, you must follow stylistic guidelines.
Ironically, limiting your art based on stylistic guidelines can enhance creativity.

So you could say there are "rules" in a sense. How you choose to follow them defines you as an artist.

[ark]

Here's an example that I hope supports the point I'm trying to make. The song proper starts at about 2:00 in this video.

Now...Listen to the instrumental break that starts at about 3:52. This break completely violates the rule that an instrumental break should have a harmonic structure that is related in an obvious way to that of the song itself. But it's such a brilliant solo that in this case it doesn't matter.

[nathannn]

there are only rules is you want to sound "good" so, i guess the main rule is to tune your instrument.... after that there really are no rules.
if you want to sound like sonic youth then there are no rules.

[DJVespers]

Of course there are rules. But those rules describe what people usually do, rather than what people always should do.

It's easy to say that "if it sounds good, it is good;" but as one gains experience, things that used to sound good might no longer do so, and things that once didn't sound good now do.

Rules are a useful way of knowing what people generally expect. You can decide to fulfill those expectations or thwart them. If you fulfill them all the time, your music will be boring. If you thwart them all the time, it will be incomprehensible. The trick is finding a useful balance.

And it's hard to find that balance without first knowing what people are likely to expect.

Boom! Wise words. Nicely said.

[Khazul]

When writing music are there rules?

#1 - Thou shalt not write hip-hop, ever!
#2 - Thou shalt not write bleepy minimal shit, instead learn to fucking play something.
#3 - Thou shalt not write electro house using only one note and random movements of the pitch bend - see rule 2 part 2.

[LoopStationZebra]

No.

Rule Number One: NO FUCKING DUBSTEP.

[crumhorn]

In music you can do whatever you like but it helps to know a few techniques and methods and sufficient music theory to achieve what you are aiming for. To think of these as rules is limiting, they are just tools that you can use to help you realize your artistic (and commercial) goals.

[nathannn]

im sorta confused on dub step. at first i thought it was reggae electronic music then, i thought it was minimal electronic music.

i will throw out a rule for you people.
dont listen to people on these forums about what to make.
if you like trance make trance. if you like wobble bass thats fine also.
do what you want.


i make crap. do you think im going to let a forum members opinion on crap change what i make? nope.

[kanuck]

there are only rules is you want to sound "good" so, i guess the main rule is to tune your instrument.... after that there really are no rules.
if you want to sound like sonic youth then there are no rules.

this song sounds great with a detuned guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJHh1bRKD7k

[nathannn]

there are only rules is you want to sound "good" so, i guess the main rule is to tune your instrument.... after that there really are no rules.
if you want to sound like sonic youth then there are no rules.

this song sounds great with a detuned guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJHh1bRKD7k

your right it does.

they could have dirtied it up a bit more though. MORE OVERDRIVE!!!!
this reminds me of something i said in another thread... its like people are scared of over drive and distortion in there precious guitar signal.

[kanuck]

there are only rules is you want to sound "good" so, i guess the main rule is to tune your instrument.... after that there really are no rules.
if you want to sound like sonic youth then there are no rules.

this song sounds great with a detuned guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJHh1bRKD7k

your right it does.

they could have dirtied it up a bit more though. MORE OVERDRIVE!!!!
this reminds me of something i said in another thread... its like people are scared of over drive and distortion in there precious guitar signal.

I'm not going to speak about that particular song but as a guiarist the reason why I use less distortion is because distortion compresses and squishes your tone.. i like to play expressively and you lose a lot of that with high gain. of course it's good sometimes.

[savyurrecords]

I feel that one should learn the rules and then forget them.

Loopstation I feel your pain.

However, I feel that anytime one dismisses a certain way of doing things that person has closed their mind.

I try (sometimes in vain) to keep an open mind about all music genres. Esp. if I don't like them at first.

IMHO there is no such thing as good music or bad music. Only music I like and music I don't like. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean that someone else can't like it.


BTW Loopstation I have a good friend who lives near me that does pretty well with his 12 string Chapman Stick.

If you would like to listen to some his stuff look at the link below.

http://robmartino.com/

He also writes software for Wave Arts and Camel Audio. Cool guy, great Chapman chops.