Learn Listening Online

Composing

Composing

General Information

Mac users: Choose one of the styles of music below and click once to select the file. A media player will appear on the screen but do not select play. Go to File and Save as, save the file to your Desktop. Import the MIDI file into your sequencer or music-writing program on your computer.

PC users: Choose one of the styles of music below and right click on the file you want and choose Save target as, save the file to your Desktop. Import the MIDI file into your sequencer or music-writing program on your computer.

Using MIDI files

You should find that you have accompaniment parts or chord structures from which to choose.

Ensure that your quantize is set at 1/8 note or quaver.

Baroque period - a simple ground bass

Choose, drag and copy the chords and arrange them into the order you want. Then make your own melody to match the chords below. Copy the work as many times as you like and change the melody as often as you like. You can often copy the melodies as well and build up a longer composition.

Classical period - a simple Alberti bass

Choose, drag and copy the chords and arrange them into the order you want. Then make your own melody to match the chords below.
Make up the first eight bars, then the second eight, which are in a minor key, and when you have finished, copy the first eight bars to the end to make a piece with the shape ABA, ternary form.

Late romantic - A simple accompaniment in the style of Erik Satie on a well-known chord structure.

Choose, drag and copy the chords and arrange them into the order you want. Then make your own melody to match the chords below. Copy the work as many times as you like and change the melody as often as you like. You can often copy the melodies as well and build up a longer composition. With this composition it may help to finish on Chord 1. If in doubt, first try the simpler version of this at Intermediate 1 or General level.