Resources for composers and music producers
There is a vast amount of free resources and instruments for musicians, here’s just a few highlights.
Learning music theory
- musictheory.net: free lessons and exercises
- music theory articles from Splice, an online music creation platform
- Hooktheory: software and interactive learning materials
- Hookpad: a “musical sketchpad with built-in music theory”
- Popular chord progressions
- Chord progression trends
- A Student Musician’s Guide to Music Theory (shared by Claire, who absolutely loves all things music)
- A short video on modal interchange from Myles Yang
Composing
- Film scoring for beginners, a start to finish scoring guide by Venus Theory, sound designer, musician, and a popular YouTube creator
- How to write better music by Paul Thomson, co-founder of Spitfire Audio and professional composer and producer
- How to study and learn composition by Ryan Leach, professional composer for film, TV and video games
- 10 essential orchestral scores by Ryan Leach
Free instruments
Before you can start making music, you will need a DAW, or digital audio workstation. If buying one is a bit of your budget for now, here’s a list of free ones.
- BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover by Spitfire Audio: 34 instruments and 47 techniques, including concert piano, strings, brass, and woodwinds
- LABS by Spitfire Audio: a large series of software instruments, including pianos, strings, synths, woodwinds, choir, and much more
- Pianobook: a community that shares free samples and instruments, too many to list here, and some quite unique ones
- Analog Lab Play by Arturia: a free version of Analog Lab, with 100 presets (“synths, keys, basses, pads, and more”), 4 macros (brightness, timbre, time, movement), and 4 effects: 2 mod effects, delay, reverb
- Signal Free: a free version of the Signal “pulse engine” synth, includes: 4 sound sources, 2GB of content, 25 Pulse Instruments
More challenges
- Music Weeklies Challenge: “compose a brand new original song in keeping with the theme and constraints”
- Disquiet Junto: weekly challenges that “use constraints to stoke creativity”