How can I compose a backing music to my songs?

Question

I play piano, and I know some guitar chords and I'm a beginner in violin.

I just cannot make background music, and it makes me feel so strange because I have great words but nothing to support my thoughts. Any advice?

Answer 1

Well, there's two approaches to it.. one is more intuitive (ie, guesswork) and the other is a little more calculated.

If you know the key of what you're singing in then you can try matching up different chords underneath what you're singing. In a given key, the most often used chords are the I, IV, V, and vi, and between those four chords you should be able to get at least something basic out. For instance, in the key of C that would be C, F, G, and Am.

The more calculated approach is if you actually know the notes of your melody. Knowing that, it's a matter of finding harmony notes that go underneath each note or combination of notes. For instance, if the melody has a part that goes A A G A F and you know that you're in the key of C, you might want to harmonize the first three notes as Am7, the next note with a D major chord, and the last as an F major chord. You're going out of key with that Am7, but you know it and resolve it with the next chord. Again, though, it takes a little more knowledge of what you're doing than just winging it.

Saul

Answer 2

think about the chords in any key (say C,  C Dm Em F G Am etc)

just jam, it will come to you.