Any artist who has tried their hand at songwriting likely knows the struggle of composing a compelling melody, and may often give up in frustration before achieving success. Here we look at five valuable tools that can help artists in this creative endeavor.
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Guest post by Lucy Benton
For a musician, a search for a melody that will conquer the hearts of millions of people is an everyday challenge. To find the desired sound, many musicians spend endless hours playing the instruments and writing down everything they’ve come up with. But, as the nature of all musicians is very unsteady, they are prone to destroy what they’ve done and start all over again.
Thus, sometimes the process of writing music can turn into a real struggle. And it can get really overwhelming and will kill any motivation to ever finish that piece you have been working on for hours. But how can you make the process of writing music more simple? These amazing tools will be of a great help to all the musicians, who’re struggling to find that perfect sound!
In the 21st century, it’s all about technology. Writing music on a sheet is old-fashioned and also disrespectful towards the environment! MusicScore offers wonderful tools to create and play music and, if you need it, when you’ve finished you can download the music sheet. Motivating the creativity of the artists is the primary goal of the developers of this software.
Advantages of this tool:
- Easy to use: MuseScore provides musicians with all possible tools for music writing, and it is still very easy to use. It doesn’t take too long to figure out how it works, and if you still can’t understand something, MuseScore support team is ready to help you out.
- Smart tool: It also configures with your midi keyboard, so you can just sit down and play while this software is writing down everything you’ve come up with.
- Multilingual: It comes in 64 languages and is available to everyone.
If you work as a DJ, you probably struggle to find the software that will make your work easier and more enjoyable. Mixxx is an advanced tool for DJs that helps write quality music. All the tools that this software has to offer come in an integrated package. Mixxx has all the tools that every DJ desperately needs.
Advantages of this tool:
- Integrates with iTunes: every playlist you’ve saved in iTunes or every song you’ve liked can be streamed through Mixxx during your next performance. Using the tools that this software has to offer, you can create your own remixes right on the spot.
- DJ Controller Support: with HID and MIDI controllers in one package you will be all set for your next DJ performance.
- Frequent updates: the developers frequently prepare the necessary updates so that their customers are provided with the best up-to-date DJ tools!
Audacity is one of the few programs that can work with multiple file formats, including MP3, WAV, AIFF and many more. It’s very versatile, quick and easy to use. “I write music as a hobby, and it was a real struggle to find a tool that would fit me perfectly”, says Anna Harris, a developer. “I tried a lot of tools and finally chose Audacity because it’s simple to use and offers plenty of cool tools for composers.”
Advantages of this tool:
- Completely free: this tool was created to support the creativity of musicians and help them find the right sound. You can download this software for free and enjoy all its features without paying a ton of money.
- Great editing tool: Audacity offers a lot of tools for editing and cutting the track and also has a lot of sound effects that you can add to your music track.
- Frequently updated: Audacity was created a while ago and since its creation, it was frequently updated to provide its users with the latest and the coolest tools for music writing.
Linux Multimedia Studio is a great tool because it’s very simple to use. You don’t need to spend days to figure out how to work with this software and this makes the process of writing music more enjoyable. It works as a tracker, sequencer, synthesizer and a mixer, offering you the possibility of editing each note manually.
Advantages of this tool:
- Modern interface: this software is frequently updated in order to maximize its simplicity and make the music writing process easier and more enjoyable.
- Variety of plugins: LMMS offers a lot of music and sound effect plugins to make your music sound more exciting.
- Configures with a lot of platforms: LMMS works on Windows, Linux, and iOS, so it’s accessible to anyone.
This software offers tools for recording MIDI, composing, sequencing and playing music. Anvil Studio has a free edition but you can also buy some features that you’ll need during the process of writing music.
Advantages of this tool:
- Lots of additional tools and accessories: the program doesn’t come with a ton of unnecessary features, you can buy the accessories that you’ll need later and adjust the software to your needs.
- Sequencing with MIDI equipment: this software sequences with your midi keyboard, making the music writing process easier.
- Manual editing features: you can go on playing music without worrying that you won’t be able to edit the piece you’ve written. Every note written down by the Anvil Studio can be edited manually.
Bonus: Tools for Writing Lyrics
Want to get started with writing lyrics for your songs? There is a long way between the first song and the best-selling song, but these tools will surely speed things up:
- MasterWriter. A powerful suite of writing tools for songwriting, lyric writing, creative writing, and poetry software that helps users to express themselves in a unique way.
- Songwriter101. This tool may help you get your muse back by providing demos, tips for writing lyrics, and lots of other useful stuff.
- Assignmenthelper. Professional assistance with writing to produce texts that people will love listening to. 24/7 help will ensure comfortable communication.
- ChordPro Buddy. Edit, play, print, show, format, and transpose lyrics, create and store beautiful layout for your lyrics with this Mac app.
Conclusion
Music writing process is all about creativity and simplicity. You shouldn’t struggle and get overwhelmed in order to reach the perfect sound. These tools will do the job for you, and you can just enjoy this creative process!
Lucy Benton is a writing coach, an editor who finds her passion in expressing own thoughts as a blogger. She is constantly looking for the ways to improve her skills and expertise. Also Lucy has her own blog ProWriting where you can check her last publications. If you’re interested in working with Lucy , you can find her on Twitter.