How many people write music without an instrument?

[Tryxx]

I'm sure there are quite a few people that can and do write music without ever picking up their bass. I'm sure perfect pitch, and the basis of theory telling you where to go at times help.

Anyone on here do it? Have an example of what they've done, and can you explain that process?

Just curious.

[Ting]

I can hear a song and "learn" the song without my bass. But i can't write music like that.

[Richi]

I've done it a few times. Just simple little things. I basically just pick what key I want, play the root in my head and then whatever note I'm wanting right after, pick out the interval and write it down.

My teacher gave me a whole bunch of really famous songs to remember intervals by. Like Star Wars for a 5th, Amazing Grace for a 4th, Oh When the Saints for a 3rd etc.

Helped a lot.

[fajitaben3]

I have definitely written music without an instrument, but I usually have my guitar when I write it, sometimes not. If you want me to give examples of things I've written without a guitar or instrument, I can give you them, but I don't think I've ever written an entire song without an instrument, just certain parts.

[fathergoat]

I can do a progression in my head or whatnot easily, but I usually am off on the starting note so I have to shift it appropriately.

It sometimes requires some humming.

I remember some one on here like 3 years ago telling me that it was somehow important to learn how to do it, so I tried and it worked.

[EADG]

I learn and write songs without my instrument

edit: I actually do at least 80% of my practicing/songwriting without my instrument

[fathergoat]

****, i posted this in the wrong thread.

[Akira]

I have to do some pencil and paper writing without an instrument for AP Music Theory, but in all honestly it is usually just that - theoretical. I can't hear the the things I write in my head.

[Livewire]

I'm like Ting. I can learn a song without my bass in front of me. Sometimes I get lucky and can actually see a bassline in my head and I can write to it but that's rarely. If that makes any sense at all.

[One Groovin Clown]

If you mean by writing music, as in me whistling/humming a tune, finding it neat, then trying to play it out on my bass, then ya, I write music without playing my instrument.

[SlincoJ]

I've had to write short compositions and little melodies without an instrument for music class before,but other than that I always have some kind of instrument with me when I'm writing.

[trumpeter]

I can write a fair bit without an instrument, but I much prefer to have some sort of instrument in front of me (trumpet, piano, bass, guitar, midi synth on the computer, etc...) just to make sure everything sounds like I think it will. It usually turns out pretty well.

[jollygiantchris]

i think up interesting rhythms while im at work and might write them down in notation but thats about it =x

[Pluperfect_Arson]

That is how I wrote all of my 4-part harmony crap when I was in music theory, and I continue to write music like that. I find it harder to write with an instrument than it is to without. Instruments are for douche bags, tbqh.

[fajitaben3]

That is how I wrote all of my 4-part harmony crap when I was in music theory, and I continue to write music like that. I find it harder to write with an instrument than it is to without. Instruments are for douche bags, tbqh.

Yes, but you don't know how to write anything other than 4 part classical voicings.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

Yes, but you don't know how to write anything other than 4 part classical voicings.

I could if I tried, but I just respec'd Ret (I am going for ultimate DPS, **** tanking), and I can now summon my Warhorse.

**** YEAH!

[fajitaben3]

How did I know you were going to WoWify this thread and ruin it.

[Saitoku]

I can write music without an instrument, but I really prefer to have one with me. It makes the process much faster.

You don't need perfect pitch to do it, you just need to be able to think in terms of scale degrees in your head. (i.e. know what it will sound like or be able to sing a jump from root to 5th.) Anyone that can sing the "do re mi" (major) scale can do this. Learning how to flat or sharp those various notes is the only thing you might have to teach yourself, and that doesn't take a lifetime to learn.

[One Groovin Clown]

I could if I tried, but I just respec'd Ret (I am going for ultimate DPS, **** tanking), and I can now summon my Warhorse.

**** YEAH!

Way to ruin the thread.

lol @ pally dps/.

[trumpeter]

lulz@Nik thinking a ret pally is a good spec.






But yes, it is possible to be able to recognize/hear intervals without any sort of "perfect" pitch.

[Sablate McNuff]

Yeah. Guitar Pro.

/thread.


Actually, I think of what I want, put it into guitar pro after humming bits and pieces to figure out where I want to go. Guitar pro just helps me collect my ideas.

[fajitaben3]

Guitar pro counts as using an instrument, nub.

Also, of course you can hear intervals without perfect pitch, it's called relative pitch.

Nik you ****ing ruined this thread ihu.

[EADG]

Guitar pro counts as using an instrument, nub.


umm what


computer software = instrument?

[fajitaben3]

umm what


computer software = instrument?

I figured it would in this thread because you can hear everything you are clicking just as if you could hear everything you are playing.

If Guitar Pro does not count as an instrument, then I have not used an instrument for about 3/4 of what i've written.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

lulz@Nik thinking a ret pally is a good spec.

My only problem with it is that I take so much damage, as opposed to Prot, holy crap. They are redoing the Ret tree, I guess, in 2.3? It's not bad. I crit at ~550, so I am not complaining.

I am probably going to go Ret/Holy spec, so that I can DPS and side-heal.

I just like seeing big numbers. :upset:

[trumpeter]

My only problem with it is that I take so much damage, as opposed to Prot, holy crap. They are redoing the Ret tree, I guess, in 2.3? It's not bad. I crit at ~550, so I am not complaining.

I am probably going to go Ret/Holy spec, so that I can DPS and side-heal.

I just like seeing big numbers. :upset:

No one likes Ret pallies. Why didn't you just roll a REAL dps class so you could have even bigger numbers?




Contribution to this thread: I think GP can count as an instrument since it is essentially modeling an instrument and pumping it through your computer (that is...if that is how you are using it). The original question in the thread made me think like writing with pen and paper on manuscript paper without any sort of instrument to tell pitch.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

No one likes Ret pallies. Why didn't you just roll a REAL dps class so you could have even bigger numbers?

Well, I could have rolled a warrior, but I could not reroll Holy for end-game content!

/is planning spec'ing Holy at some point
/spamming Holy Light, Flash of Light, Purify, and Cleanse ftw

[fajitaben4]

/thread for god's sake

[ThisIsDefinitelyNotSade]

Well, I could have rolled a warrior, but I could not reroll Holy for end-game content!

/is planning spec'ing Holy at some point
/spamming Holy Light, Flash of Light, Purify, and Cleanse ftwI'm totally a fake dps class.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I'm totally a fake dps class.

:upset: