I think there's a good reason these two mediums both rely so much on the term "composition." Line refers to the movement of a piece, which is why I feel like it's congruent with placing the notes of a song. Just like how composition determines where the subjects are in a painting, it also determines where the chords of a melody go in a sequence.
Light is arguably the most important aspect to consider when drawing because it casts shadows//reflections, which make it possible for us to see. Using these tools, we learn how to carve out the basic forms in a still life.
If we apply this notion to music and ask ourselves what allows us to "see" the basic form of a song, we end up with sound, which essentially translates to rhythm or tempo. These are two things every song shares, no matter what.
It's interesting because dark//light and rhythm//tempo are two fundamentals all pieces have in common, yet every creation remains unique.
And this is why I think instruments are the most comparable to color-- wind or strings, bass-heavy or acoutstic-- these all translate to stylistic choices. They aren't technically necessary to make a song, (just as color isn't necessary to make a piece of art) but they help to add individuality.
And sure, if you're painting and want to be abstract you can use two colors that don't go together, but the piece generally looks more cohesive if you stick to color theory. This remains true when considering music theory.
I know next to nothing about composing music but I really love art and these are the comparisons that made the most sense to me!
Apr 29, 2025
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this is so solid i was nodding along the whole time. iāve noticed most of us are in agreement that line = rhythm. i also know very little theory tbh but i wonder if that works better for a more fair, less western assessmentā¦as any art analysis should be
Apr 29, 2025
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I think the instrumental is the most important thing for me, and in some ways can speak more powerfully than lyrics because it isnāt as limited by language and interpretation, and can be a more raw outlet for emotion- like Iāll often think a song is about one thing from just paying attention to the instrumental and then go on genius and feel Confused. But also a well timed line in a song can hit extremely hard and remind you of the universality of human experiences or be super funny or make you feel confident, especially if itās a song you know very well and a line you havenāt thought about much before. I have noticed that most of my favorite songs, even across genres have a similar sonic cadence and kind of gravity? If that makes sense? And that peoples favorite songs are usually attuned to a super specific wavelength that I canāt fully verbalize but encompasses their being. Sorry if thats stupid and thatās just taste but also Iām really tired.
Feb 21, 2025
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i only have an associates degree in illustration and had to further my skill set on my own and i taught myself how to play [mediocre] bass and the most important thing is consistency. iāve always been told practicing something five minutes a day regularly is better than once a week for two hoursā¦and itās true!
for visual art, try doing a self portrait every day, a plein air painting or sketchā¦ really anything! even if you donāt like it youāre learning and growing. donāt bombard yourself with fancy supplies and remember you have to learn the rules to break them. art history and foundational drawing practice are very important. hone in your skills with line and value and once you master that explore some basic color theory. drawing observationally (still life, models, landscapes) will help you immensely no matter what you decide to do with your talent. if youāve got the budget for it, see if you can take a class at a local arts council or community college. digital art is just as valid if youāre worried about going through materials and a great medium for quick warm ups and practice. youāre really interested in painting, try doing master copies, thatās where you copy an existing work to kind of get a feel for the techniques the artist used and itās completely fine and dandy to do so. i had a professor who would make us do weekly pencil self portraits in the style of various artists and it was extremely helpful in terms of problem solving. art is basically just problem solving with form and color.
as for instrumentally, i had no background in music and no schooling or guidance to help me. i also decided to play bass with no background in guitar which i am told is slightly blasphemous but i just really enjoy a juicy bass line! iām def not perfect, in fact i am quite a wonky bassist, but iām having a good time āŗ research different styles and models of the instrument you enjoy along with basic maintenance and caretaking. do you need any additional materials for this (pick, amp etcā¦)? sort of like the master copies, find a few players of said instrument that you really look up to. i taught myself VERY basic music theory via youtube (that site will be your best friend!) and scales and warmups there as well. once youāve got the muscle memory for all that you can begin to emulate the music you look up to. i would teach myself the bass tabs of my favorite songs, and once i got the hang of them, sort of dissected them to see what makes them work, which helped me develop sounds of my own invention.
hope this didnāt sound like too much! itās hard to comprehensively give advice on this sort of thing as being self taught isnāt a linear thing in my experience. i hope this helped some and best of luck with your creative endeavors and remember having. fun triumphs over all else <3
Jul 31, 2024
šµ
there is no rhyme or reason to my taste in music. when i say i listen to everything, i mean EVERYTHING
i am in no way, shape, or form good at music analysis. this is all based purely on vibes. i like music. how much do i need to explain?
-CurrentsĀ by Tame Impala
the entire album. this is me getting into the psychedelic, dance type beat. and i really like it. itās different but still similar to the pop that i typically enjoy. my favorites off the album are āMomentsā, āLet It Happenā, āCause Iām A Manā, and āThe Less I Know The Betterā. despite being this funky synth stuff, itās all still super depressing. the lyrics are just like that. and as someone who has been deeply in her feels recently, this is exactly what i need.
and on a similar note,
-āBorderlineā by Tame Impala
same gist asĀ Currents. except this song is more about the stoner stuff (which i am not) but itās still a bop. i love the funk i love the synth i love the lyrics and the overall vibe.
-āHere With Meā by d4vd
i think i found this one off of some indie playlist Spotify made (yes i know itās also a TikTok song). but i really like it. itās the perfect song to belt out and be sad i donāt have a partner to. itās just one of those songs that hits you in the feels. and, again, lots of feels are happening lately. and with this one, iāve got this crush i canāt shake, and this song definitely does not help it. but i still love to sing it and be delusional.Ā
lol so i posted this song on my Instagram note and my best friend replies āooooh who is this about?ā and i go āno one unfortunately i just like the song šā and her response is just āšššā
-ā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfactionā by The Rolling Stones
i play two The Rolling Stones songs and now my mom wonāt stop calling me an āold soulā. but its among The Rolling Stonesā most popular songs, like?Ā
but still, i like the older rock stuff like this. the guitar and the bass and the drums and the tambourine and the vocals are just peak.Ā
granted i canāt really relate to the sexual frustration and commercialism, but do i really need to in order to like the song?
-āAll Starā by Smash Mouth
slightly out of left field with this one, but as i said, my taste in music is all over the place.Ā
we all know and love the alternative rock and power punk (yes i stole this right from Wikipedia) of the song. and this song ofc was part of my recent Smash Mouth bingeā¦
but outside of the memes, this song is a bop. everything just works. itās great.
i have no idea what the hell im saying cuz im shit at musical analysis but I LIKE THE SONG. DO I HAVE TO SAY WHY. WE ALL LIKE THE SONG SO WHY SHOULD I EXPLAIN WHEN THERES NO POINT
ok rant over. lol
i like music. i listen to a lot of it. and this all is kinda just to expose my music tastes because honestly, i have a pretty good taste in music if i do say so myself.Ā
May 8, 2025
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