OpenMPT is what I use, but then again I also mainly make chiptunes, however it can be used for everything, really ^^

https://openmpt.org/

 

It's a real quality program imo.

And, while I wouldn't recommended this to anyone else than newbs, put the VSTs "YOU WA SHOCK", plus "OldSchoolVerb" onto your master track to give your music extra punch.  Both of those are free.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/you_wa_shock_by_red_shine_sound

http://www.voxengo.com/product/oldskoolverb/

Once you learn how to mix for real tho, you will need to get rid of this habit, but it's very good for a start.

Here are soundfonts that cover a lot of instuments and genres. OpenMPT can import these files.

 

https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1200140

 

If you want synthesizers on the other hand, I recommend Dexed, which is complicated to use, but thousands of free presets exist (I will gladly share them with you if need be)

 

https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

 

Or charlatan, which is delightfully simple to use. It's mainly useful for chiptunes though.

 

http://www.blaukraut.info/

Here's another good source to get sounds for OpenMPT if you choose to go that route:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_haV94B2fE&t=12s

I use flstusio for everything.

 

However flstudio is 150€ if you buy from amazon better try the demo first its alright but you cannot load projects.

i use ableton, personally.

honestly, it's pretty rough when you don't know ANY theory. i remember finding an awesome pdf for basic music theory and electronic music composition. if i find it again, i will post link.

flstudio is nice, too, very easy to use. there is a FREE program that attempts to do everything fl does, maybe you can use it. 

https://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/lmms-portable

or maybe another application there will help.

LMMS was fairly decent, if i remember... i used to use it at my office job because it would run on the company compys no issue.

I've been using rosegarden.  It can be a pain to set up, but once you get it playing sounds, it is not so bad.  I also use timidity to convert thosse midi files I export from rosegarden into .ogg files. As far as I know rosegarden only works on linux (when you get it to work that is) but linux is free (as in beer and freedom).

As far as theroy is concerned, I had like two years worth of piano lessons when I was much younger (one year as a preschooler and another in junior high)  I also have played around alot with it on my own, listening to differnt kinds of music, taking apart midi's from some of my favorite games and muting parts of them, to see how its all put together.  The key ot music is find a melody you like and just repeat it over and over again except differently.

Spring, nice stuff )

Ah, thanks!

Guitar Pro 6 is free if your teacher provides it. If you cannot get Guitar Pro 6 then try Tux Guitar which is free. They both have scales built into it. 

 

If you want Guitar Pro 6 you can literally buy it for $30 bucks or you can buy the newer guitar pro 7 for $60. It comes with all the instruments you need.

This is few of my pieces I created in Guitar Pro 6. 

https://opengameart.org/content/soaking-wet

https://opengameart.org/content/stay-around

https://opengameart.org/content/elevator-music-2

 

 

In fact, %100 of my music is created with it. Also, I use it to import midi into other software such as fruity loops.

 

There is also Odesi Music Composition on steam that basically writes chord progressions for you and generates leads of your choosing. 

 

Although I would recommend Guitar Pro 6 over that anytime. 

 

If you use any other software you are going to need to know theory. But here is a quick tutorial to get you started. 

Play all the white keys on the piano it is the c major scale

https://guitaralliance.com/2013/10/chord-wheel/

using the link above play the chords

To play logically take these rules

An"I" Chord leads to any chord so usually you want to start with that chord. 

a "ii" Chord leads to V, vii chords

a "iii" chord leads to ii,IV,V,vi chords

a IV chord leads to I,ii,V,vii chords

a V chord leads to I, and vi chords

a vi chords leads to ii, IV, V

a vii chord leads to a I chord

 

if I were you I would avoid the vii chord for most of the time. 

 

if you are confused that's fine think of it like this. A I is the first note of the major scale. A ii is the second note of the major scale . A iii is the third note of the major scale  and so on.

For the chords the bass note is the roman numeral for the chord. For example a I chord has a bass note that has the first note in the scale or C.

 

As far as chords go a major chord is made up of the 1st note the 3rd note and the 5th note in the relative key of the major scale

 

so for c major chord(c major scale: C D E F G A B C) you would play the first note (of the C major scale) C the third note E and the fifth note G. 

 

For a D Major chord you would play the D major scale to figure out how to play it.

so for D major chord (D major scale: D E F# G A B C# D) you would play the first note(of the D major scale) D the third note F# and the fifth note A.

 

So knowing that how do you play a minor chord well it is 1 b3 5. Or the first note the third note shifted a half step down and the fifth note.

 

So for c minor chord(C major scale: C D E F G A B C) you would play the first note C the third note shifted a half step down Eb and the fifth note G. So C Eb G 

 

so for a d minor chord (D major scale: D E F# G A B C# D)  you would play the first note D the third note shifted a half step down F and the fifth note A. So  D F A.

 

so for major chord it is 1,3,5

for minor chord it is 1,b3,5

for added spice play seventh chords

so for a major seventh chord it is 1,3,5,7

for a minor seventh chord it is 1,b3,5,b7

for a seventh chord it is 1,3,5,b7

 

if you had guitar pro you can see the neck in the image below. It is the c major scale

I use FL Studio like Rainbow Design, the Demo version has a lot of instruments to play with, but as you can't load saved projects, you have to finish and export the song that you start. I personally like to play a lot with the Mixer-Master, put some effects like Reverb or Phaser, and i put a lot of work in the EQ. 

  I'm still new with the software, but the reverb and the EQ are crusial for not sounding too artificial. But as i said,  i'm still in the learning stage. 

Don't give up :D

this is odesi it helps you compose music

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zh6icr_WZI

open source or free music maker

 

https://helioworkstation.com/