open source or free music maker

https://helioworkstation.com/

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 was thinking google hangouts video chat. What is your email. Mine is amac19901@gmail.com.

I have experience making games and will beable to help out with programming and making music.

check out my profile to hear my music.