Can people who can't read notation / musical note can make a song ?
By femimi
@femimi (872)
Indonesia
March 31, 2007 2:05pm CST
I think if we can't read notation / musical note we still can sing well.
But what if people who can't read notation / musical note, can he/she create a song ? It's a lil bit strange, because people will call her/him musician, but actually he/she can't play music instrument and can't read the notation. But in my country, there is a musician who admit that she can't read musical note (but I think she can play a lil bit instrument) become a good song creator in my country. And how she improve the melodies, she depends to her husband who can read notation and play music instrument well.
So... I learn that with our limited capabilities, if we have the talent to make songs, there are many ways to achieve that, and maybe can be better than other musicians who is good in music knowledge.
So.. would you like to make a song now ??
4 people like this
15 responses
@jean_rose (415)
• Philippines
1 Apr 07
I could write the lyrics and sing the tune, but I could never write down the notes. Though I sing remarkably well, I have never learned how to learn to read those notes. It confuses me when there are sharps and flats on the musical staff already.
Yes, I agree with everyone that some people can compose songs by letting someone who knows how to play instruments help them.
@lossforredwords (3620)
• Philippines
2 Apr 07
From what I know lots of people can play musical instrument but really can't read music notes they only use the chord chart. You can composed a song as long as you know your chord. But still theres alot differece with knwoing how to read the notes. Nots are measured and not just put together and I think theres a lot and better option with knowing how to read and write musical notes.
2 people like this
@ccatherine (416)
• Portugal
31 Mar 07
I would love to make a song, I don't know read notation neither play an instrument unfornately. I made a lot of songs lyrics but since I'm not capable of doing any music it's kind of hard. I always wanted to learn guitar but for now I think it's pretty impossible.
@femimi (872)
• Indonesia
31 Mar 07
You don't have to worry :)
If you have a lyrics, maybe you can combine with your friends who can play music instrument, and recorded. I don't think learning guitar can solve the problem in short term.
And by the way... making song lyrics also valuable, because not many musician can make lyrics, they only can make the melodies, so... why don't you try to contact some of your friends who can play music :)
1 person likes this
@ccatherine (416)
• Portugal
1 Apr 07
Thank you for the tips =P Unfornately I don't know anyone with a band, anyway I'll keep writing my songs ^_^
1 person likes this
@gegegelay (933)
• Philippines
7 Apr 07
Sure you can ;) Based from my own experience, I have little knowledge of musical notes and how to read notation, but i've been writing and composing my own songs for 5 years now. It doesn't really matter if you took music lessons are not. But somehow, having enough knowledge of these things is a plus also because you enough resources and knowledge and you really know how to begin. It all really depends on you if you're willing to do just about anything to write a song and if you really are gifted.
Creating music and wrinting songs doesn't require you to be so knowledgeable of all the notations and stuff, but atleast you have to know the basics for you to start with something ;)
@abc_mgs (230)
• India
31 Mar 07
hi friend !
i do not understand musical notes properly . i make song from my feelings. i just imagine the situation on wchich song has to be created and melodies start to come in my mind and i play them on synthesizer and record.
i write lyrics too for my song and i have made 2 songs and making more with complete music .
thanks !
2 people like this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
14 Apr 07
What little I have played of both the piano and the guitar was always done by ear and never by reading the musical notation. I may be able to figure out a few notes, but if I had to rely on my capabilities, I would be lost.
As far as writing music, I have never written a song worrying about writing down the notes. To me, it makes much more sense to just sing it into a recorder and worry about the rest later. Once the lyrics and the melody have been put together, the next step would be to find someone else to play the music that is also capable of playing by ear or determining the notes from the recording. Being capable of reading the notes is in no way necessary.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
14 Apr 07
I think that people that can not read notation or a musical note can make a song or sing. I know that i learned my musical notes a long time ago, and i can not start and write the musical notes for a song that i created in my head. so i just use the help from another person. I know that my brother and i did that once, i sang an he wrote the notes, and it did go fine.
About singing, you have to have musical ear. And if you want to be professional in singing, you will have at one time of your life, to learn how to read the musical notes. But for a hobby of light singing, you do not need it.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
1 Apr 07
I've been able to make some decent guitar music just messing around. I can read music, but I can't read guitar music. Sadly I had to teach myself guitar. Either way, being able to read music means very little to me when it comes to creating riffs on a guitar. I suppose for other instruments it may be more important.
1 person likes this
@femimi (872)
• Indonesia
1 Apr 07
Hmmm... don't worry, I'm also can play guitar but not expert in it. Some people said that if you can play guitar or violone, you can be more sensitive to learn others such as piano. Because you are already have the base in hearing the melody and key. So... can play guitar I think is also a big thing and not many people can do it :)
1 person likes this
@austere (2812)
• Philippines
1 Apr 07
yes of course, our capacity to make a music, hymn, or song is not dependent on our knowledge of the notation or musical note. We can do it by simply remembering the tune and pitch. though this work would be a lot easier when we know about musical tone...:)
1 person likes this
@suwandilee (280)
• Indonesia
14 Apr 07
yes absolutely you can sing well even if you cant read note, notation is just a tool that helps people to remember the song and standarize the music, you know in indonesia there's a famous singer that cant read notation, when she compose the song his husband is the one who wrote it to the notation
1 person likes this
@jalbeos (1175)
• Philippines
9 May 07
Have you noticed that there are blind singers? I know one of them, I fotgot his name. He was a tenor singer. Fanny Grosby is one of them.
People who cannot read notation/musical note can still create a songs and those who can read notation/musical note can do more than that.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Of course you can be a musician and not read musical notes.In many cultures there musicians can't read music notes. And the best example I know is Irving Berlin, the man who wrote G-d Bless America and White Christmas.He could play the piano.I think it is great to know how to read musical notes but you don't have to know how to be considered a musician.
