If you’re a fan of video games, especially the console Type-PS4, you’re in luck. Not only do you have access to several amazing games, but you can also earn a modest living from writing music for video games!
There aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to becoming a video game composer. But, if you want to make a living from your hobby, you need to follow a certain path. Luckily, we’ve got you covered on this front. Here, you’ll discover the steps you need to take to become a video game composer.
Decide Which Genre To Focus On
When you’re deciding what type of music to write for video games, you need to decide which genre you want to focus on. Do you want to write music that portrays gameplay? Or would you rather write an orchestral piece that represents the setting of the game?
This is a common question among new game composers. Sometimes, they’ll start out writing quick battle tunes for mobile games. But, over time, they’ll realize that working on mobile games doesn’t provide enough stability. Once that happens, they’ll move on to bigger and better things.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a career in music, then you might want to consider writing an orchestral piece for a game. Mobile games usually don’t require as much experience as big-budget titles.
Learn How To Play The Instrument
The first and most important step to becoming a video game composer is learning how to play the instrument. If you’re not musically inclined, then it can be quite the challenge. Fear not, though. There are plenty of instruments out there that you can learn to play. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a full orchestra. A keyboard might be more than enough for the beginning.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of reading music theory. Even if you’re not a complete novice, you should still know how music works. Otherwise, you might end up creating a piece of trash that no one will ever want to listen to.
Study The Craft
While you’re busy learning how to play an instrument, it’s also important to study the craft. This means going over the game’s requirements and doing some research. Once you have all the necessary information, it’s time to start composing.
You can start by listening to popular songs and analyzing how the composer structured the song. From there, you can move on to analyzing more complex pieces and discerning how the composers structured their tunes. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to write music for various games with ease.
Craft mastery is important because it allows you to stand out above the rest of the applicants. After all, no one is an expert in every field. So, if you want to write music for video games, then you need to make sure that you’re the best in the industry at what you do. This means taking the time to study not only the craft, but also the theory behind it all.
Get Inspired
Being able to sit down and create music is one thing. Being able to get that music out there into the world is another. This is where inspiration comes in. To get inspired, you need to look at various videos and listen to a variety of music. Once you have a good idea of what you want to write, it’s time to get inspired!
There are several ways that you can do this. One of the best is by watching YouTube videos. You can find gameplay videos of various games and see how different music affects the gameplay. This is extremely important since you won’t always know what song will be available for a game. You might have to write a quick, “battle” tune and simply ask the game publisher for more music after the game has been released.
Join A Society
One of the things that help new game composers get started is joining a society of game composers. Doing this allows you to get access to a wide range of music and various styles that you can choose from. Joining a society also provides you with a social element that can be extremely helpful in your career. Society memberships usually range from $5,000-$20,000 a year. It depends on the society, but most of them provide professional development opportunities, as well as the music itself.
Don’t Forget The Math
Speaking of music theory, it is important to not forget about it. Music theory is all about applying what you know to music in a way that is useful and interesting. For example, if you know that certain melodies work well together, then it’s time to put that knowledge to the test! Once you do that, however, you’ll notice that the music you wrote has a much better flow and a sense of completion. This is because you took the time to think about what you were doing and how each note fit together.
Being able to work with mathematics in this way is extremely helpful in giving your music a polished and professional sound. It’s also important to not underestimate the importance of having a good ear for music. Being able to tell when a song needs work and being able to give it the proper treatment is something that even experienced composers struggle with. This is why it’s important to constantly be learning, even as you work your way up the ranks.
Make Sure You’re Keeping In Line
This point cannot be stressed enough: It’s important to make sure that you’re writing music that fits the game. If you aren’t then, it could end up being a painful experience for both of you. When this happens, it’s usually because neither of you knew how the other half lives. So, if you’re writing an action-adventure game, then don’t write a love song. It won’t fit!
The same goes for an FPS game. There are certain songs that just don’t work well with certain genres. For example, if you’re writing an FPS game and the theme of the game is war, then it might be a good idea to write an opera! But, as we’ve established, not all operas work well with all FPS games. You need to find that right fit.
Getting Hired Is A Numbers Game
Finally, the most important point to make here is that getting a job writing music for video games is a numbers game. You have to believe in yourself and your talent, but you also need to be realistic. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out. This is especially important if you’re looking for that “dream” job. It’s easy to get excited and think that this is going to be the job that makes you a millionaire. But, in reality, this might not happen. So, it’s important to put in the time and energy to make sure that you’re at the right place at the right time. This is how you start moving up the ranks. Keep at it and you’ll succeed!
There are several steps you need to take to get a job writing music for video games. As you can see, not all of them are easy. But, if you want to make a living off your music, then this is the path you need to follow. And, above all, have fun! You’ll have to start out with baby steps. But, with enough dedication and hard work, you’ll be able to write music that will keep you busy for the rest of your life. Or at least make enough money to buy an instrument!