Writing a prog rock song

btw you will probably be met with poor or average criticism  if you present your material, because "you're going in trying to write a prog song". just dont worry about it.

but anyways, good luck

I mean like ad-libbing and stuff+ whats rong w/solos have you not heard the cinema show by genesis- it's like 70 percent keyboard solo.

Epignosis wrote: Here's all you need know.

ROTFLMAO...Even though I'm american, i totally am feeling this part:

"

Being Non-American

As anyone who knows anything about anything will tell you, Americans can't make Prog Rock. With the exception of anything ever written by Dream Theater, everything to ever come out of the American Prog scene is total sh*t."

Although, I can think of a few more exceptions than DT.

Just a thought, for soloing in prog, if your a guitarist, listen to other instruments ( no matter style) ie: Jean luc ponty (violin)  or some sax solos etc... thatmight maybe give you a different feel or outlook/inspiration to create something you normally wouldn't just coming from a guitarists viewpoint and possibly creating something new for you and a unique sound. I believe prog was and should still be expanding music not a format someone can give you.

Sorry forgot might be useful. Often overlooked is poly rythmns (easy ie: playing 3/4 over 4/4) and just cause I got this on my mind, if your a guitarist look into a guitar synth, I couldn't play violin, pan flute ect.. but I could emulate them and often mixed those sounds underneath my guitar leads rather than harmonize with another guitar. And the looks of people LIVE was awsome when they heard a Hammond etc... with no one on stage playing one. Anyways hope some of this stuff is helpful for you.

Epignosis wrote: Here's all you need know.

God I love Uncyclopedia...

The only problem that I have with everyone's answers is that not one person has put ANYTHING musical in their replies. Every single musician that did prog knew about Jazz theory, classical theory, and various genres. You must know the rules before you know hot to truly break them. Learn basic jazz theory and embelleshed chords(so you don't keep running into the same Root Fifth Root chords), Understand the modes(it's easier than you think), learn some classical peices. I like the comment about starting with the melody. Don't do this all the time though. YOu should really try to approach each movement from a different perspective. When you hear what usually sounds "improvised" or based on "accident", that is normally one of the many musical tools that you should learn about. For instance, there is a chord that isn't in the parent scale. There are many great devices like "modulation", "secondary dominants", "modal music", Atonal peices, ostinato. Look up these terms and see what they say. These so called accidents are usually the by-product of something purposely done. I am not saying that all of them do it. But almost all of them do. Probably with the exeption of pink floyd and King Crimson. But as far as Yes, Genesis, Camel, Gentle Giant, Mars Volta, Jethro Tull(who by the way thought it was funny to be called progressive), and most of the others, they are very learn-ed in the ways of composition. Your solos especially should really be in some kind of mode over the pedal with chord changes to help pull certain notes. I could go on all day but there is some advice. Progressive music is NOT for lazy people. Anyone who says that you don't need to know theory is telling you a lie, trust me. So get to learning and make some good music.

J-Man wrote: Epignosis wrote: Here's all you need know. God I love Uncyclopedia...

IanParker wrote: The only problem that I have with everyone's answers is that not one person has put ANYTHING musical in their replies. Every single musician that did prog knew about Jazz theory, classical theory, and various genres. You must know the rules before you know hot to truly break them. Learn basic jazz theory and embelleshed chords(so you don't keep running into the same Root Fifth Root chords), Understand the modes(it's easier than you think), learn some classical peices. I like the comment about starting with the melody. Don't do this all the time though. YOu should really try to approach each movement from a different perspective. When you hear what usually sounds "improvised" or based on "accident", that is normally one of the many musical tools that you should learn about. For instance, there is a chord that isn't in the parent scale. There are many great devices like "modulation", "secondary dominants", "modal music", Atonal peices, ostinato. Look up these terms and see what they say. These so called accidents are usually the by-product of something purposely done. I am not saying that all of them do it. But almost all of them do. Probably with the exeption of pink floyd and King Crimson. But as far as Yes, Genesis, Camel, Gentle Giant, Mars Volta, Jethro Tull(who by the way thought it was funny to be called progressive), and most of the others, they are very learn-ed in the ways of composition. Your solos especially should really be in some kind of mode over the pedal with chord changes to help pull certain notes. I could go on all day but there is some advice. Progressive music is NOT for lazy people. Anyone who says that you don't need to know theory is telling you a lie, trust me. So get to learning and make some good music.

Edited by PROGMONSTER2008 - October 25 2009 at 20:12

For me it's not a question of how to write progressive rock... it's more like the question: "How to write music?" or "How to write good music?" After all good music transcends the borders of genre and should not be limited as such. And how to write good music?
No one can answer that well enough, I think. People COULD tell you what NOT to do, I think though.