How does one make video game music

[sailingCartoonist]

Y'all I'm a digital artist by talent and trade, and I'm challenging myself to make my own video game. It's similar to Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, with some twists thrown in (like how you're a slime who had a mid-life crisis, I'll explain more if needed). 

I have like no idea how to make music. I took piano when I was 7, but that was ages ago, and I can't read music to this day. How do I go about learning how to create the music I want to for my game? I'd like to eventually be able to make bops like Toby Fox does, but I figure that would probably come very much down the road after a lot of practice. 

I plan on using OS to make the music, as I don't own a keyboard, and my skills on my Ukulele aren't the best. Any tips are greatly appreciated!

[Lopyt]

For videogame music specifically, it needs to loop well. Also, having a more ambient style may help your players focus on the game. I highly recommend not using OnlineSequencer for this project as its very limited in what you can do with it.

How much do you know about music? Because explaining it all would take a long time and sometimes it helps more to experiment with it.

I could write music for the game also if need be. Send me an E-Mail if you are interested in getting me to do it

[Jey]

hate to break it to you, but os is kind of traumatized by toby fox, so much in fact that the full name for megalo is censored hhaHAHAhahahaha...

[sailingCartoonist]

For videogame music specifically, it needs to loop well. Also, having a more ambient style may help your players focus on the game. I highly recommend not using OnlineSequencer for this project as its very limited in what you can do with it.

How much do you know about music? Because explaining it all would take a long time and sometimes it helps more to experiment with it.

I could write music for the game also if need be. Send me an E-Mail if you are interested in getting me to do it

Noted, I'll look into other programs and see if I can find something that would work. Garageband is on backup if all else fails, maybe I'll try Audacity.

I know the notes, piano chords, and generally what sounds good together. My mother, luckily, is a music major, so she sometimes gives me tips, but she gets busy fast these days so I don't want to have her make all this stuff for me.

I'll keep that in mind! My game is still very much in the beginning process, I've gotten about ~2% of it done in the past month or two (perfectionism tends to lead me astray), but if it comes down to it I'll shoot you an email about it! 

[Lopyt]

I recommend Ardour, Cakewalk, or Reaper for free DAWs. Many other DAWs also have limited free trials that may be worth trying. You will also need instruments for some of the DAWs, where I recommend Surge Synthesizer or Vital Synthesizer, Drumgizmo, MTPowerDrumkit2, Kontakt Player, Keyzone Classic, or Spitfire LABS, for the free options. If you want to spend a bit, Pianoteq, Spitfire BBC Orchestra, and EZDrummer are great as well.

Its important to not pirate any software or samples that will be used in a commercial public game or you could get into legal issues (not fun).

If you want to send me the songs you have already made, it would give me a better understanding of what you can do, and where you would need the most help.


By the way, how much experience have you with making games? Which game engine were you using?