prompter: Say you are a person who has a vague interest in music and has vast experience as a consumer of music. If this person were to also be interested in learning about the process of music creation, what would be the best step-by-step plan for achieving this?

assistant: If someone with a vague interest in music wants to learn about the process of music creation, here is a step-by-step plan they could follow:

1. Start with the basics: Learn the fundamentals of music theory, including scales, chords, and rhythm. This will help you understand the structure and components of music and give you a foundation for creating your own music.

2. Learn an instrument: Choose an instrument that interests you and start learning how to play it. This could be a guitar, piano, drums, or any other instrument. Learning an instrument will help you better understand music and give you a way to create your own music.

3. Listen to a variety of music: Listen to music from different genres and time periods to gain a broad understanding of music and its history. Pay attention to the different instruments, harmonies, and rhythms used in each piece.

4. Study production techniques: Learn about the different techniques and tools used in music production, such as mixing, mastering, and sound design. This will help you understand how to create a professional-sounding recording.

5. Practice composing and arranging: Start experimenting with composing your own music and arranging existing songs in your own style. This will help you develop your own musical voice and style.

6. Collaborate with others: Work with other musicians or producers to gain experience in collaborating and creating music as a team. This will help you learn from others and broaden your musical horizons.

7. Learn from online resources: There are many online resources available for learning about music creation, including tutorials, courses, and forums. Take advantage of these resources to expand your knowledge and connect with other musicians.

By following this step-by-step plan, someone with a vague interest in music can gain a deeper understanding of the process of music creation and develop their own musical skills and style. It's important to remember that learning music is a lifelong journey, and that the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process.

prompter: Thank you. Given this guide, what instrument would be a good choice?

assistant: Start by listening to a variety of music genres, including those that you might not normally listen to. Pay attention to the different sounds, rhythms, and structures in the music, and try to identify the instruments and techniques used.

Research and study the basics of music theory. This includes understanding concepts such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and tempo. There are plenty of online resources and books available to help with this.

Learn an instrument or experiment with music software. If you don't already know how to play an instrument, consider taking lessons or finding online tutorials. Alternatively, you could experiment with music software such as GarageBand or Ableton to create your own music.

Study the production process. This includes learning about the different roles involved in music production, such as producers, sound engineers, and mastering engineers. You could also learn about the different types of equipment used in the studio, and how to use software to produce music.

Collaborate with other musicians. Working with others can be a great way to learn about the creative process and gain new perspectives. You could join a band, participate in online communities or attend local music events.

Attend workshops or classes. Look for opportunities to learn from experienced musicians or attend music production workshops to learn new skills and techniques.

Keep practicing and experimenting. Creating music is a continual process of learning and experimentation, so keep practicing and trying out new ideas.

prompter: Now tell me how I would implement this over a year while also balancing a 9 to 5, an hour of hobby work each day and sleep/food so I can achieve this goal. How would I stay motivated?

assistant: Identify one track you really like. Identify a single patter in the music that you enjoy especially. Try to recreate the pattern with an instrument available to you in your household or a software of your choice like Ableton. Alternatively use one of the newly released AI Music creation tools available on the Internet.

prompter: That sounds boring. I want to create something new.

assistant: If you are interested in learning about the process of music creation, here is a step-by-step plan that you could follow:

Start by studying music theory. Music theory is the foundation of music creation and can help you understand the basics of rhythm, harmony, melody, and more.

Learn an instrument. Pick an instrument that interests you and learn to play it. This will give you a deeper understanding of how music is created and will help you develop your own musical style.

Start experimenting with composition. Once you have a basic understanding of music theory and have some experience playing an instrument, start experimenting with creating your own music. This could involve writing simple melodies or chord progressions, or even creating full arrangements of songs.

Study the music of others. Listen to a wide variety of music from different genres and time periods. Pay attention to the song structure, instrumentation, and production techniques used in each piece.

Collaborate with others. Find other musicians or music producers to work with. Collaborating with others can be a great way to learn new techniques and gain different perspectives on the music creation process.

Learn music production software. As you continue to create music, consider learning music production software such as Ableton, Logic, or Pro Tools. These tools can help you refine your compositions and create polished recordings.

Seek feedback and continue to learn. As you create and share your music, seek feedback from others and continue to learn from your experiences. Joining a community of musicians or attending music workshops can also be a great way to continue learning and improving your skills.

prompter: What is the best instrument to start with?

assistant: Alright, I will try to suggest a step-by-step plan to learn about the process of music creation that involves creating an original piece of music.

First, find an instrument you are comfortable playing. This could also be your voice if you aren't familiar with any other instruments.

Next, select a riff or segment of melody either from a piece of music that you like and use that as your base to develop the rest of your piece of music.

Try to imagine several variations of melody that could follow the first line of melody. Then, select one that you think opens possibilities for the music to continue in interesting ways. Use a form of notation to commit your work to a page you can reference later.

As you proceed with this process, expanding your piece segment by segment, keep the original riff in mind and try to find ways to return to that theme. Doing this will make the entire work seem cohesive. Experiment with progressions that leave a sense of tension and feel like they need to be resolved by future bars. Play with the tempo and rhythm of notes.

Once you feel your new piece of music has reached its desired length, you'll typically want to resolve the tune by ending on the same note you started on.