On IRC, Scipi told me I should make this tutorial, so I will.

1. download musescore: It's free and just as good as Finale (which costs $300) http://musescore.org/

2. download a better soundfont and configure it: google for soundfonts, because this is all about personal preference. To configure: reference the musescore website

3. learn the interface before you start composing. Read up on musescore's website

4. come up with a motif: a melody that repeats itself in the piece at several points (tip: have an instrument you play handy so you can test melodies on an actual instrument)

5: create the rest of the melodies around that motif

6: add countermelody and harmony

7: add percussion if needed



Some useful tips:

Your first piece is almost guaranteed to be terrible, get feedback on how to make it better, and keep composing

Don't give up!

If you get stuck, listen to your piece so far and think what will come next. This works really well.

Harmonizing requires a bit of music theory knowledge. Learn it.

Have fun!

Yeah, you can take MIDI input in Musescore, but it is VERY accurate, and humans, sadly, are not.

Long story short: It's not a feature I use often.

Video tutorial! Make us one!

Certainly, there's no rush for it.

It'd just be nice to have a few solid tutorials for music, since Omni has a rather large music component, yet little by way of tutorials it seems.

We have the Music Showcase board just for that.

Music really takes a lot of practice, even if you use a software. Early on, your bassline is almost always guaranteed to be off key with the rest, same if you add a chord progression along with the music. I didn't have this problem much at first because I used pre-made melodies, but when I started using my own (after my 3 first songs), I often had issues.

Also, use headphones, so you can catch up every possible mistake and EQ your stuff easier.

(Note: I don't use Musescore so I can't help on it)