Tracker music composition: phone ringtone (Part 1)
1. INTRODUCTION
Since I want to learn how to use trackers like openMPT and improve my nonexistent composition skills, I decided to challenge myself: I will try to compose a ringtone for phone calls and maybe one for messages to use on my smartphone. I will use openMPT.
I am not really starting from scratch; indeed, despite not much, I have some very basic knowledge of music theory. Because of that, you can expect me to say dumb things, make mistakes, and probably call some things inappropriately.
Anyway, I thought that the best way to start composing a ringtone was to look online at blogs and videos to understand what the basic features of a ringtone are. Unfortunately, I haven't found much, so I opted for this video, which is a collection of ringtones from famous phone brands.
I have also found some YouTube playlists of ringtones, but their style is way different from what I’m looking for.
I am not really starting from scratch; indeed, despite not much, I have some very basic knowledge of music theory. Because of that, you can expect me to say dumb things, make mistakes, and probably call some things inappropriately.
Anyway, I thought that the best way to start composing a ringtone was to look online at blogs and videos to understand what the basic features of a ringtone are. Unfortunately, I haven't found much, so I opted for this video, which is a collection of ringtones from famous phone brands.
I have also found some YouTube playlists of ringtones, but their style is way different from what I’m looking for.
2. CREATION
2.1 1ST LISTENING
I felt a bit overwhelmed. It's not easy to listen to many ringtones while trying to analyze them. Indeed, I thought I needed at least one more listen. Despite that, I understood a couple of things: first of all, ringtones can sound very different from one another, secondly, they often have one main melody that is repeated over and over, and lastly, there is always a second melodic line that supports the main melody or just acts like a “response” to the main melodic line (it feels like a dialogue).
I also noticed that in some cases, not always, the main melodies have final chords that make you feel tense (”hey, someone is calling!”).
Another thing I noticed is that many ringtones are usually played with some kind of percussion: usually a xylophone or a marimba.
Also, not really important, but the Motorola and ZTE ringtones stood out the most.
I’m ending this paragraph knowing that I surely need a second listen, and that it could be a good idea to listen to older ringtones as well, especially some from the early 2000s. I don’t want to emulate the music style of those years; it’s just an additional source of inspiration.
I also noticed that in some cases, not always, the main melodies have final chords that make you feel tense (”hey, someone is calling!”).
Another thing I noticed is that many ringtones are usually played with some kind of percussion: usually a xylophone or a marimba.
Also, not really important, but the Motorola and ZTE ringtones stood out the most.
I’m ending this paragraph knowing that I surely need a second listen, and that it could be a good idea to listen to older ringtones as well, especially some from the early 2000s. I don’t want to emulate the music style of those years; it’s just an additional source of inspiration.
2.2 NOTIFICATION RINGTONE
I decided to play a little with a piano keyboard online, but I had no idea where to start. I didn’t really have a scheme; my plan was to find a short sequence of notes that I could later develop into something more complex.
Indeed, after some trial and error, I found a short sequence that seemed to work well: F#-A-C#-DF#
I wasn’t so sure it would work, but it didn’t sound too bad. Funnily enough, almost by mistake, by playing in a different order, I found a better melody that felt a bit more playful, so I opted for it (AF#-C#-E-D-A).
The first melody sounds more ethereal and more relaxed, but also a bit melancholic, while the second one feels more playful and has a nice chord that instantly gave me the idea of “notification”. The chord is A-F#, and I was in serious doubt whether I should have used it at the beginning of the melody as a sense of alert or at the end.
I tried several times, and I also thought that alternating the position of the chord could be an idea to transform this short and simple melody into a longer ringtone. However, it feels too simplistic, but if it works, I shouldn’t discard the idea.
In the end, I chose to keep it at the beginning.
So, I moved to openMPT to write the sequence down and transform it into a ringtone for notifications. I experimented with different tempos, octaves, the rhythm, and samples.
I created three samples with different shapes: a triangular wave, a square (more like a rectangular) one, and a mixed one. I mostly used the second sample, because the sound was clear and crisp.
Indeed, after some trial and error, I found a short sequence that seemed to work well: F#-A-C#-DF#
I wasn’t so sure it would work, but it didn’t sound too bad. Funnily enough, almost by mistake, by playing in a different order, I found a better melody that felt a bit more playful, so I opted for it (AF#-C#-E-D-A).
The first melody sounds more ethereal and more relaxed, but also a bit melancholic, while the second one feels more playful and has a nice chord that instantly gave me the idea of “notification”. The chord is A-F#, and I was in serious doubt whether I should have used it at the beginning of the melody as a sense of alert or at the end.
I tried several times, and I also thought that alternating the position of the chord could be an idea to transform this short and simple melody into a longer ringtone. However, it feels too simplistic, but if it works, I shouldn’t discard the idea.
In the end, I chose to keep it at the beginning.
So, I moved to openMPT to write the sequence down and transform it into a ringtone for notifications. I experimented with different tempos, octaves, the rhythm, and samples.
I created three samples with different shapes: a triangular wave, a square (more like a rectangular) one, and a mixed one. I mostly used the second sample, because the sound was clear and crisp.
I applied the new melody as my notification ringtone, and at first, I was almost scared when I received any sort of message, but after a while, I got used to it.
The notification sounds ok, and has some sort of “retro” feeling, which I am enjoying.
Even though I literally have only played a few basic notes on a keyboard, I feel quite satisfied with what I have achieved.
The notification sounds ok, and has some sort of “retro” feeling, which I am enjoying.
Even though I literally have only played a few basic notes on a keyboard, I feel quite satisfied with what I have achieved.
3 NEXT STEPS
The mission isn’t over yet! I am still planning to write a melody for a ringtone, and I could start from the one I created for the notification sounds. I’ll keep working on it in my free time!
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