I'm guessing this ocurrence is not that uncommon. Has it happened to anyone else that you're trying out some stuff and you find a melody, or a chord progression, that sounds good... only to recall some time later an already existing piece that sounded really similar to that?
I listen to a lot of VGM, and I'm worried I won't be able to come up with anything autentically original. I was trying to do this week's challenge and got a nice sounding chord progression that I've realized sounds similar to a tune from zero escape. Don't know if I should scrape it, tweak it around or just roll with it, since when developing the piece it will end up sounding much more different?
#Accidentally copying music that already exists?
misty mist
bleak merlin
I mean chord progressions get reused all the time
Like the 12 bar blues, it's a whole thing
Reusing a melody could potentially be a bit more of an issue, but it massively depends on context. And like, it's not like people don't make arrangements which is literally just reusing a melody
wild flame
Chord progressions can't be copyrighted, so it's fine to use those however you want. You just need to make sure it's not used in a way that sounds too similar to existing material. It's a difficult subject, for sure.
Also, true originality is a myth. Almost everything is built off of a similar framework. Even the best composers were inspired by songs of the past. To be completely original is basically impossible. I mean, obviously, don't outright steal, but don't get hung up on complete originality either
tired urchin
As a beginner composer (and onward probably), borrowing ideas from established pieces is absolutely a valid technique. Maybe don't outright take a melody (unless it's an arrangement), but maybe there is a part of a phrase you like, or you use some accompaniment ideas in your work, or you base your piece's structure on another work. Also contrafact (using chords of another piece to create something new) is a thing.
So me thoughts are to continue plugging away at your piece and not to scrap it
keen otter
Great advice here already. The only thing I'd add is don't confuse/conflate authenticity and originality. You are developing an artistic voice, and irrespective of the level to which you incorporate ideas that aren't original to you, your voice will be authentically yours (as long as you aren't creating pastiche.)
timber mango
learn the teensiest amount of linear analysis and you can modify any piece of tonal music into a completely unrecognizable version in relation to the original, or a whole new piece, or anywhere in between
Afraid your stuff sounds too similar to something else? Modify it until you don't have that feeling anymore
slow meadow
Yeah,
just roll with it, since when developing the piece it will end up sounding much more different
is your answer. This is a super common thing to worry about when starting out and then it turns out to just...not really be an issue in practice
this video is pretty funny though
https://youtu.be/xD-IQaxHcE4
