I hope this list can help some people
It took a long time of research to complete, and a lot of listening to video game music lol
So, here it is
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Common Video Game Music Instruments:
-Acoustic Guitar
-Bass
-Violin/Viola
-Marimba
-Cello
-Piano
-Strings Section
-Organ
-Bassoon
-Hand Drums
-Tambourine
-Piccolo/Flute
-French Horn
-Many More
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Rare Video Game Music Instruments
-Saxophone
-Electric Guitar
-Many More, just don't feel like naming them
*To be honest, any instrument can be used in a VG song, just experiment a little
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Different Ways to Play an Instrument:
-Legato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legato)
-For Strings Instruments:
-Pizzicato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzicato)
-Glissando
-Pizzicato Glissando
-Slapping
-Slurred Pizzicato (A.K.A 'Hammering-On')
-For Wind Instruments:
-Staccato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staccato)
-Portato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portato)
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Common Effects Added On VGM:
-Reverb
-Echo
-Chorus
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Instruments to Create Certain Atmosphere:
-
Suspense:
-Bass
-Violin/Viola
-Bassoon
-Tambourine
-
Emotion/Sadness:
-Violin/Viola
-Strings Section
-Piano
-Acoustic Guitar
-Cello
-Flute
-Oboe
-
Horror:
-Organ
-Violin/Viola
-Bass
-
Happy/Joyful:
-Bassoon
-Marimba
-Hand Drums
-Violin/Viola
-Acoustic Guitar
-Cello
-Piano
-Strings Section
-
Action/Excitement:
-Violin/Viola
-Bass
-Hand Drums
-Piano
-Some good sound effects would do the trick with Atmosphere. This is key to make a good sound loop... Switching up the backround loops with some minor sound effects will add to your game for sure.-Indie PC Games
*Actually any instrument can be used for any ambience, if played properly, of course
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Good Instrument Combos:
-Acoustic Guitar + Bass
-Violin/Viola + Cello
-Violin/Viola + Piano/Organ
-Strings Section + Marimba/Acoustic Guitar
-Acoustic Guitar + Hand Drums
-Hand Drums + Tambourine/Bass
-Guitar, bass and drums
(there are many drum programs online like Beat Craft and sequ beat for beginners) -
Indie PC Games
-Sound effects with some scifi loops
(there are many loops out there for purchase if you can;t create your own such as Big Fish Audio and such) -
Indie PC Games
*Of course it is more fun creating your own loops-Indie PC Games
*Experiment to find more combos, there are many, many, MANY combos!
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Websites
-
Music Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theory
http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm
http://cnx.org/content/col10208/latest/
Key:
VG = Video Game
VGM = Video Game Music
/ = or
Further Notes:
-Also, when making music for game backround tunes it is a must to have seamless loops so the players do not notice when the loop happens. Most music will work with 45-60 second loops with minor changes throughout the loop. So one trick is to have the last 10 seconds or so of the loop be very similar to the first part of it. When they match together you will have an endless loop... -
Indie PC Games
-On the bgs (background sound) however, that is usually up to the gamemaker; depending on what scene the music might be used in, different sound effects might be desired, and hence "locking" the score to some specific ones might not be too good.
However, certain effects can definitively strenghten the feel of the song, as you said. -
Rudolpho
If anybody has any suggestions on making it better, just give me a post
-Dan
