How to Make Your Own Video Game Music

How To Make Your Own Video Game Music
Links to Songs:
Main Theme:
soundcloud.com/apox-fox/climb...
Cave Water Level:
soundcloud.com/apox-fox/cave-...
Mario Water Level:
soundcloud.com/apox-fox/mario...
Boss Battle Theme:
soundcloud.com/apox-fox/boss-...
Hey Guys! Here is my beginners guide to making Video Game Music. A lot of the concepts here are super simple to understand and easy to figure out, and my hope is that you will use this to start your music making journey. Don't give up, music making is hard but with enough time and dedication, you can do this. Some references I used are Zelda, Minecraft, Celeste, Dead Cells, Skyrim, God of War, and a ton more. I hope you enjoy this tutorial, it took me over 18 hours to create and honestly I am pretty proud of it. Don't forget to like the video and subscribe, it's much appreciated!
Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Important Things to Know
1:36 Let's Get Started
2:36 Main Theme and Basic Chord Concepts
8:20 Dungeon Theme and Instruments
11:12 Boss Theme and Transitions/Composition
13:05 Full Boss Battle Theme

[@taten007]

If only, my talents are in other fields. Something about music just doesn’t click in my brain like traditional arts. It’s always very impressive to me to see good lyricists and musicians.

[@apoxfox]

You never know unless you try, I think you might surprise yourself :)

[@swalscha]

Some learning process are really just like a maturing fruit, you never know when it will fall off but it certainly will some day. I learned a lot of stuffs by myself and the difficult part is always the same: be persistent eventhough it's not appealing yet.

[@raptorboss6688]

This was the exact thing I told myself that kept me from actually pursuing my own dreams of making music. But I ended up giving up on the mentality that because I’m naturally good at drawing I couldn’t try something else, and even though it was hard. Like seriously one of the hardest things I’ve ever tried to learn, it was so much fun and about a year later I’ve learned so much already so much that previous me wouldn’t have been able to comprehend, which I didn’t you know. Whatever, point is just fucking go for it

[@taten007]

@@raptorboss6688 I’m glad you found that, I don’t really have a passion for music though. Just an interest.

[@AdamDeVoix]

I just finished the Main Theme section and oh my gosh, has this been so helpful! As someone who's been intimidated by composing my own music, I feel super thankful I found this video! You broke it down into easily understandable components and I created a piece of music I ended up being super proud of!

[@apoxfox]

I’m so glad I could help!! That’s the best compliment ❤️

[@hollyfindlay4051]

Damn, we write boss themes totally differently. I really go hard in the more metal and funk directions, where as your was super chill and grand feeling.

[@apoxfox]

That’s the coolest part about video game music, there’s really no rules!

[@hollyfindlay4051]

@@apoxfox Super true. That freedom is amazing.

[@mrpedrobraga]

@@hollyfindlay4051 I love making battle themes that are aggitated but in a calm way, giving a feeling of challenge but only a little bit. Like you're in a kitchen trynig to get a jar open instead of in the middle of a war.

[@hollyfindlay4051]

@@mrpedrobraga That's a really fair way to approach it.

[@pi_dev]

i like to make by boss themes fast, intense, and kinda bada*s!

[@tzimisce1753]

This was a perfect introduction. Thanks so much for the video, you're awesome!

[@AndrewPate227]

Thank you so much for making this video, this video is what keeps me making music whenever I think about quitting music I just re watch this video and it gives me the inspiration to make more music and to keep going thanks.

[@apoxfox]

Wow that's really kind of you to say, keep at it you got this!

[@musicbarber2908]

It’s been 10 months and I know you a Beast now 🔥

[@DriesW1111]

Ive been playing the piano for a couple years now so this is pretty easy for me to detect if the music feels good

[@Gamerrific]

Your Songs are Spectacular

[@_xtel]

This was actually really helpful and well put together. I’ll just have to dive in and see what I come up with. Thanks!

[@othmanechchelh9339]

That's a really nice video thank you for your work that is awesome ! You've motivated me to try making some music aha

[@ezrancool]

Thank you for this, I have been working on an indie game with my friends and this helped me make some bangers.

[@apoxfox]

That’s awesome! So glad it helped 😄

[@swalscha]

Love it, thanks! If you want to continue on this topic I personnaly would be interested in a video about how to varying music theme and use Leitmotiv to emphasize a character apparition/moment.

[@PieYT]

This is amazing!! Your videos are great, so I'm sure it won't be long before you reach 10k Thanks for the guide, this video was actually really useful

[@apoxfox]

Thanks pie! I’ve never made anything like this before but hopefully people will find it helpful :)

[@downbelxw]

@@apoxfox po o

[@jbgamezofficial]

Thanks for inspiring me to work on a solo project; I’m excited to make this now! Much love.

[@unknownjf]

About the say in the opening, its really ok because people love most of koji kondo (a nintendo composer) songs, but looking a bit you can realise that he made this a lot (the most famous example is overworld 2 from super mario world)

[@mino8266]

From what I have seen you will grow big if you keep this incredibel level of content and maybe sometimes use a topic that is a bit more mainstream but stil thank you

[@oddyctor]

Thanks bro, continue with this tutorials.

[@ariettagoshtasby5333]

this was really helpful, thank you so much!!

[@apoxfox]

hell yeah glad it helped!

[@trashmanjoe3193]

love this thank you

[@mike2884]

More please ! WOW!!!! Amazing vid. My favorate game music : ninja gaiden (nes) , chrono trigger, saga frontier , ninja turtle games ( 90s), and FF 7. Secret of mana. Working on building my " genre" templates so i can jump in whatever type of game or song .

[@kingzero_STAR]

Broo that BOSS THEME 🔥🔥🔥

[@absolutezero9507]

My first song was insane. I haven't been able to achieve anything on that level yet but I'm trying so hard. Thanks for the help

[@apoxfox]

Keep going! It’s all about practice 😄

[@AITK88Skeever]

What a nice tutorial

[@norp6259]

انت تستحق ال 100k مشترك استمر المشاهدات القليلة ليست عائق

[@t1ff4nyall3n]

Love the Twilight Princess clips in the boys music montage.

[@mike2884]

P.s. i subscribed on the hopes ya bring more vids like THIS . P.p.s. donky kong country also in my fav list.

[@TheGodlyKratos]

Love that you used god of war and hollow knight in thr vid!

[@laz1diot]

Thanks for this video. As an amateur composer, I am gonna improve myself with it. So far I posted two of my compositions in my channel, one of them is a character theme, and the other an area theme. Would like to develop a game and make soundtracks for it.

[@apoxfox]

Hell yeah! Chase your dreams!

[@Fuuzi]

You are so underrated

[@Gloshpit]

ur awesome.

[@user-tb4vk1sc1l]

Stmbled upon you during SICKNESS INCIDENT and trying to create non cooyright (basically my own) music thx

[@malcolmkoharian]

i've been making random experimental stuff in fl studio. some is more traditional, while some is more sample-ey

[@unhiptick294]

I am making an OST for my game and for some of my sound tracks I use inspiration from stray and many others

[@ZezGames]

Hahaha figured this would be coming soon

[@Zellonous]

Strong Chrono Trigger vibes from the boss theme

[@franksimon7145]

Dungeon Theme and Instruments (Section 10:44 - 11:13) could be turned to an actual song! It’s 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@Xelfist]

(For the boss theme) think you probably shouldnt talk over the song it makes it difficult to pay attention But otherwise this video was pretty good!

[@darrenhirst9900]

Was this a minor or major lesson? 😂 Seriously dope Apox Fox. Thanks.

[@Brop76]

I want to make themes. On my own piano

[@moji4621]

I have been making music on and off for years. Somewhat of a FL studio nerd People have always said my compositions sound like vgm and I'm looking for any communities that are into game dev

[@apoxfox]

You should start posting your stuff on here! Also the Reddit community r/indiegames is full of developers looking for VGM composers, that might be a great place to start!

[@moji4621]

@@apoxfox nice..I'll take note. What's a good free app to turn mp3 into video tracks?

[@PhantomEX0]

Nah i just realized i am way too dumb to make any kind of song 😭🙏

[@jester5106]

What form should I make these themes in?

[@DangronpaMentality]

I literally opened the FLEX pop up and outloud said "Ah. That's intimidating."

[@JasperWilliams42]

mega mania undie tale!

[@jakuznv6349]

is this the Free version you are using. And can i just is it or do i have to pay to place it in my game

[@joshuakennedy6709]

You can use the free version you just can't save anything. You gotta export it

[@its_just._.a_story854]

What package did you buy in fl

[@victorzavala6144]

Whats the name of the piano?

[@elloimnotunderwater7813]

I know that fl studio free doesnt let you save by can you still turn it into a mp3?

[@apoxfox]

I don't know, its been a while since i used the free version but probably

[@prodKujixys]

yes you can still export the audio. you just cant reopen the same project after saving it.

[@knifeninja500]

which fl studio pack did you buy?

[@apoxfox]

Just the basic version, it’s got a ton of great sounds already! I would recommend getting the free trial to start to see if you like it because the only thing you can’t do is save files

[@knifeninja500]

@@apoxfox Thanks for the advice!

[@JPGpack]

1:05 unless it’s nontendo

[@t1ff4nyall3n]

Does FL Studio allow things to be color coded?

[@apoxfox]

It does! Although if I'm being honest I barely use the colors anymore because it takes too long lol

[@t1ff4nyall3n]

@@apoxfox My autism makes me stronger of I can use colors to codify my projects and their constituent parts.

[@apoxfox]

@@t1ff4nyall3n Then color as much as you please! I always made bass notes green and piano chords blue

[@t1ff4nyall3n]

@@apoxfox I'll look into it this weekend when I have time to get the free trial and play around a bit!

[@FailedPancake]

What's the DAW u use?

[@smujohnson]

It says at the start. FL Studio.

[@puglessthepug1052]

you know any free music editors?

[@apoxfox]

The one I use is called FL Studio, the free version has everything you need but you just can’t save files. I still recommend giving it a try either way

[@ApolloNovaMusic]

Or, hire me to make you music....

[@themtouchinmykokoro2869]

What is the software?

[@kennedymungai]

Fruity loops

[@tobyk5091]

haha its FL Studio i believe

[@Mythic-Mango-Studios]

I'm a solo indie dev only people is me my dad and my sis

[@UnkownUnkown01]

song playing at 11:13?

[@apoxfox]

Boss battle from ocarina of time

[@UnkownUnkown01]

@@apoxfox thanks