Help me make some prog

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Hello fellow proggers, i'm new on the forums, been listening prog for 10 years now (i'm 24) and playing guitar for about 8 years. I really want to compose some prog music but i don't know how, specifically when to shift time signatures. I know some music theory, all about modes, scales, cadences, but i can't make a good prog song (can't go past the 5 min mark)
Any composers that can give me some advice? I'll appreciate it very much.
If it helps, my favorite bands are Dream Theater, Riverside, Ayreon, Haken, Transatlantic, Neal Morse, Opeth, Symphony X, Seventh Wonder to name a few.

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TheDarkitect Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: July 07 2016 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 5	Topic: Help me make some prog Posted: July 07 2016 at 18:57
	Hello fellow proggers, i'm new on the forums, been listening prog for 10 years now (i'm 24) and playing guitar for about 8 years. I really want to compose some prog music but i don't know how, specifically when to shift time signatures. I know some music theory, all about modes, scales, cadences, but i can't make a good prog song (can't go past the 5 min mark) Any composers that can give me some advice? I'll appreciate it very much. If it helps, my favorite bands are Dream Theater, Riverside, Ayreon, Haken, Transatlantic, Neal Morse, Opeth, Symphony X, Seventh Wonder to name a few.

Atavachron Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 64320	Posted: July 07 2016 at 19:31
	Steal a passage you like, put it in a song, pretend you thought of it, feign surprise if you get caught. Everybody else does it, why not you --
	"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy

Magnum Vaeltaja Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 01 2015 Location: Out East Status: Offline Points: 6777	Posted: July 07 2016 at 19:59
	Don't force yourself to write prog. If you go for all of the cliches, you won't be the next Yes or Genesis, you'll (99% of the time) just sound contrived and uninspired. Just try to focus on writing music that you feel satisfied with; the genre tag others assign it really doesn't matter.
	when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents

Magnum Vaeltaja Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 01 2015 Location: Out East Status: Offline Points: 6777	Posted: July 07 2016 at 20:02
	One tip that I will give you, though, if you're concerned about length. After all, who isn't? Take two songs that you have written that are under 5 minutes long. Simply write a bridge that connects the two. Repeat until you have completed a side-long epic. Then, to make it "epic", just make sure that the last section uses the same melody as the first section, but more drawn-out, and in a major key. See: Supper's Ready.
	when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents