Members [Animals2] Posted February 23, 2011 Members Posted February 23, 2011 I'm in need of a little guidance on song writing if you guys are up for it. Messing around at home, i often get to a point with an "idea/song" where i don't know what to add. It's missing stuff arrangement/orchestration wise and I don't know what it is. Here's an example: http://soundcloud.com/macaroni-1/af-bounce Lyrics aside, what does this song need? If possible please see past the lameness of the idea or "genre" and tell me what im lacking. Im thick skinned so please keep it real. Thanks,Mac
Members mosiddiqi Posted February 23, 2011 Members Posted February 23, 2011 Honestly, I really like that! ...personally I wouldn't add anything but vocals/harmony..I think there's plenty going on already..certainly held my interest.
Members meganutt7 Posted February 23, 2011 Members Posted February 23, 2011 I listened to the tune and I have a few critiques/possible ideas... First off, the drums are clearly looped on the two main sections and could use a little variety... While we're on that topic (drums), when you hit that cool syncopated riff with the guitar and the drums play a part that is less active (particularly on the hi hats) it may be a good idea to play a drum part that reacts more to the riff (accenting with cymbals, snares, etc.) And also, the sound/production could be better. The melodic/harmoniccontent I really liked!!! I think that better production and more varied drumming would make it a million times better, though.
Members [Animals2] Posted February 24, 2011 Author Members Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks a lot for listening guys. Mo: Thanks!... Lucky for me the vocals and lyrics are the easy part:confused: D: I think you really nailed it with the drums idea. When I start something like this its usually with a looped beat and then I just mess around over it until I get something that seems ok. I really dont ever go back and layer some other percussion over it (especially stuff that follows the music as you suggested.) I will def try this and see what happens. Production wise I agree its really weak. I dont really go in and try to get a great mix until I feel like I have enough stuff in there. Maybe I'll try that as well. With a better mix maybe some other ideas will present themselves. Thanks again for listening Mac
Members meganutt7 Posted February 25, 2011 Members Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks a lot for listening guys. Mo: Thanks!... Lucky for me the vocals and lyrics are the easy part:confused: D: I think you really nailed it with the drums idea. When I start something like this its usually with a looped beat and then I just mess around over it until I get something that seems ok. I really dont ever go back and layer some other percussion over it (especially stuff that follows the music as you suggested.) I will def try this and see what happens. Production wise I agree its really weak. I dont really go in and try to get a great mix until I feel like I have enough stuff in there. Maybe I'll try that as well. With a better mix maybe some other ideas will present themselves. Thanks again for listening Mac Yeah man... Also, don't add EXTRA drums.. just remove what is there currently and re-program the beats using the accents in your riffs and the melodic content as a guidepost for what the drums should/could be doing. It'll make it sound liek a drummer, not a drum loop, which, I almost always find more appealing. It will also sound far more COMPOSED, as opposed to something you threw together over a drum LOOP.I think that for non-drummers, drum programming is a pretty important skill to have... like REALISTIC drum programming. Doesn't have to be a GREAT DRUMMER you're emulating, but a REAL drummer....If you go on my myspace page and listen to some of my tracks, check out the drums... I go back after I track riffs and phrases and re-do the drums... Also, I am a big fan of bass/bass drum interaction. Try to listen to THAt element as well... It's not a hard fast rule, but I just love the sound of a tightness between the bass player and drummers kick and snare...Like I said, listen to my programming on the tracks on my myspace... That may be a good place to start... If you have any programming questions, I would be happy to help!!
Members Alexbiscuit Posted February 25, 2011 Members Posted February 25, 2011 Hey! I really dug that. it seemed like a more upbeat, fun, piglet thing. you should develop this one with some input from these fine fellows (but not me, i'm afraid ) im in the same boat as the OP i know i could just go and analyze my favorite songs to see how they handle structure/accompanyment but i always feel like i'm just cheating/copying someone else i came up with this AMAZING progression last night with a build up that will give you shivers, but i dont know where to go with it. I think i want to use it as the verses. My problem is that it's so good I feel liek anything else that I add to my song will detract from how good that those 4-6 bars are. Is the answer here to maybe kinda 'bring down' the energy level on the parts AROUND the really cool progression in order to kinda create a yin/yang thing where.. the absence of energy around the verses makes the verses that much more... energetic? Peaks and valleys? I guess i'll just try it out. And do i have my chorus echo the motifs of the chord progression or a variation, or an entirely new one, etc etc etc. it's all so rough but im glad im finally getting my hands dirty. Writing songs is hard, but sort of beautiful because if it's not what you're meant to create, you probably won't like it. That is, if you have any sense of self-awareness.
Members GreenAsJade Posted February 25, 2011 Members Posted February 25, 2011 i know i could just go and analyze my favorite songs to see how they handle structure/accompanyment but i always feel like i'm just cheating/copying someone else I can relate to this feeling, yet at the same time it's not especially rational. For any endeavour we want to excell at, we study what was done before... why not composition? GaJ
Members [Animals2] Posted February 28, 2011 Author Members Posted February 28, 2011 Yeah man... Also, don't add EXTRA drums.. just remove what is there currently and re-program the beats using the accents in your riffs and the melodic content as a guidepost for what the drums should/could be doing. It'll make it sound liek a drummer, not a drum loop, which, I almost always find more appealing. It will also sound far more COMPOSED, as opposed to something you threw together over a drum LOOP. I think that for non-drummers, drum programming is a pretty important skill to have... like REALISTIC drum programming. Doesn't have to be a GREAT DRUMMER you're emulating, but a REAL drummer.... If you go on my myspace page and listen to some of my tracks, check out the drums... I go back after I track riffs and phrases and re-do the drums... Also, I am a big fan of bass/bass drum interaction. Try to listen to THAt element as well... It's not a hard fast rule, but I just love the sound of a tightness between the bass player and drummers kick and snare... Like I said, listen to my programming on the tracks on my myspace... That may be a good place to start... If you have any programming questions, I would be happy to help!! So is all your my space stuff programmed beats? In particular Paradigm and Fear and Trembling?
Members meganutt7 Posted March 4, 2011 Members Posted March 4, 2011 So is all your my space stuff programmed beats? In particular Paradigm and Fear and Trembling? Animals, I do not have the luxury at this poinjt intime to set up a real kit in my home studio to record, so yes. Everything you're hearing is me doing programming....
Members [Animals2] Posted March 7, 2011 Author Members Posted March 7, 2011 Animals,I do not have the luxury at this poinjt intime to set up a real kit in my home studio to record, so yes. Everything you're hearing is me doing programming.... wow! I see what you mean now. The programming compliments the rest of the song really well. What do you use for programming beats?
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