Building a tune questions ... how do you?

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Another question: where do you guys start when you come to arranging stuff? I've normally started at the beginning of the main section and worked through a breakdown and another main section and then gone back and done an intro. But that doesn't seem to work too well, so I was wondering about eg using the initial 32 bar loop that 'has potential' as the 'second drop' or at least 'the climaxy bit that comes in 1-2 minutes from the end' and then trying to write the whole tune as a sort of extended intro to that. So I don't end up using all the good bits before the alleged climax and having to stick in some really forced extra percussion to make the climax a bit more energetic...
hm, i always start with the intro, always build a track linearly. which doesnt always work, but it did tonight.
I start with first course, then a meatballs + salad. After I add a whole bunch of spices. Teef
dsp Wrote:corriander is better

Than having your wisdom teeth pulled out?

As a subtle flavouring maybe, the taste of corriander on its own is the work of the devil Icon_evil
Again a serious SC thread becomes a food-based discussion Hahaha
Start with a musical sample, be it strings/piano/vocal. Then find drums which fit the sample, decide if i'm gunna make a drumfunk (ish) tune or a straight 2 step thing (depends how i'm feeling).

For example: i have just found some lovely strings from the film Enduring Love soundtrack. So that gives me a 'feel' to the tune already.

Have about a 16 bar loop (depends), and then fiddle for ages finding other stuff which goes with the main sample (synths, other samples/vocals, hi hats, reversing the samples, fancy plug-ins on stuff), until i've got at least 4 variations on the original loop. Also, it doesn't matter if the original sample is lost in the mix now, it was only the sample to create the 'vibe'.

Then i make a bassline, which takes ages as i'm shit with bass. Make sure the bassline sounds great with one of the variations of your loop, so that can be the 'drop'.

After that it's easy to arrange as you have 4 variations on the same loop, so you can cut and change between then through out the tune to keep interest.

Thats aboot it.

To summerize, always start with a musical sample/element, it creates the vibe.

imo
I always start with beats, then bass.
I rarely get past beats and bass, if I do it's a pad.
I've seldom 'finished' an arrangement, so my method is clearly a hinderance to me.
(got lots of beats and basslines tho, nice to comeback to when they've sat and matured, for like years Oops)
I'm going to try flipping my technique later (after cleaning, cooking then cleaning again)
TBH it's wanting to lay down a riddim that gets me to fire up the system in the first place!
lately ive started making tracks by getting a general idea for how the songs gonna be, order of sections, stuff like that, then over time build the track up bit by bit, adding detail, maybe altering sections and the flow of the track a bit aswell

like painting a watercolour
djfada Wrote:lately ive started making tracks by getting a general idea for how the songs gonna be, order of sections, stuff like that, then over time build the track up bit by bit, adding detail, maybe altering sections and the flow of the track a bit aswell

like painting a watercolour

Yes

that's what i do.

at the moment i'm applying that to my album.

...it's taking a while.
I always make a tune the way it plays. Intro, main section, ending. Don't like working like that as I often get stuck about 2 mins into a tune but I simply can't work any other way.

When it works, it's a great feeling though.
Same thing. A tune tells me what to do.
In most cases I start from beats, then anything in any order.
WiLSHY Wrote:I always make a tune the way it plays. Intro, main section, ending. Don't like working like that as I often get stuck about 2 mins into a tune but I simply can't work any other way.

When it works, it's a great feeling though.

How do you work that when yo uget an Idea for an amazing breakdown?

Surely you'll get that relatively sorted before going back to the start of the track?
WiLSHY Wrote:I always make a tune the way it plays. Intro, main section, ending. Don't like working like that as I often get stuck about 2 mins into a tune but I simply can't work any other way.

When it works, it's a great feeling though.

me too wilsh, its weird.

it worked for me last night, and this afternoon Icon_yippee

the best 5 mins and 50 secs i've written this year.

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