Song Structure on mpc

Hi,

im just curious as to how every1 would set up the structure of a song on the mpc...for example would you use


- sequence 1 for an intro
- sequence 2 for verse
- sequence 3 for chorus
- sequence 4 middle 8/break down


and so forth...im just tryin to get a few ideas...

thanks

That should do the job.

Just remember that sequences can be different lengths such as one, two, four or the usual eight or sixteen bars.

The key to a good arrangement is to experiment with it in song mode and throw in a few surprises to keep the song interesting through to the end.

Learn some popular/ standard arrangements for your genre and always LISTEN to the arrangement of the music you listen to to see how they work.

6 bar intro
12 bar / 4 bar verse
8 bar course
sumthing i like 2 do meself.... jus sumthing i use 2 do in the late 80's - early 90's when i use 2 make mixes
on cassette tapes ( the good ol clear tape, real cut & paste, pause-rec style )....
try that structure, tell me whutcha think

mr.pleasant wrote:6 bar intro
12 bar / 4 bar verse
8 bar course
sumthing i like 2 do meself.... jus sumthing i use 2 do in the late 80's - early 90's when i use 2 make mixes
on cassette tapes ( the good ol clear tape, real cut & paste, pause-rec style )....
try that structure, tell me whutcha think

Interesting arrangement but why 6 bar Intro should be more like 4-8 bar?

twist of a off-beat-on beat style..... 4/8 is the everyday way to start a beat...
sumtimes u gotta cum out that box.......... it steamed from when i was younger & use 2 do jr.high house parties..
when the bwoi's were gonna come on the mic, that was there cue... MEMORY LANE, GOTTA LUV IT
That was the " SLAUGHTAHOUSE-MASTA ACE Era "

make your sequences in whatever order you want. then play with it in song mode to find what works, what sequences need adjustments, and where you need new sequences.


once your in song mode, you should be thinking of what makes sense to pull the arrangements together to make a logical structure.

do what sounds good. if the song sounds like it hick-ups, or changes too quickly, fix it.

i run at least 4 sequnces for an intro..lol
then i might run around 8 to 11 sequences for complete..

some sequences might be the same!!

I used to do it that way to, made different short sequences and add them to one song, but I changed to making as long sequences as possible. It's easier to make the song more fluid that way.

I used to chain a minimum of 20 sequences together ranging from 1-16 bars when I sequenced solely on the MP, but I know a few heads who use only 1 sequence, period!

kocha wrote:I used to do it that way to, made different short sequences and add them to one song, but I changed to making as long sequences as possible. It's easier to make the song more fluid that way.

im new so i will heed this advice!!

In my mind the MP will never be a great linear sequencer, so don't try and pretend it is. Creating and chaining patterns is what it does best, unless your music is simple and can be done in one long sequence of course.

Once the main elements of the track have been sequenced and arranged in song mode you can convert the song (or a copy of it) to a new sequence.

Once this has been done, you can easily record additional tracks or instrumentation in the traditional 'linear' fashion. Just add additional tracks to the new, single sequence (Song) and record away!

You are still chaining patterns together using this method, are you not? I was talking more specifically about building the track from scratch in one long sequence.

hey coz what genre of music do you create?

I think you're missing the point.

The MPC isn't just a pattern-based sequencer, but that is one of it's strengths.

But, for a totally linear style MPC recording session start by creating a single sequence which is 4/5 minutes long at your chosen tempo.

Now record your tracks.

Editing will take much longer though.