Song Arrangement Technics

Hi Guys,

i got my mpc know about 4 month and i learned a lot to work with it.

i big problem everytime it to get stuck by arrange a song.
to bring up a chorus with 4 or 8 bars is no problem and i find it evertime very good, but when it comes to build a sound around it with intro, verse, break, prechourus i get lost in all my sequenzes.

does anyone like to share some technics that i can learn a little bit from more expirienced producers?

best regards,
jokas

When your first creating the beat you should name each sequence accordingly. this way you know where you are. Also it doesnt hurt to get a pen and paper out and keep notes.

This article refers mainly to pop music, but the basic principles of song arrangement are universal across genres. Some useful information to give you the heads up.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_ar ... ging1.html

thanx for your answers. generally i know about arrangement. but i like to know some more about special technics to develop the squences.
paper and pen was a good tipp.

some more?

One rule that i always follow when arranging a song is that there are no rules when it comes to putting together a song. Its best to have your own unique way of arranging and just do what ever is most comfortable for you. If your into Hip Hop/rap production that rule will be helpful in finding your own sound and style too. I recomend getting the book Beat Tips by Said or check out the site beattips.com to find out alittle more about that.

Hmm looks interesting, but how is the quality of the ebook? no example. is this really a extention when i have the MPC2500 Tut from here? International shipping is $18.75 Cost more as the book.

One rule that i always follow when arranging a song is that there are no rules when it comes to putting together a song.

How many songs have you released with this technic?

1. hook - loop or flip the sample, verse - flip it a different way.

2. hook- maybe add over another sample to give it somethin different.

another technique i have been using for YEARS is acapellas. Get a nice collection going. When your working on a track dig some up and sync them with the beat. Thats a sure fire way to know if the song structure is working out. If your on the right path it will sound natural.

jokas wrote:Hmm looks interesting, but how is the quality of the ebook? no example. is this really a extention when i have the MPC2500 Tut from here? International shipping is $18.75 Cost more as the book.

One rule that i always follow when arranging a song is that there are no rules when it comes to putting together a song.

How many songs have you released with this technic?

If your really about this like i mean serious then it wouldn't really matter how much the book costs, beacause its adding knowledge to your brain. Your music can advance just by getting familiar with how things work in music production, but anyway the book is pretty straight for any level of producers whether your your an advanced cat or just beggining. Its one of those books that you read to catch inspiration and get insight on producing. Basically it covers all aspects of the art of producing like music theory, song arrangments, smart tips on buying gear. The book also has a chapter that explains the business aspect too and even some rare interviews with some legends in Hip Hop like Dj Premier and that sorta thing. Really it doesnt matter what equipment you have its all on the way that you yourself can freak it you know what I mean??Oh yea, and if you look around on that site like the forums and stuff you'll find some really helpful tips and and all that good ish. PEACE.

P.S. I'm not like a big time pro or anything yet I'm still a student like you and I'm always gunna be a student. I've made alot of joints but ive only been in this for about 2 years.

How about simply listening to some music and learning how the pro's do it? Use your ears!

poundaproblem wrote:When your first creating the beat you should name each sequence accordingly. this way you know where you are. Also it doesnt hurt to get a pen and paper out and keep notes.

Chuuch..... I have a dry erase board in my room that I use for this exact thing. I also use it to keep track of where I want some of my mutes, so if I change something in a seq I have a ref to go back to if I don't like it.


When I am doing the seq mute thingy I use X's and O's like this.....

Dry erase board looks like this:

(Song name) Intro:
XOXX
OXOX
XXXX
XXOO

(Song Name) Chorus:
XXXX
OOOO
XOXX
XOXO

And so on.... Each character represents a track. I can look up and ref everything in seconds, so it def helps to write sh!t down... But naming everything is very important to your work flo.....

thanx for the productive tipps.
i tryed to write my bars on a pice of paper to see faster where i be.
in the future i will try to use the reason 4 song arrangement track, but i dont know what would be the best way to connect my mpc, yet.
i have to watch some more youtube videos for more ideas.

clint246clint wrote:How about simply listening to some music and learning how the pro's do it? Use your ears!

yeah, i try that all the time. but before i know it, i've dropped my paper and pencil and are dancing around the lounge room, saying 'damn that song is good'.