Arrangement Techniques

hrod2011

New member
Fellow Producers,

First and foremost I would like to start off by saying hello! This is my first post on Future Producers, and I am excited to have found a site where I can talk music production with other music lovers. The reason I decided to post this thread is because I was curious about different arrangement techniques other producers use. Now what I mean by "arrangements" is your own creative process that you use to make a song.

When I start to compose a beat, I begin with a basic 8 bar loop. I dump as many sound as I can think of in the loop. Then I duplicate each track to about 4 minutes. Once I've done that I begin my mix down. I make sure that everything blends in together nicely. (I figure if I don't leave the mix for the end, I won't have a lot to do later but just a few tweaks here and there.) Once I have done the mix, I start deleting some of the loops and separate the hook from the verses. Then I work on the intro and outro in the same manner. Finally, I add a few more sounds where I feel it needs it. I will usually mix it down a few times over a few days to give myself some fresh ears.

Does anyone have a different process they use? Has your creative processes changed from when you started producing music to how you do it today? I look forward to your comments!

Very Respectfully,
Hector Manuel

P.S. I have a few loops I threw together for anyone interested in a collaboration!
 
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hmm I suppose that technique works but I wouldn't use, I think it's quite limiting and will make your tracks sound too formatted. Maybe not. I'll try it sometime. I usually just start with kicks or a melody and build up from there.
 
Yeah this really depends on the type of music you're making. In a lot of pop genres the music focuses on timbral variation rather than musical varation. That means the music will be repetitive to an extent, but the timbre will change and renew the listener's interest. I've recently made a track where there is very little musical content at all, but it just builds up and evolves the timbres over 4 1/2 minutes. It works, but I also have other tracks that go crazy musically, and other tracks that find a balance to make enjoyable listening.

So I'd vote against this arrangement method for the most part, and try and find a way to arrange around the different musical ideas that come in as the track progresses. Maybe have common ground throughout, but this is your choice really.
 
Arrangement depends a lot on which style you are producing, and also for what/which media. (radio mix, 12'single, movie stings etc.)
Following style and media rules is essential to happy listeners. But there are no rules, so whatever works for you.
I usually select every drum and sound piece by piece to fit with exactly what I have, as I build the track. It can be a long process but I end up with harmonically conform sounds. By jamming loads of stuff in there then taking it away and modifying I guess would be counter-productive, as you can hear loads of stuff that doesn't really fit, that you are fitting stuff to. That's just what the little voice in my head tells me, it's not necessarily right as music is an infinite science full of including chance and probability. Whatever works for you!
 
Sorry for the VERY late response guys! I apologize for my rudeness. I never got an alert that anyone responded to this thread. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input. Your perspective has made me question my current technique and I will apply some of your ideas to my creative workflow! You got me all excited to try something new!

-HM-
 
All I can really say is trust your gut and develop your ear by constantly listening to new music. It is fun to try limiting yourself as well, like say you are only going to use four instruments for a track and see how interesting you can make it. If you look at classical music, a lot of music was written back then specifically for individual instruments, so approaching modern instruments with that sort of specific intention can lead to surprising results. You can learn a lot about strengths and weaknesses of individual instruments in this way.
 
Just be creative and try n be as progressive as possible that what I do I'm nt say its the right way , but it delievers
 
Block Mode in Reason :D:D. Since this mode i was never arranging beats.
I have template with drawed blocks: Intro,Verse,Chorus,Verse,Chorus,Break,Verse.
I make intro,8 bar Verse loop and 8 bar Chorus/Break.
Reason is doing everything for me ;)
 
Block Mode in Reason :D:D. Since this mode i was never arranging beats.
I have template with drawed blocks: Intro,Verse,Chorus,Verse,Chorus,Break,Verse.
I make intro,8 bar Verse loop and 8 bar Chorus/Break.
Reason is doing everything for me ;)

Reason does nothing for you except to regurgitate those sections at the points you choose.

This is old news - using blocks or patterns, as this idea was the easiest way to create large scale works on computers with 512kb or 1mb of ram back in the 80's. write your various patterns/blocks for each section, create some alternate endings as patterns/blocks as well, then link them together in the pattern/block editor to create your meisterwerk......

The fact that you can do that scares me a little bit, but to each their own! All I can say is you get out what you put into it.

Shouldn't scare you, as it is how some of your most favourite tracks from the 80's were no doubt created.


i can create great 8 or 16 bar loops but falter when it comes time to arrange into a full track :(

understanding formal structures should help you master that beast

see this

Bandcoach ~ Beginning Theory 3: Song Structures
 
My process is similar, but whenever I'm ready to add a bridge, or break I make a new pattern and fill it up. One of the posters made a good point. After a while, It can make your track sound 'formatted'. But that's only if you have a boring pattern to begin with.

When I try to work outside of this format, my brain gets overloaded and I quit whatever I am working on before I get any potentials.
 
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