Instructions
- Step1Structure the Song
The song should have structure before you pluck a string or hit a key. Figuring out the length of each movement, whether it's the basic verse, chorus, and bridge, or in the classical sense, helps guide your direction in the songwriting process. It is your musical map giving a general idea of where you want to go. You can write this down or work it out all in your head.
- Step2Open up your DAW. Estimate the length of your song. Label the different movements: verse, chorus, and so forth.
- Step3Decide what instrumentation you're going to use and label each track accordingly. To make life simple, create a template in your DAW and save it (refer to your DAW's manual). You'll use this whenever you begin a song. It will have the song movements labeled as well as the basic instrumentation that may be used. This will save time for any future projects you may have.
- Step4Lay Down the Drums
Start with the drums. Even if you don't have an idea of every nuance that's going to be done, laying down the drum track will give you a foundation you can follow for the songwriting process. It acts like a live metronome, the main difference being that you'll actually end up using it.
Depending on what DAW you are operating in, you should lay down a basic beat with the tempo that matches the idea you have. It doesn't have to be exact though if you know precisely what you want, taking the time to create it now will put you that much further along the path to finishing your song.
- Step5Cut your drum sequences up into manageable bar segments that you can cut and paste as needed. Do this for however long you think the song will be. It's a process you'll use throughout.
Operating in MIDI is the simplest and best way to do this. If you have to go live, just record one bar phrases. If this isn't possible, try and find loops that will be close to what you want. However, you may find yourself limited in this regard.
- Step6Insert a Bass Line or Melody
Laying down the bass line is normally done as the second step. One main reason is that the bass along with the drums carry the song. Fitting this in the mix early can save you the headache of trying to get it to fit it in later 9 times out of 10.
However, this can be interchanged with the main melody as many times laying down the melody will bring out a bass line you didn't have in your head to begin with. The melody can be performed with just about any instrument. Even a placeholder like piano will suffice which you can replace with another sound later.
The rule here is that whichever you do first, the next one should follow.
- Step7Add Fillers
Guitar, violins, samples, horns, all of these elements can be added lastly as fillers. They give the song body and life though they are not absolute essential like drums, bass, and melody.
Listen for places where adding fillers sound muddy, buried, or harsh. Adjust the timbre or pan the instruments to get them fitting properly in the mix. Don't force the issue. If a filler isn't working, scrap it and use something else.
Train your ears to spot problem areas by listening to good mixes. Begin to analyze songs you like to know what works and identify techniques that are being used.
- Step8Begin Edits
You should have the skeleton of the song in place. It should sound close to what you want it to sound like.
From what you've laid out, you should begin editing particular sections of the song. Maybe you want a drum fill in one place or a piano run in another. This is where you give the song a signature.
Don't over do it here. Nothing is more annoying than a song that has a whole but of runs and leads for the sake of doing something. It shouldn't detract from the song but add to it.
- Step9Add Effects
Lastly, add effects where you want if any. Reverb, delay, flange. Again, don't over do it. They should flow with the song. Begin subtlety and increase as needed.
