Mario asked me to start a session on Composition, to tee up maybe a dedicated forum in the future, who knows. So here goes.

There has been talk about "advantages" of RealBand on another forum, and I don't want to get into that, but I am using RealBand as an example here, because it ties in with two other tools I am mentioning.

#1

I do not want to steal this guy's thunder by sharing his excellent hit song template freebie, so I will say go here, listen to this youtube and get his freebie pack. It shows hit song arrangement examples and is great.

https://blog.holistic-songwriting.com/starterkit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmrgTNE9Cs

For those using Logic, he has put his method into a Logic Template. I imagine it looks something like my RealBand Template.

#2

Look at the RealBand screenhot below. Whether or not you use RealBand is irrelevant. I do, and I am simply showing that in a series of "slots" I think hard about what part of 15 secs or more (or less) will go into the arrangement to add spice, or to add or release tension. That is, I am building an arrangement visually.

In RealBand, all I have to do is swipe with a mouse and generate an exact bar or bars of the parts I want, and then export the arrangement complete, at first draft level. (There will be other tweaks and adds when I move to Cakewalk.)

#3

Floyd sent me this link (see screenshot 2). It is fascinating. You can study the arrangement of any song out there, see the parts, and where they begin and end.

WARNING: Have your volume down if you go to this site or this song. It plays right away and it is LOUD.

https://www.karaoke-version.com/custombackingtrack/luke-bryan/that-s-my-kind-of-night.html

So, that is it.

These are patterns, templates and tools that explain the craft of "thinking like a producer."

I would love to see specific contributions on tips and tricks others are using to compose, arrange and "think like a producer."

Hope this is useful.

P.S. If you open my screenshots in a new tab, you will see what I am getting at. These "slots" apply to tracks other than the basic bed, whatever that is (bass, drums, acoustic, etc.)

But I am going to guess that folks who arrange will see what I am doing and build their own template (if they don't already one one) that works for their own unique workflow.



Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
RB Workstation2.png (481.54 KB, 209 downloads)
Backing Tracks1.png (259.47 KB, 205 downloads)
RB Work Station.png (463.85 KB, 204 downloads)
David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

https://davidsnydersongs.com/
https://spoti.fi/359Gigs
www.davidsnydermusic.com/
www.reverbnation.com/davidpsnyder
www.soundcloud.com/davidsnyderchannel
https://www.songtradr.com/user/profile/david.snyder