I was wondering if there are any general rules or guidelines on when one should introduce a new element into a song? Also, when to remove an element.

Let's use "Calvin Harris - Summer" as an example:


Here is part of the playlist overview of a remake of "Summer" in FL Studio



He begins his track with an 8 bar intro with the violins and bass, vocal is introduced after this 8 bar intro. After 16 bars, he introduces piano chords, then after 8 bars, the violins are removed and are substituted with a piano melody and filtered lead, this is the pre-chorus and obviously he uses the low energy filtered version of the lead to create anticipation for it in the chorus.

If there really is no music theory that can help me with this, should I just copy how other producer's introduce new elements until I get the hang of it?

 

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 16, 2021

this shit can be explained and watched in 1000 different tutorials without you internalizing it, it happens only by doing..

so yes, i would do that, "copy how other producer's introduce new elements until I get the hang of it". its going to take many sessions though. there is a process or lets say a series of processes going on in your brain when you "copy" a session and work with it intensively.

and just like when reading university literature you have to digest it, it will get you to understand and get that "internal picture" of a song structure, and answer all of those "whys" you carry with you right now.
.

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

I kinda like these guidelines if you're looking for impact transitions and aren't a catalyst, Caitlyn Jenner or Donald Trump? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Thanks for contributing, I thought this was going to be the way. I just wanted to see if any experienced producers on this forum could give me anything else to better my understanding of this since I am a fairly new producer and I am really struggling with song arrangement/ structure right now.

Thanks for sharing the video, I watched it and the guy gave some good tips! I was looking for how different producers think about or approach these sort of things!

Thanks for this, it's good that you gave a different outlook on this since your method seems to be ear-based rather than theory-based. You touched on a lot, I heavily appreciate the in depth reply.

 

There is a pattern, it is repeating. Add anywhere another pattren (usually after 2, 4, 8 bars, but, may be, after 3 or 5 bars, as you want). And then LISTEN. Attentively. Once, twice, three times. What will your musical taste say to you? Is it too early? Or, may be, too late? What you should do to make your music more beautiful, interesting and meaningful? Or all is OK and you don't need to change anything?

Place another pattern where it is needed. And it's only you who knows where. Beacause it's your composition.

The single important principle is that music has to be interesting and at the same time not exceedingly complicated. But it depends on you, your style or a specific charater of your composition. Do you need constant changes? Or your song develops slowly? In trance music new elements is introduced more rarely (because of the character of trance music and the implied impact of it on a listener). But in some styles any repetition is absolutely avoided.

Music is an emotion rather than a scheme. There is no rules or recipes. There are possibilities that you can use. Do and then contemplate. Listen. Is it good or not? Musicians aren't deaf, they always use their ears.

 

you are welcomed. its very personal so sure, some people will take in guidelines better than others and be able to apply them, from personal experience for people with my character though, i could have had it explained for years and still it wouldn't help me when it really came down to it, to many insecurities and questions kept distracting every decision i made, i could keep changing the arrangements for ever..

at the beginning when one knows little, basic rules helps a lot but further explanations just fly above ones head or just vanish very easily. you think you got it, and then when you try to apply it you are still at the same place as before. but sure, there are exceptions and different characters.

for me, only a track-record of maaany actually finished "badly" structured songs could make me get that "picture" in my head of how it should look to sound right*. but, its art, so its fun to learn to do it right.

 

you're welcome! there are certain tried and true songwriting and arrangement techniques that will affect the momentum of a piece of music or the impact upon the listener, and i'd recommend trying a songwriting course to learn those types of techniques. with that said, i think it's important to keep in mind that your ear and your influences are your most unique qualities and those are the components that will ultimately set your music apart from others

all the best / most successful music creatives i know take an ear first approach that is reinforced by lots of practice and some theory. if there was a simple formula for this stuff there would be a lot more people writing hit songs for a living. let your ear guide you, because that's how 99% of people understand and internalize music anyway

 

1. Then make a decision. "This composition/song will be structured this way". And then work in these restrictions. Don't change the structure. Be a musician who plays rather than a composer who builds the structure. Add new elements, remove them but don't touch the structure.

2. Have you tried to analyze music of other people? I mean music you like. The theory is one thing, the practice is something different. Sometimes it gives very helpful insights.

3. Give more attention in your music to things you like rather than "wrong" things. It seems that you are susceptible to doubts. It's not a good habit. Look at things that are right and good even if not all in your music is good and right.

4. Do you like music you write? Are there songs/composition you like above all? Even unfinished? Give them the focus. I hardly could help with it but if you don't like music you make it's a sort of dead end. Try to find inspiration in your life. Theoretical recipes are good but it's just a help rather than a decision or a "remedy". Theory just describes what have been done by somebody and what could be done. It's not a "decision maker".

5. Any good song/composition is a whole that can't be divided into parts. It's not something assembled from "bricks". Try to look at things this way. May be it will help.

6. And I'm repeating again, music is an emotion. An emotional expirience. It's very helpful to switch your brain off while making music.

 

This. Very true.

 

Thank you to everyone who contributed here: @EddieXx @famouslut @No Doz @Ibnv

You all gave great advice, thanks for leading a beginner down the right path!