My music making process

http://traffic.libsyn.com/bminusshow/how_i_make_music.mp3

Making beats can be easy with technology and software. Many of the programs such as garageband or logic pro x for mac can actually generate drum beats and music for you automatically.

However, I come from an ancient era where we had to learn to make music without the assistance of advanced software.

Yes, I did use the quantize option from time to time on my drum tracks and some other tracks, but most of the time we were imitating instruments on the keyboard through the whole song.

It starts with an idea

A majority of my music making starts with an idea, typically a bass line since I am a bass player.

Some of the time my inspiration for a new song will come from a song idea, i.e. a cool saying or lyric idea.

Hearing a guitar riff or drum track from my band during jam sessions will also spark an idea.

Finally, I conjure ideas by listening to other music. There may be a part of a song, lyric or the like that will inspire me to write a song based on that inspiration.

The key word is “inspiration.” This comes in many forms in sometimes subtle ways. It always comes when I am listening for it.

It may require me to have a couple of beers and fiddle around on my bass guitar. Nonetheless, it always starts with some inspiration.

I always record this idea so I don’t forget it, then I work on the next part.

Drum, aka the backbone

I like to compose a digital song by laying the actual drum tracks down first. Since Apple makes it easy, I will choose an automated drum beat based on the style of music I am producing then work towards filling it in.

Back in the days, we would pre load live and digital drum ideas on a 4 track (later an 8 track).

Drums are the backbone of the song. I can control the tempo, intensity and fills.

Once the rough drum track is down, I move on.

The bass line

Since I am a bassist, I always lay the bass line out. I follow a song structure and change the drums to adapt to my bass line (if I have that luxury).

A guitarist could also do a rhythm riff after the drums, it works similarly to the bass if it’s a constant riff (i.e. not much space in between the riffs).

Layering tracks

Are you still with me? It’s pretty simple. You have your drum track roughly laid out, then your bass lick sewn on the track, you can start adding layers.

What are layers? Those are the other instruments to give the song more life.

I like to start with a keyboard or synthesizer sound to create more rhythm or ambiance. I then hit a melody that alternates here and there.

I will then consider adding more subtle tracks to fill the song out. The layers typically change during half of the verse, the choruses and the bridge.

The hardest part is finding the right sound. For example, you may like a clean guitar melody but also discover a distortion guitar melody will sound better.

You have so many options, so it gets hard to narrow it down. Before I get bogged down in too many details of the specific sounds, I move on the the vocals.

Vocal work

I like to lay the chorus first, then work on the verses. Lastly, I prefer to to backup vocals and the bridge.

I am not set on this vocal recording order, but usually it works out that way for me.

You can play around with vocal effects as well, but usually I stick with one effect when laying the vocals down.

Retro editing

After my vocals are done, I will basically have a complete song. I will then go back and listen to the song.

I don’t just listen for enjoyment, I listen for opportunities to add tracks, subtract tracks, change instrument sounds, change the drum fills/tracks or modify lyrics and vocals.