Instrumental writing!

[DBGD]

Hey Everyone!

Just curious about instrumental listings. When the listing mentions wanting instrumentals
in the vein of... are you guys/girls writing a melody on a instrument that mimics what a
vocal would normally do? How much different should the arrangement length be from a full track
when the listing mentions 1-4 mins? Should I knock the verses and choruses down to half their length?

Thanks in advance

Cheers
DBGD

[davewalton]

Hey Everyone!

Just curious about instrumental listings. When the listing mentions wanting instrumentals
in the vein of... are you guys/girls writing a melody on a instrument that mimics what a
vocal would normally do? How much different should the arrangement length be from a full track
when the listing mentions 1-4 mins? Should I knock the verses and choruses down to half their length?

Thanks in advance

Cheers
DBGD

There's no "definite" on that. Stuff like electronica doesn't have melodies, verses or chorus's... it just starts with a groove and that groove mostly develops and evolves building itself up, breaking down and more or less starting the build up process over again or maybe in a different way. Something like an instrumental for "romance"... that would most definitely be a melody driven type of instrumental. Other things like "extreme sports heavy metal"... that might not have much in the way of a melody but the song has to change and evolve to keep it interesting.

Mostly in the end it's about the emotion. If they're looking for a sad song and your song is dripping with sadness... you've cleared the hardest hurdle. There's lots of posts following forwards/returns for a given listing. Seek some of those out that you're looking to do. Listen to what got forwarded, what didn't and let your ears be your guide. Also post up what you're planning on submitting to a given listing and you'll most likely get feedback as to whether it's got a good shot or not.

Good luck!

Dave

[Ajetpackoperation]

Stuff like electronica doesn't have melodies...

I agree with everything except this.

[davewalton]

Stuff like electronica doesn't have melodies...

I agree with everything except this.

Not a 'set in stone' opinion. Was thinking in terms of electronica instrumentals like "Starting Over" or "Acetone" (Crystal Method) or any track in the general genre...

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/starti ... =218547997
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aceton ... =218549072

Those do have a melody of sorts but it's repetitive and my mind just terms that as a "groove" that gets built up and broken down as opposed to a melody (like anything from Owl City or Basement Jaxx or whatever).

[Ajetpackoperation]

Yeah, I know it wasn't meant to be a set in stone. But it did get me thinking of some of oddly evocative melodies coming from such seemingly "cold" and detached music.

Stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqUBY2r7hRg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtBJooB1jGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5w1NonwpmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHhYbVVDuoA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPVTbRT9ozY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFix7VLor88

[DBGD]

Thanks Dave.

I was referring to listings like this one... DANCE/POP INSTRUMENTALS a la Lady GaGa, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, etc.,
where there are normally vocals. These are mostly electronic backing tracks where most of the hooks come from the vocals.

Cheers
DBGD

[mojobone]

It seems you'd want instruments to play the hooks that would normally be sung, then. Perhaps you've answered your own question?