The Arrangement

[Noyd]

Im new to doing more pop oriented tracks a la Timbaland, Danja, etc.
I wonder about the arrangment, and what foundation i should build from? How many bars for what?
Im thinking, Intro 2 Bars -verse 16B -hook 4B- verse 16B- (bridge 2B)- hook 8B-outro

Also what is common during arrangment, sort of like - crash for the hooks- main lead into the bridge-
that type of tricks?? I understand it can varies alot, but i just looking for the common recepie.
As i understand, after the first hook, you useally dropped all instruments, so no suprises for later.
Share me some wisedom

[rnrmachine]

Hello there Noyd,

Is English a second language to you? I will try to be easy to understand.

In pop music there are many formulas. You should by a songwriting book. The arguably most popular would be 4bar intro = first or last 4bars of the chorus. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus. The bridge can be swapped out for a third verse and that is VERY popular too. Can be 16 bars on everything except the bridge could be 8 bars. That is very common.

Rob

[Noyd]

Yes its my second language, but you got it!
Thats what i needed to know! thanks alot.

Production wise, what can i do to make the chorus bigger?
Only hihats for the chorus and nowere else? i hear alot
of productions not having the main lead on the chorus, just
the chords..

[rnrmachine]

Hi again Noyd,

Typically, in the past, the high hat would be used in the verses and the ride cymbal in the chorus, but you can do either one. There really is no standard here for that.

The important thing about a chorus is that it is obviously the main hook of the song so the lyrics you choose and the melody you choose for the chorus is most important. Maybe try different mode chords in the verse and full majors in the chorus. That is usually a good sound although commonly used. So be careful not to sound boring because it has been done too many times. Having a unique sound although using common elements can be a difficult part of writing a hit song. Having good lyrics telling whatever the story is very hard too.

In a song structured <Verse1, Chorus1, Verse2, Chorus2, Bridge, Chorus3, Chorus4>. Lead guitar, Piano, Sax, or ANY lead instrument, whichever one you choose to be your lead instrument, would go over the bridge, using chords commonly. Which would be a third variation on your song. The Pan Flute can be a lead instrument for example.

In order to have the chorus sound BIGGER keep the verses simple to a point. If you have a someone singing, have only one or two vocals going in the verse. But in the chorus have the vocals doubled, or tripled, and so on. You can have the same singer do the backing vocals or have a group of people sing the backing vocals. This is the time when all of the instruments you plan on using in your song would join in. This also makes it the hardest to mix. Having so many things going on in this section requires equalization meant to thin the instruments out so they fit nicely together.

Hope this helps,

Rob

[Noyd]

It helps alot! Great post Rob

Im used to do house music, breaks, buildups and that sorts of thing
so now when i sat with this, i was cleueless. I think i understand now.
I started to produce the track in "peak point" and mixed it, so it fits well
for a chorus. Now i just need to spread it out.

Interesting with hh->rides and lead doing chords for the bridge. I know
its pretty stock to do so, but now i atleast know what the rules are im breaking =)
Thanks, and hope your doing well also

[rnrmachine]

Hi Noyd,

I am glad that this is helping you, but when I said... put the lead over the bridge, I meant to say the bridge backing tracks would be using chords while the lead work would be over that. I apologize for my poor description.

Good Luck in the future,

Rob