What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff
- T&V Marino
- Impressive
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:53 pm
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Hi Brian,
There are a lot of great answers here, and they're all correct!
When we first starting writing for TAXI listings 8 years ago, we used to write "instrumental songs," which were basically songs without lyrics. These instrumental cues had a melody and were written in "song structure," which is a verse, chorus, verse, bridge. What we've learned over the years is that this form is not ideal.
This is how we write now:
We write in "reverse." The first part of our cue is the "chorus" with hooky riffs instead of a verse with a long, rambling melody. We call it the "A" section. Then we develop this A section by adding some more instruments like percussion or we bring the drums and bass in, etc.
Next, we might do another even more developed A section, or it might be time to change to a "B" section. We usually stay in the key (instead of going from major to minor for example). Then we go back to our "A" section with a break down. This means we highlight the drums and bass or do a "very light" version of the first A section. It makes it easier for the Music Editor to use.
If you check out the music on the major production music libraries (Megatrax, Killer Tracks, FirstCom, 5 Alarm, etc.), compare the instrumental cues with the songs they have. We learned so much after doing this several years ago. It's very eye-opening!
Good luck!
~ Tracey & Vance Marino
There are a lot of great answers here, and they're all correct!
When we first starting writing for TAXI listings 8 years ago, we used to write "instrumental songs," which were basically songs without lyrics. These instrumental cues had a melody and were written in "song structure," which is a verse, chorus, verse, bridge. What we've learned over the years is that this form is not ideal.
This is how we write now:
We write in "reverse." The first part of our cue is the "chorus" with hooky riffs instead of a verse with a long, rambling melody. We call it the "A" section. Then we develop this A section by adding some more instruments like percussion or we bring the drums and bass in, etc.
Next, we might do another even more developed A section, or it might be time to change to a "B" section. We usually stay in the key (instead of going from major to minor for example). Then we go back to our "A" section with a break down. This means we highlight the drums and bass or do a "very light" version of the first A section. It makes it easier for the Music Editor to use.
If you check out the music on the major production music libraries (Megatrax, Killer Tracks, FirstCom, 5 Alarm, etc.), compare the instrumental cues with the songs they have. We learned so much after doing this several years ago. It's very eye-opening!
Good luck!
~ Tracey & Vance Marino
- Casey H
- King of the World
- Posts: 14148
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Yes... I used to dream of writing the next #1 radio hit... Now I hear 12 seconds of my music-- barely audible under a scene from "People Who Are Addicted To Eating Styrofoam" on TLC and I'm dancing on the ceiling!deankripp wrote:one of the beautiful things for me about getting "older" is that I have able to leave that fame thing in the dust...(or maybe that fame thing left me in the dust)... nowadays, as long as the checks don't bounce, I'm happy baby....
Casey
I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
- rld
- Committed Musician
- Posts: 735
- Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:13 am
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Ha ha...ain't that the truth!Casey H wrote: Yes... I used to dream of writing the next #1 radio hit... Now I hear 12 seconds of my music-- barely audible under a scene from "People Who Are Addicted To Eating Styrofoam" on TLC and I'm dancing on the ceiling!
Casey
- ggalen
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1427
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:24 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: USA
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Bryan,
Good points and good illustrations.
Good points and good illustrations.
- mazz
- Total Pro
- Posts: 8411
- Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:51 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: San Francisco
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
To further add: A piece of music written specifically to picture for a movie or film is often referred to as a cue.
Film cues are usually less useful in production music because they were written to specific footage and if it doesn't exactly fit the current scene it may not be chosen. Film cues tend to make a lot of changes dramatically and emotionally and with production music cues it's generally better to keep to one mood and let the editors create the changes by editing several pieces together to fit the scene, for instance.
Cue is a generic term.
Film cues are usually less useful in production music because they were written to specific footage and if it doesn't exactly fit the current scene it may not be chosen. Film cues tend to make a lot of changes dramatically and emotionally and with production music cues it's generally better to keep to one mood and let the editors create the changes by editing several pieces together to fit the scene, for instance.
Cue is a generic term.
Evocative Music For Media
imagine if John Williams and Trent Reznor met at Bernard Hermann's for lunch and Brian Eno was the head chef!
http://www.johnmazzei.com
http://www.taxi.com/johnmazzei
it's not the gear, it's the ear!
imagine if John Williams and Trent Reznor met at Bernard Hermann's for lunch and Brian Eno was the head chef!
http://www.johnmazzei.com
http://www.taxi.com/johnmazzei
it's not the gear, it's the ear!
-
- Impressive
- Posts: 365
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 7:25 pm
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Can someone help me interpret listing #D190828HM
By "Instrumentals (not Cues)", is this meant--an instrumental 'song' with a song structure, rather than 'a repeating piece of music with gradual variations that sticks to one mood that can be easily edited'?
ORIGINAL, "MANCINI-STYLE" JAZZ INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a very successful, EXCLUSIVE A-List Music Library for a variety of TV, Film, Trailer, Promo, and Commercial placements.
They’re looking for a bunch of Instrumentals in a variety of Tempos and Moods that are in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references the company gave us...
Please submit well-crafted Instrumentals (not Cues) that are smooth and cool with an old-school, retro-Jazz style and sound.
By "Instrumentals (not Cues)", is this meant--an instrumental 'song' with a song structure, rather than 'a repeating piece of music with gradual variations that sticks to one mood that can be easily edited'?
- mojobone
- King of the World
- Posts: 11837
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
I wish this forum had a 'like' button; I like this post. It should also be noted that the generous Dean Kripphaene is the author of Demystifying The Cue. You can take his answers to the bank.mazz wrote: ↑Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:59 amTo further add: A piece of music written specifically to picture for a movie or film is often referred to as a cue.
Film cues are usually less useful in production music because they were written to specific footage and if it doesn't exactly fit the current scene it may not be chosen. Film cues tend to make a lot of changes dramatically and emotionally and with production music cues it's generally better to keep to one mood and let the editors create the changes by editing several pieces together to fit the scene, for instance.
Cue is a generic term.
- mojobone
- King of the World
- Posts: 11837
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
That's right; a song can have an emotional transition or a story arc; cues generally don't. This applies to vocals as well as instrumentals.mikehamm123 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:49 amCan someone help me interpret listing #D190828HM
ORIGINAL, "MANCINI-STYLE" JAZZ INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a very successful, EXCLUSIVE A-List Music Library for a variety of TV, Film, Trailer, Promo, and Commercial placements.
They’re looking for a bunch of Instrumentals in a variety of Tempos and Moods that are in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references the company gave us...
Please submit well-crafted Instrumentals (not Cues) that are smooth and cool with an old-school, retro-Jazz style and sound.
By "Instrumentals (not Cues)", is this meant--an instrumental 'song' with a song structure, rather than 'a repeating piece of music with gradual variations that sticks to one mood that can be easily edited'?
-
- Impressive
- Posts: 365
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 7:25 pm
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
Thank you.
Was my belief, but in reading this thread, some terms seemed to be used interchangeably.
-
- Committed Musician
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:16 pm
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: What makes an instrumental "cue" differnt from just a song?
a cue doesn't have to be a hit
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests