Songs with Instrumental Sections?

[DesireeBowen]

Hello all,

I've been thinking a LOT and strategizing a LOT about what I want to do here in the next little while. One thing I am reading over and over in the forums is about how much more of need there is more instrumental music versus songs. I definitely want to keep writing songs, but I am wondering if I should allow for longer instrumental breaks within the songs so it would be more conducive for the voiceovers in the film/tv, or if a song is signed, do they just ask for an instrumental version in addition to the song so they can use that with it? Maybe its premature to be thinking this way, but I want to head in the right direction from the get-go if I have any hope at all in this industry!

I am also going to start writing solo piano pieces.. which I have another question about (surprise, surprise), but I will post that in another thread.

Thanks!
Desiree

[greggo]

My understanding is that some libraries won't take a song with vocals without being supplied with an instrumental version of the same song (i learned that at the Rally). That's sort of what I'm working on. I'm working on a collaboration with another taxi member, re-writing a song that we wrote a couple years ago. She's completely rewriting the lyrics and I'm working on the music arrangement at home and the outcome will be a track with vocals and a track without the vocal. On the instrumental track, the lead guitar and piano will be a little bit busier than they would be on a vocal track, to fill up some of the vacant space.

I'm a little new at this too, but that's the approach that I'm taking. If I'm wrong, I'm hoping the other comments on your thread will straighten me out

Gregg

[guscave]

Hi Desiree,
Instead of writing longer instrumental breaks, why not simply do a separate mix of your songs without vocals. As Gregg mentioned, libraries want full instrumental pieces not pieces of a song that has instrumental parts.

Something also to consider. The instrumental pieces you pitch to a library should be as interesting as a full blown lyrical song. Unfortunately I have seen some writers simply take out the vocals on a song which didn't have much going in the instrumentation side (ex: lack of arrangements, no hook or climax) and they'll send it in, only to get rejected by the library. Make sure that your instrumental version can stand up on it's own.

best to ya

[Casey H]

Hi Desiree
Definitely do not put long instrumental breaks in songs. For artist pitches, it's usually best to leave these out and for film/TV, they are OK but should be reasonably short.

What you SHOULD do:

* Keep on writing great songs.

* Always have a backing track to your songs with no vocals available. When libraries sign a song they like to have the backing track because the end user might mix between the two versions.

* Write some pure instrumentals, designed that way from the start.

* If you want to pitch a backing track as pure instrumental see if it is interesting enough on its own. A backing track was made to have voice as lead instrument carry it. To make it more interersting as an instrumental you can shorten it, cut & paste sections to a shorter & better piece, add an instrument to carry the melody, any/all of the above. Sometimes a backing track will pitch fine on it's own. I have some that have done well and have been placed.

HTH!
Casey