KVR Audio

jebudas · Post by **jebudas** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:13 pm

Hello and Thanks...

For some reason, when I write electronica songs, I just start with a couple sounds, then add some layers, some drums, some melodies, wierd fx, whatever... etc.

And it never ends!

I write songs with my acoustic guitar and it's very easy to just write a verse and a chorus and a bridge, but with electronic music... it's all just non-stop layering!

Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions?

Toxikator · Post by **Toxikator** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:17 pm

Yeah. Write your songs on guitar.

Then, add and replace the melodies and chords you come up with with complementary synths.

I write all my songs on guitar... even if a guitar never appears in a section, you can be sure the melody was concocted on one.

torhan · Post by **torhan** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:21 pm

If you like all the parts you've written, just don't use them all at once. Mix and match different layers for each verse/chorus, etc. This will keep the track interesting.

Toxikator · Post by **Toxikator** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:23 pm

classic terraced dynamics form.

It helps to have at least one break/variation on the theme, though... you don't want 5 minutes of the same melody, no matter how you drop and add parts.

UNLESS you have vocals or some other lead that's always changing to keep it interesting... some forms like modern rock and dnb can pull of the terraced structure because they have an ever-changing lead...

zircon · Post by **zircon** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:27 pm

Figure out what kind of electronic music you want to write first. Maybe analyze the songs of artists you like? That's what I do and it works pretty well.

jebudas · Post by **jebudas** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:03 pm

More thoughts:

I think I'd have trouble writing electronic songs on my guitar bc/ there are wierd drum loops and fx going on... I guess for melodies though.

I do like the parts I write, and I drop stuff in and out, but I always feel like there should be some sort of 90 degree turn.

The ever-changing lead... that's a cool concept. One piece of music that I am always comparing my stuff too (NOT in terms of quality!), is Bolero by Ravel. Familiar? That's basically the issue in a nutshell, I want to take a Bolero-esque piece and make it spin to the side for a bit.

Thanks everyone! Good advice all around!

silenthill2006 · Post by **silenthill2006** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:04 pm

I usually start writing parts for the paino in Finale and export them to Reason (soft synth) for editing. I would also suggest buying a book of drum patterns for ideas. You should pick up the Dance Music Manual. It will help you with arrangement and with the creation of sounds provided you have the right software/hardware for all types of electronic music. It talks about a lot more other stuff as well.

ATS · Post by **ATS** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:07 pm

I mean this in a nice way. you might be layering so much because you aren't writing a smaller number of parts well enough so you feel you have to layer everything. Happened to me and many others I am sure.

silenthill2006 · Post by **silenthill2006** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:14 pm

ATS wrote:I mean this in a nice way. you might be layering so much because you aren't writing a smaller number of parts well enough so you feel you have to layer everything. Happened to me and many others I am sure.

Yeah, he should pick up the Dance Music Manual. It will help him with arrangement. Also tutorials on websites such as tweakheadz.com goes a long way as well. But he definately should decide what style of music he is going to make before he does anything.

jebudas · Post by **jebudas** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:08 am

Hey, cool site! (http://tweakheadz.com) Thanks!

Barf · Post by **Barf** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:18 pm

Hmm... so maybe electronic music isnt that simple afterall?

silenthill2006 · Post by **silenthill2006** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:52 pm

jebudas wrote:Hey, cool site! (http://tweakheadz.com) Thanks!

No problem.

Electronic Music Theory Help!