Song-writing

Find one thing to explore - don't do too many things
After a bunch of expt, you'll get a vision for the song.

Finishing a track comes from two commitments

• First decision
• Follow through

Structure of a Song

• Foundation: This is usually the rhythm section - drums providing the major pulse of the song that you would feel and count along to, and bass providing harmonic context for all other pitched instruments. The rest of the arrangement is built upon the foundation.
• Pads: Long sustained sounds - often chords, notes, or atmospheric effects which are held to fill some of the background space.
• Rhythm: Rhythm is any instrument that plays off of the Foundation’s pulse, adding movement and excitement to the track.
• Lead: What you would sing along to and probably pay the most attention to when listening.
• Fills: Fills occupy the spaces in between Lead lines to maintain interest when it’s natural for the main melody to take a break.

Also think about “passing notes” or “passing tones” - notes that may be outside of a chord or even outside of your key, but that can serve as a bridge in between the more important, anchoring bass notes you’re using.

Foundation - Harmonic grounding
Pads

• Synth
• Held guitar chord
• sustained song
• Atmospheric
• Organ
• string