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Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:48 pm
by frontleft
Hey all,

First post here. Recently stumbled upon this gem of a forum, now glad to be a part of it!

I'm always trying to improve and achieve more organic, creative compositions. Particularly from you guys that are on the pro producer level, tracks in that realm appear to seamlessly flow from one
section to another and maintain interest through out.
So I'm interested to know how you guys approach your composition/song structure. What took your tracks from a bunch of arranged sounds into a cohesive piece of music. Cheers!

Re: Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:50 am
by RWise
Id recommend having a search through existing threads on 'structure'. Theres a lot of useful info already floating about from past threads in this forum.


But about your question - A good way of working is to create a loop (8 bars or so) that sounds interesting to listen to over and over. Start adding a bunch of elements into that loop. Then once you have more than enough things happening in the loop, start to mute things and bring them back in.

You should hopefully start hearing an arrangement take place and get an idea of what elements should stay in the track.

Once you start building an arrangement, it'll be all about subtle automation and movement in the track which will create a flow.

Hopefully you get what im trying to explain.

Re: Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:33 am
by terly
A lot of the time with techno, it's one basic idea that modulates throughout the whole track. I often think about it as layers of frequency and timbre that build up and/or become more subdued.

Adding/removing percussion can help progress things a lot. Always be aware of the change in energy this brings. Dropping the energy a bit doesn't always hurt though - it can't always be up, up, up.

Learn to make atmospheres that subtly shift over a period of minutes. That can give your music a sense of progression even when it's basically a loop.

Adding or taking away even one note in a techno ostinato can make a big difference. Adding a higher octave can also.

Really, it's just little things. You aren't writing a symphony (or maybe you are - that would be a different take)

Re: Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:09 am
by Amøbe
terly wrote:A lot of the time with techno, it's one basic idea that modulates throughout the whole track. I often think about it as layers of frequency and timbre that build up and/or become more subdued.

Adding/removing percussion can help progress things a lot. Always be aware of the change in energy this brings. Dropping the energy a bit doesn't always hurt though - it can't always be up, up, up.

Learn to make atmospheres that subtly shift over a period of minutes. That can give your music a sense of progression even when it's basically a loop.

Adding or taking away even one note in a techno ostinato can make a big difference. Adding a higher octave can also.

Really, it's just little things. You aren't writing a symphony (or maybe you are - that would be a different take)

...well usually a symphony consists of two themes that you modulate* over the period of the piece.


*you reverse the intervals, change the key, double the rhythm etcetera...

My point is techno is one basic idea away from being a symphony!

Re: Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:39 am
by rktic
frontleft wrote: I'm always trying to improve and achieve more organic, creative compositions.
Hi there and welcome!

I think I've got the idea that organic translates to flowing, but no idea what you mean with creative in this context? Artists like Plaid?

Re: Creative composition/song structure

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 4:41 pm
by dubdub
If you actually sit down and analyze the arrangement in "pro" tracks you'll probably find that they aren't nearly as "organic" and "free-flowing" as they seem but are instead pretty on-the-grid. The composition, as in the way the elements interact is much more important than the arrangement, as in when it happens. When you have a loop and additional elements that fit together in a cohesive, natural way you can pretty much arrange them however and it'll sound good. Meanwhile, an awkward composition will always sound awkward, no matter how you'll arrange it.