How to Record a New Song

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Guide to Recording a New Song.

Introduction.

Technology has helped musicians to write and produce songs. There are different ways people write and record songs. Some use programs like Pro tools, Cakewalk, Cubase straight away and go with their inspiration. Others start with beats program such as Fruity Loops and Ableton Live and start their songs with a beat as most young producers of today’s music. Others write on the piano, keyboards and guitar with either chord progressions and or beats.

So the possibilities of writing songs are endless.

What I am going to discuss is one way of writing and recording new songs in a couple of music programs but before we dive into it we have to lay down a plan so we can follow thru to the completion of the project ( as we called it now.) and know where we are, at each point of the song.

Band in a Box is a program i have followed since its early introduction but as time goes on this particular program has evolved into song creation tool, with patterns that will help you output some tunes to the chords that you key in. Its got nice drums, some of them live sets, piano and keyboard patterns, everything needed to write songs in this format.

1. First of all put any ideas of the song, theme, what beat is it, what chord and chord progression down on paper, sometimes humming or playing the tune on a instrument will solidify the tune in your mind. Remember what you are creating is your own ideas, to put those ideas into a song and actually listening to the end result brings a personal satisfaction. I usually get high on that.  Obtain a Band in a box program even the cheapest version will get you going, type in your chords of the song. Apply the patterns in the band in the box to your song.
2. Do not be afraid to experiment with patterns as sometimes you get different feels for the song. Remember make the song into a format such as Start, 8 bars, first verse, 16 bars, second verse, 16 bars, chorus 8 bars last verse 16 bars and ending, 2 bars.
3. Band in the box got endings programmed in as well. Mind you this is only an example. At the same time you can apply fill in for the first verse, second verse, chorus and ending.                                                                                                                              
4. Just play around with different patterns, maybe changing a few chords here and there. The point is being different to other writers and producers. That is how your song is going to be noticed. When you are satisfied with your arrangement we can record them in separate tracks in wave format and exported it to Pro Tools or Ableton Live.

The next article we will concentrate on the technical side of Band in a Box.