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8 Steps of how music arrangement works


How Does Music Arrangement works?

Hello Everyone!Myself Ashish kujur I am learning arranging and i want to share my experience that how i arrange my songs.So those who does not know about arrangement,composing,mixing and mastering.So before doing any arrangement you need to understand that first you have to compose a good melody.After that arrangement takes part.
When you listen to the hit song the what do you think what will be the main reason?It`s the melody but if you listen to the melody itself without anything then it will sound like nothing.So Imagine a person naked without any clothes.So arrangement is like clothes only.Arrangement plays important role where it leads to hit songs. Michael jackson,Metallica,A.R Rahman,Madonna,Bob Dylan,RD Burman,etc.So these are some of the artists of all time.Then what is an music arrangement! A music arrangement is nothing but anything which fills the song like guitars,piano,pads,drums,strings etc in right time. Attractive chord pattern is also a very powerful technique used since many years.Well these days there are no specific pattern for arranging choruses and verses.These days things are different.So let's get deeper into it:-

These are some attributes in music arrangement

1.Contrast

Contrast is like if in a song verse if you add to many things then it will sound muddy.If you want to catch listeners attention then try to put less elements in verse part than chorus.Don't use  more than 5 tracks at a time.It should be very meaningful and clear.If you put everything in the beginning if the song then there will be nothing left for the chorus and ending part.

2.Listen to others

Always listen to songs as much as possible because it will help you to inspire and listen new things and new flavours.There chord arrangement,Elements(recorded or programmed both) but yes you have to be original.

3.Space

Sometimes we forget to do some important things like if you put piano in the whole song then what will do other elements in the song.We have to see that are guitars and piano are clashing with others. 
Always use one Pad for filling up the space.that can be anything like strings,synth pad,organ and electric piano.Imagine you are attending a stage concert what you see in front of you.If they stand in one line will you be able to see at once everyone- drummer,vocalist,guitarist,bassist etc.i don't think so.if they will stand separately then only you can see each player.Same happens in arrangement also.
You have to give space to each and every element in the songs.  

4.Minimalism

Try not to put many elements in the beginning itself,it shouldn't be sounding crowded.Try to mute some tracks,make sure that if any elements frequency spectrum like for example if you put lead guitar when vocal is there then your brain will not understand what to listen.lets take another example
of bass and piano.If you want to put these two elements at a time then you have to see bass notes of piano because if you do that then same thing will happen they will clash.

5.Chords 

If your song have strong melody then it will need some back support.That's why we use chords as support.Your chords should be giving mood and feel.Everybody knows how to put basic chords to song while matching with melody but that's not the case.You have to think beyond that,listen to your favourite songs or albums try to find that what they have done learn from them.You have to increase your listening skill.Don't stuck in some bunch of chord pattern.I will suggest "Explore" more learn from others.

6.Instrument selection

Make a list of instruments that you want to use in a song,select your instruments wisely.Different genres have different flavour so you have to find out what instruments are being used in their local regions.Every country has different set of instruments.ex-In India there are different states like maharashtra,punjab,uttar pradesh etc.Indian songs are made according to movie where the location is.

7.Excitement  

Try to make always listener excited in every second if the songs.Try to put exciting elements which will add more beauty in the song.If song is having same instruments playing for long time then it will bore the audience.If your song is sounding boring or not as exciting.You have to put some elements that will grab attention of audience.

8.know your target audience

Do a research that what audience listen these days your song shouldn't feel like oldies.These days everyone is listening to EDM songs more not always but yeah mostly.So if you want to make money and want to sell your product you have to be updated.You can see these days most of arrangers and composers who were making mostly mixture of genres and now they are arranging EDM.

You can see the link of some of the best arrangements according to me :-

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