Arranging Your Music 1: Techniques And Tips 

Thanks D.A.P. - the best things in life are free! Spread the word. EO

Because too many people focus too much on "plugins" or vst "hacks" to try to better their music quickly instead of really working on fundamental creativity & artistry

Audiences can be very intriguing you find one excellent video with few views and some random video with over 1M views, it is the same thing with music too

Very insightful indeed!

It’s just such a horrible song choice I can’t stand to hear it more that once. 😂

Ha ha - thanks. I won't take up any more of your time - you have a lot of work to do, apparently EO

Thanks Benjamin. Tons more on the channel to explore - I'm wondering if you might find ''Taking care of the Bass' useful ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NVn7d01MhV4.html EO

So happy you found it helpful! - you're welcome. Check out our other two episodes on Arranging. . . EO

Thank you J.T. Glad you enjoyed it EO

Thank you. Glad you like it! Be sure to check out our other two videos on the same topic . . .EO

Thank you! Tell your friends!! EO

Very very true. Some of my favourites are those 60s ad 70s R&B arrangements of hit songs - eg Aretha Franklin. Classic example - Aretha's 'Young Gifted and Black' - simultaneously faithful to and radical departure from Nina Simone's version. EO

Thanks for sharing - we're very glad it's useful for you. Good luck with your music. EO

Thank you Gerard - so glad it was helpful. Enjoy exploring the channel. EO

Thank you - tell your friends (!) Hope you find other things on the channel that are helpful - you may like this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Kev-4gKV2Cc.html. EO

Thank you! tell your friends . . !

Thank you, we agree!! Tell your friends . . . EO

Thanks so much! You're in luck - we have two more videos about arranging coming up in a couple of weeks. EO

@@EarOpener Wow, I'm excited 😊

You're making us blush. Thanks so much. All these videos actually came out of various talks that we gave to 18 year olds at schools in London. We thought this was the information they needed and asked some esteemed friends to help put it together. EO

So glad you found it helpful! EO

Our pleasure Yolo - thanks. More Ed O'Brien across the channel. for example the video on getting in the right frame of mind ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GU3ASLMM-00.html All the best with your own music.

Such a great point, thanks. FYI - yes they DID know that the arrangements had been made deliberately with issues. Totally agree about feedback - in fact we made a video about it - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bvVSS93WpQE.html . It is, I'm sorry to say, one of our least watched videos - but one of the most important topics. I know so many young musicians whose main issue is about sharing their music (not making it!). Paul.

You are very welcome - hope there is other useful stuff for you elsewhere on the channel. Good luck with your music EO

Thanks Jonas - really appreciate your generous words. EO

Our pleasure - you might find our other episodes on arranging useful - there are two more. EO

Thanks Marcos - We're so glad you enjoyed this.We'll be uploading a new video every week, so stay tuned....

Thanks so much EV. If you ever want to send us a short video of how you used our content to improve your own work (a before or after?) we are really interested to share people's experiences of the channel. Send anything to writemusic@clodensemble.com

Thanks so much. Good luck with your music. EO

Thank you! Visit our channel, we have 2 more videos on the subject. ru-vid.com/group/PLd78t7GIBhi8YNO9_djEBhsl8fEDUjV3N. Good luck with your music EO

Delighted you found this useful. Hope there are more things on the channel that catch your eye/ear. Also new episodes coming soon. EO

I'm so glad it's useful. I really recommend checking out our playlist "Organising your music" ru-vid.com/group/PLd78t7GIBhi-RRb-0MGo_5gkDEFCJFJkM. which covers more ground on arrangement. We'll also be doing more in the new year. EO

Thank you - so glad it was useful. Check out our other two videos on Arranging on the channel - you might also find them useful. Good luck with your music EO

You make it a pleasure by saying that. Thank you! Check out the other two episodes on arranging . . . . maybe up your street EO

It is our pleasure - enjoy the channel! EO

Glad it helped!. Check out the other two videos on arranging on our channel. EO

Delighted you found us. Spread the word. And good timing - this morning we will be filming two more episodes on arranging. Released soon. Enjoy the channel and good luck with your music EO

Thanks Justin. Hope you find other episodes on channel that are useful to you. EO

It is our pleasure. Good luck with your music EO

That is great to hear Anusha, thanks. Good luck with your music EO

Thank you!

Our pleasure. Hope you find other useful things on the channel. More episodes on arrangement coming soon. EO

Our pleasure . Check out the other arranging videos on the channel . . . EO

So glad it was useful. Plenty more on the channel to explore - you might find 'Taking Care of the Bass' useful. EO

@@EarOpener I already bingewatched your channel. But I will probably come back because of the density of the content. Can't wait to see new videos though.

ha ha, great. We're planning new episodes. Let us know if there is anything you would particularly like us to cover. EO

Great, thanks - hope the single works out well. EO

Thanks Luke - check out the other two videos on arrangement - maybe they will also help . .. EO

You are very welcome. You might like our other two episodes on arranging , , ,Good luck! EO

Thanks Sean. Hope you find other stuff on the channel that's useful. EO

your contribution to the algorithm, is very much appreciated - thank you!EO

Thanks LW. Hope there is other stuff on the channel that is useful to you. EO

Our pleasure, Thanks! More episodes on arranging on the channel . . .EO

Thanks! ...and good to hear that a Beethoven enjoyed our work! EO

Great to hear - thank you. Check out our other two episodes on arranging. Good luck with your music! EO

Thank you. Yes we're working on more videos . . in the meantime hope you find other useful things on the channel. EO

Thank you Malik.We'll be making some more episodes later in the year.EO

Thanks Davonte. Look out for more videos coming up in a couple of months - another on arranging (thinking in lines) plus more . . . Good luck with your music EO

Thank you, it is our pleasure - hope you find other things on the channel that you find useful. Check out our 'Organising your music" videos ru-vid.com/group/PLd78t7GIBhi-RRb-0MGo_5gkDEFCJFJkM All the best with your music EO

@@EarOpener That's lovely! Thank you, really curious to watch them all!

Ha ha! Yes, we've all been there! I have to say, arrangements like that CAN work if the context is right - a lot of punk songs were just like a loud version of this! Good luck with your music EO

Thank you so much! Oh yeah I never thought about that haha, I guess punk music is really simplistic but it works for that genre haha. Thanks, You really helped me a lot !@@EarOpener

Thanks Phil. Hope you find more stuff on the channel EO

You're very welcome Carla. Enjoy the channel

ha ha - glad it all made sense . . . EO

We're here to help! Enjoy exploring the channel. EO

You are very welcome, Ademol! Enjoy exploring the channel. New videos on arranging coming soon . . . EO

Our pleasure! Glad you found it useful. Good luck with your music. EO

@@EarOpener Thank you, I'll be tuning in much more often!

Many thanks. Hope you find other things on the channel that are useful. EO

@@EarOpener yes, the other videos are on my list :)

So glad you like it - thank you! EO

Thank you David. Hope you find other stuff on the channel that helps EO

@@EarOpener Yes, I've been sharing your videos with my friend. Both of us have an interest with sound and music in games.

Ha ha . . . the bitter truth . . EO

Thanks. Check out the other two episodes we have on Arranging . . . EO

Thanks Jack. We're thinking about our next season of videos, so this is useful to hear. I don't know of any great books on arranging. If I were you, (if you've already listened to everything in our Arrangement playlist) I'd listen to a ton of 70s funk, disco, all of Grace Jones' work with Sly and Robbie, all mid 70s Bob Marley, and plenty of big band jazz/R&B (Ellington, Mingus, Ray Charles) and any of the 'American songbook' artists - Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan , Sinatra , etc.. anything by Stravinsky, Mozart or Beethoven, Missy Elliot, any of Prince in the 'Parade' and 'Sign o the Times' albums, anything arranged by Quincy Jones ... and listen to what they do (and what they DON'T do). Try and follow the 'score' horizontally as well as vertically - pick an instrument or section (eg: 'saxes' or 'piano') and listen to the whole track following what they play, and where they leave space. Then pick TWO sections (eg. bass and guitar) and see how they interact - where they overlap, and where they leave space. Continue listening in different combinations. Once you have internalised this ear training, and once you have heard many many great arrangements from different genres, the process of arranging will come naturally. Good luck! EO

I really appreciate the detailed and generous response! The listening to 2 elements at once is a great tip...! I have a lot to take away from all this and I appreciate it. In a few different areas of music I've peeked around in but not headfirst! Another thing that Im quite interested in that doesnt get talked about a lot (if youre looking for new ideas for videos) is repeatable compositional and songwriting tricks and tools that show up a lot. That are obvious, but maybe not to beginning composers and songwriters. For example in 'starman' you theres more than you can poke a stick at with a II chord hook moment, a IV > iv chord change, a classic ii V I cadence, a 'lil susie - everly brothers' moment that matches his lyric about "rock n roll". All the borrowed VIb and VIIb chords and modulations the beatles use. The use of picardy thirds etc... I know its all quite musical jargon to people who don't follow music closely, but they're all quite tangible sounds once you can hear them and isolate them... Anyways, Im sure you guys would describe the application of these tools brilliantly and know more than I can reel off. Anyways, all the best with the channel and again, thanks for the meaningful response!

Yes - good idea. I actually asked this question to the interviewees - about tricks or habits. The pros and cons of this. Thanks!EO

You are very welcome. There are two more episodes on Arranging - enjoy exploring the channel. EO

We're glad you found us - Thanks MyVleker. New video on melody just released today. Merry Christmas to you.

@@EarOpener thanks, so am I. I'm trying to improve my productions and arrangements and came across your website! I'm definitely going to watch all the videos, keep up the good work and merry christmas haha!

Thanks you! It is our pleasure. I just checked out your channel - you seem to know a lot about arranging already! Keep up the good work . . .EO

Thank you! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 I already subscribed to your channel waiting for more videos! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Glad it's working for you! Lots more stuff on the channel - and more to come in a few months. EO

Yes - Cherise Burnett Adams - a very good singer. Well known in the UK Jazz scene, but also does her own songs. Check her out. EO

Fantastic! Happy to help.... and tell your friends! EO

@@EarOpener sure I will 🔥🔥❤️🫣

Thanks Arjun - spread the word! EO

Our pleasure! Hope you enjoy exploring the channel. EO

Thanks you! Hope you find other useful stuff on the channel EO

You are very welcome! . Hope you find other things on the channel. EO

@@EarOpener Yes, I think I will because your content is super professional

Thank you! Check out our other episodes on Arranging on the channel EO

Thats great - glad we could help! EO

you are very welcome EO

glad you're enjoying it! Tons more on the channel EO

Thanks for the tip Feegs. Just watched the tiny desk - they are quite something. All the best EO

@@EarOpener Thanks for the reply :)

Our pleasure - good luck!

I think the guitar would work even better with one stab per bar on the 4

Thanks - hope you find more useful stuff on the channel EO

Ha ha! Glad we could help EO

Thanks Rick. That's a big question! I'd advise not overthinking it - there is no magic solution. Or , another way of saying it, there are limitless solutions. Maybe the best way to understand all this is by learning to play (or programme into a DAW) some of your favourite tracks, and see what they do. If you learn, let's say, 50-100 songs, you'll soon internalise what has worked for others, which will guide you towards what will work for you. But to try to answer your question - let's take the example of choruses : some barely change the vibe, but the tune changes ; some have different chord structures; some are louder than the verse; some bring in a new layer (eg harmony vocals) ; some don't change the instruments but change the arrangement (eg guitar changes from picking arpeggio to strumming chords) ; some change key ; some don't really have choruses (does Hey Jude have a chorus?) etc.. etc... So many possibilities. Hope that isn't too much of a non-answer . Good luck with your music EO

see you then EO

So glad it was helpful. You should watch our other two episodes on Arranging - some good advice from Tehillah Alfonso and others. Good luck with your musical journey! EO

Thanks so much for the positive feedback. We will be doing some more videos in the Spring. We are interested in seeing if our followers are interested in us covering any particular topics - you can leave feedback here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WRL3FNRwZho.html We know we will be doing more on arranging and something on modulation. Thanks again EO

Thank you!

Hi Lizzie, Thank you! A few things come to mind. First thing - try NOT putting in a pad or a piano using the chords. Or mute them. Just vocal and drums. That way you will hear the space for other parts. A pad or busked piano fills all the space - even if you had a brilliant idea there wouldn't be room for it. Listen to Bob Marley's Natty Dread Album or Grace Jones work with Sly and Robbie - listen how much space there is. Listen to how some of the melodic licks aren't exactly amazing, they are just little ditties - but the effect of them all together really works. Secondly - try SINGING instrumental parts. Get your vocal and drums going and try to write a bassline just by singing along with your track. Singing will make you take a breath - and create phrases which (without you even trying) have space. You might write a little synth answering phrase, or something for the right hand of the piano, tucked in between your vocal, or overlapping. with it. Just don't overthink it! EO

We hope so Emmanuel. Spread the word! More videos coming over the coming weeks.

Thanks for the comment. I respectfully disagree! I think this video is NOT about stank (which I agree, some people access more easily than others - they have better ideas more often,; although in my experience this gift can be nurtured or squandered during a career). The video is about technique and this can be learned with a bit of practice. Some people teach themselves over their musical journey (I did), others learn from collaborating with others, others learn by going to college or watching RU-vid. I would argue that almost any great sounding music embodies the ideas in this video - understanding them (even if that understanding is intuitive) will probably make your track sound better. But no matter how much you use these ideas, it doesn't guarantee a great track - you could be a technical genius but your ideas or sound is boring/derivative/safe and no-one will want to listen to it. If you have stank you stand a chance - but that is for another video . . . Good luck with your music EO

@@EarOpener all good points

It is rapper/activist Lowkey. I'm embarrassed to say his caption got missed out - although he is credited at the beginning of the video. Brilliant man. hen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowkey

Thanks- glad we're helping. I'm afraid the DAW software is Apple Logic - so no Windows option. The score writing app is Finale - available for both platforms. But honestly the windows DAWS (eg Cubase, FL Studio, Reaper etc...) can do everything that Logic can do. Good luck! EO

Thanks Ravi. Such a good question - I wish I'd spoken more about this. The principle is the same - don't bring every element in too soon. You may be under pressure to bring in the lead vocal very quickly - fine. You may have to. But keep the texture thin at first - not too many layers. Save other elements - eg variations in the beat, other layers of accompaniment, countermelodies, backing vocals etc. Wait for 30 secs before bringing them in. All the best with your music . . .EO

Thanks Neel - which bit do you mean? Tell em the time stamp and I'll let you know. EO

its nothing special - just a stock electric guitar on Logic Sampler, put through a logic amp and Soundtoys Tremolater

@@EarOpener awesome thank you. Your channel and videos are great btw-the example you came up with for the “too busy” bad arrangement actually made me laugh out loud-it reminded me of a couple of ill-fated songs i’ve done.

ha ha . . .we've all been there at some point! Really glad you enjoyed it EO

Glad it was terrible enough to be useful! There are lots more episodes on this subject on our channel EO

Thanks Manish. All the best EO