Is there a guide or "best practice" for how to build a song

[pooterpatty]

This is an interesting question. The sound of yer bass and the drums individually have a lot to do with it. A big boomy kick drum (like, say, the Matt Sorum IDs) wouldn't be able to achieve that effect with, say, a Rickenbacker (heavy mid-range) kinda bass sound.

I usually have the drums and bass occupying the same space in the stereo spectrum (12 o'clock), and I'll record the bass parts 30 or 40 times (whatever it takes) until I'm in perfect synch with the drums. Of course, having good meter when you're playing bass helps immensely.

[fooks]

yes pooter, what i had to do last time was mute everything cept the drums when i put down the bass lines. helped me focus alot more.

[epauley]

One more thing which, Gator also mentions in his Mixing tutorial...

Beware! Gator is a shameless self-promoter who I am very dependent on for advice. ...Oh and yes, Go Buckeyes!

[gatorjj]

I'm not sure what to do with bait like that

[blue4u]

I thought of another kinda quirky tip that can produce interesting results...

Try to write a song that your favorite band or influence would hear and say, "Wow! That's great and original!!" Create something that they would want to play and get inspired by. This might mean going back and discovering what some of their influences were into and so on, as far back as you can go. Pretty tough standard to put on yourself but hey, why not? If you're gonna go for it...GO FOR IT!!!

Hope some of this was helpful?? Thanks again for the tips guys...

Rich

[michelle]

We've updated the Beginner's Guide to How to Create a RiffWorks Song:
http://www.sonomawireworks.com/guide/index.php/Create_a_Song

~Michelle

[JustJammin]

As my handle indicates, I basically like to jam, more of a hobby. I'm an old school player, reel to reel, echo plex loops. So naturally, this PC recording software and my POD XT Live should be my answer.

I had been toying with the demo for bit and have become totally frustrated with it, to a point of not buying the full version. This thread has given me the some great pointers that I did not get with the demo, or I just didn't RTFM.

Anyway thanks all, I'm placing my software order today.

JustJammin

[jamienelson]

Hey JustJammin,

Glad we could help, feel free to ask questions. We'll try our best to answer them.

Jamie

[nectardefrijol]

i have question? i want to record acustic songs how ken i do it?cuz i want to record the acustic guitar first and then overwrite de riffs but i dot no how

[JohnN]

i have question? i want to record acustic songs how ken i do it?cuz i want to record the acustic guitar first and then overwrite de riffs but i dot no how

I'm not sure that I am answering this the way you want, but here goes:

You could mic your acoustic guitar and use it the same way you would an electric - of course your presets may be different - I just use very very little chorus and a little reverb. My soundcard has a 3-prong circular mic jack thingy for this but I actually haven't tried this 'cos my drummer still has my SM57 on loan, and I keep forgetting to take it home after practice because it's usually 3 am and everybody but me is tanked - but that's another story.

I usually just plug my acoustic (it has a bridge piezo pickup) into my rig, adjust my sound, and play away. It sounds a bit jangly if you don't adjust the tone properly.

Ok, after you have set up your guitar and it sounds like how you want it to, start RW.

Then port your guitar into RW - the RW manual is actually your best friend here.

I guess most people would either use a VST plugin directly into RW (click on Instrument down the bottom of the RW screen) or use some sort of routing of the sound into RW via a digital audio workstation. I'd recommend to use the VST plugin, if you are a beginner. Then hit Create in the Riff section, and play away. If that works, you're in.

Hope this is what you meant. Hope this is clear - I am severely jet-lagged after a quick trip home to Australia to see my parents.

John