Music Producers Handbook
Music Producers Handbook
PRODUCTION
KASHKREME INC.
2|P age
Table of Contents
Table of Contents................................................................................. 2
Plan First – Always!.............................................................................. 9
Think Song – ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Premise – .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Intent – ............................................................................................................................................................... 11
Genre – ............................................................................................................................................................... 11
Instrumentation – ............................................................................................................................................... 11
Basic Instruments............................................................................................................................................. 12
Groove – ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
Grooves............................................................................................................................................................ 13
Structure – .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
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Compose ...................................................................................................... 21
Step 1 – Find Notation Software ......................................................................................................................... 22
Intervals ........................................................................................................................................................... 28
BOOTY – ............................................................................................................................................................ 51
CRUNK – ............................................................................................................................................................ 51
KRUMP – ........................................................................................................................................................... 52
ETHNIC – ........................................................................................................................................................... 52
REGGAE – .......................................................................................................................................................... 52
R & B – ............................................................................................................................................................. 52
KRUMP – ........................................................................................................................................................... 52
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Master ................................................................................................ 54
Think Song –
Get premise, intent, genre, instrumentation,
groove, structure, tempo, performance, requirement,
production requirement, recording process, recording
timeframe, characters.
Premise –
Example: This is a love song that addresses the
emotional responses of a couple in a threatened
relationship.
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Premise Ideas
Love ones All apologies
Your own life Mining the media
Universal themes Chance Encounters
The blues Location
The tragedy trigger Songwriter’s paintbrush
Cheating hearts Good day’s bad days
Breaking up Questions and answers
Endless love Four minute speech play
Pride in parents Names, places, animals, colors
Traveling back in time Equal universal themes
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Intent –
Example: To relate and create a song for the purpose of giving hope in
relationships.
Genre –
EX: Pop, R & B, with the feel Of Jodeci.
Instrumentation –
Ex: Chorused Piano (Bass and Chords), Electric Bass, Strings
occasionally, Acoustic guitar, Drum kit (Boom Kick, Reverb snare, Light
HH, Etc.), Mild Synth and Arp, Vocals (Solo Leads thru Verses) (layered
Harmony in Chorus).
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Basic Instruments
Groove –
Ex: Basic, 2step, Stomp (Shai) Tempo 80-100
Grooves
Booty Krump
Reggae Crunk
Ethnic Electro Dance
Old school or Breakin 200o’s Hip-ness
Experimental Dance New Jack swing
80’s Dance 2 step
90’s Dance Waltz
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Structure –
EX: Intro – Verse - Chorus – Verse – Pre -chorus – Chorus –
Bridge – Chorus x 2.
Performance Requirement –
Practice Guitar, Piano, Harmony and Leads
Production Requirement –
Create Drum Samples, Synth Pads and Arp using FL Studio.
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Recording Process –
EX. Using Noteworthy create sheet music (lead Sheet). Now,
Using Noteworthy save File as MIDI. Export All MIDI parts and
also Record over Parts. Reverb all parts according to style. Record
Verses. Etc.
Recording Timeframe –
Ex. 1 Hour Composing chord progression.
1 Hour Setting Imports and Exports.
30 Minutes Performance Recording.
2 Hours Vocal Recording.
1 Hour 30 Minutes Mastering and Mixing.
6 Hours Total.
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Nostalgia Process
(Reference Nostalgia at all times, it’s the Law!)
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Chorus –
Where it all starts
• Acquire a Cool Melody with a very Catchy and Fun Lyric
(#1 Important)
• Remember Bass must correspond to the lead line
• Think of a song that correlates to the Feeling of your
Chorus and use Samples
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Verses
The Builders for the Chorus
General Notes
• Use lots of dynamics fade in/fade out
• Leads Work Best in Staccato bell type timbers (clarinet, piano)
• Use staccato upbeat chords in midrange
• Sometimes use two octave bass for Solid Foundation
• Keep drums and tracks simple and Pure
• Always layer vocals
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Compose
When Undertaking a Composition Project,
Composing.
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Step 1 –
Find Notation Software
Start in a Simple Midi Composer such a Noteworthy Composer,
Step 1B
Setup Composition Template
Create four blank staffs as Shown in Figure.
Assign Names Bass, Alto, Tenor, & Lead (Right Clicking on each Staff.)
The Repeats Will Be Deleted upon Save; they are only For Playback Purposes.
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A Scale
A Sequence of notes in either Ascending or Descending intervals.
Scales determine all Possible Intervals.
Since intervals are the Pillar on which Emotion and Expression Lie, therefore
Scales are imperative to melody.
There are several scales one can use in which to build melody and harmony.
Modes are scales manipulated to elect more expression or emotion.
Remember the Relationship between note pitches is the heart of music.
So Scales and Modes allow your melodies to emote, and express.
Again, Scales and Modes are Emotion and Expression.
Use must learn some scales and know how they behave in order to communicate
with music.
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Intervals
Major Scale:
(Bright, Lively): C – D - E – F – G – A - B- C [or] Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-te-Do
Remember Intervals? They would be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1 0r I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-I
Major Modes:
Ionian mode is identical to a major scale. Happy, Strong, Reliable,
Lydian mode is a major scale with a raised 4th scale degree. Happy,
Gaming, Theatrical,
Mixolydian mode is a major scale with a lowered 7th scale degree. Jazzy,
Blues, Be-Bop
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Minor Scale:
Pentatonic – No Thirds = Doo-Wop and Majority of Pop Melodies ex. “My Girl”
Ragtime - I-II-bIII-bIV-V-VI-VII-I
Blues - I-bIII-IV-bV-VI-VII-I
Minor - I-II-bIII-IV-V-bVI-VII-I
Major Triad 1 3 5
Minor Triad 1 b3 5
Diminished Triad 1 b3 b5
Augmented Triad 1 3 #5
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Major 7 1 3 5 7
Minor 7 1 b3 5 b7
Dominant 7 1 3 5 b7
Half Diminished 7 1 b3 b5 b7
Diminished 7 1 b3 b5 bb7
Augmented 7 1 3 #5 b7
Suspended 4 1 4 5 b7
minor/major 7 1 b3 5 7
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Twelve-bar blues
I - II7 - IV7: (sevenths are optional for I and II but necessary on IV) e.g. Stay
with Me (The Faces)
I - III - IV: e.g. The guitar solo from 'Free Bird' (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
I - III - vi - IV : e.g 'She's Electric' (Oasis) (this progression also works well in
6/8 time).
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Cdim - XX1212
Gdim - XX5656
Cmaj6 - XX5555
Gmaj6 - XX5757
Cmin6 - XX1213
Bbmin7b5 - XX2333
C7Sus. - X35333
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Bass Line, the bass line can start as simply the root notes for each
chord. Compose using only whole notes and compose for 4 bars only
Lead Line – Open for Melody try to Reserve Coloring and Embellishment for the Lead line.
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Midi Compositions are Great for Sequencing and you can Assign Instruments to
the Midi Staffs in other Programs. Importing the Midi into a Program Such as
Fruity loops allows you create Custom Sounding Loops without having to record
Rhythm Composition
1. Find a Drum Sample that Relates to the Groove and Style of the Music
2. Create a Drum Kit for the Style in FPC
3. Assign Drums to Midi Notes
4. Export Drum Samples
5. Instrumentation and Sequencing
ELECTRO DANCE –
Genre Instrumentation Bass 8th and 5th Slide
Guitar
80’S DANCE – Hi Synthesizers
Hi Bells Cover Lead Pan pad Synthesizer
Moving Walking Acoustic Bass Stuttered and Distortion
Rock Guitar
Warm Distorted Strings
2000 H IPNESS -
808
90’S DANCE - Bomb Drops
Shakers Hi-Synthesizers
Upbeat Guitar Chords Pizzicato strings
Upbeat piano Tambourines
Worm Worms
BOOTY – CRUNK –
Reverbed Snare Brass
Quick Snare Lines Distorted Guitar
Booty Bass (Sub) High Pianos
Crazy 16th hi-hats High Synthesizers
808 Worms
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KRUMP – R&B–
808 Brush Drums
Alarms Chorused Piano
Baritone Sax Flute
Brass Grand Piano
Distorted Synthesizers Guitar
Rocking Guitars Rhodes Piano
Shaker
ETHNIC – Soft Acoustic Bass
Crippled Strings Soft Snap
Flutes Strings
Triangle Bell
Worm
REGGAE –
Crippled Strings
Guitars KRUMP –
Hi Toms 808
Piano Reverb Alarms
Quick Orchestra String Hits Baritone Sax
Brass
Distorted Synthesizers
Rocking Guitars
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Structure / Design
1. Import all Files into Multitrack and Name Tracks
2. Arrange Files According to Production Structure
3. Search for Supporting Samples, Transitions, Fills, and Effects
4. Arrange Supporting Samples According to the Build of the Production
5. Record Vocals
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Master
1. Balance Sonic Level (Pan, Volume, Frequency Space, Intensity)
2. Create Texture thru Effects (Reverb, Chorus, Exciters, Tubes, Echoes, Etc.)
3. Master Tracks (Optimize Full Sonic Potentials)
4. Save Session
5. Mix Down
6. Save Mix down as “Wave” file and then also as a 320kbs “Mp3”
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• Always Layer the Vocals with 3 Tracks (Pan: Left, Right, Center)
Vocal Arrangement
The vocal arrangement should support the conceptual and emotional side of the composition.
In context it should have a leading melody and supporting harmonies.
All parts must be EQ and have some sort of effect applied.
When more than 2 voices are in play vocals should be panned.
The Instrumental
After vocal arrangement is created perfect timing of the beat’s parts; limit the activity of the beat
(minimalist as possible). Arrange beat parts according to the projects structure. EQ all part and add
effects where needed (sparingly). Mix down beat. Gut out the beat in accordance to the vocal
arrangements fit into the beat.
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The MIX
The mix should include the VA and the Instrumental. The mix must be EQ-ed and normalized. Dynamic
processing should be added in final stages of mastering and mixing.