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Looking for a book

I am looking for something that can help me put songs together. i am now getting into production and have been a dj for a while.

The type of book i am looking for is one that may help me with how many bars , phrases, and all that. Meaning how many there are in each song and the order that they go in.

I will be using reason for now. but need to know exactly how songs are structured.

If any of you know a book that will help me i would be great full. Thanks

Try this if you are just starting out:

Dance Music Manual: Toys, Tools and Techniques

Have you not heard a single tune in your life?

you say you're a dj. So I assume you have some records. Find out how they are structured. You could do this by listening to them. And you can save the cost of a book.

quote:

Originally posted by Pjotr G you say you're a dj. So I assume you have some records. Find out how they are structured. You could do this by listening to them. And you can save the cost of a book.

I have litened to songs lots actually. a lot of them are alike but seem to be different in ways also. just looking for help not smart ass comments.


I understand music goes in 4, 8, 16, 32, then repeats to 64 beats.

now after the 64 some songs repeat that however many times before something else happens and this is where songs chnge to me. seems like every producer uses that however many times they want. this is what i am looking for help on.

quote:

Originally posted by Benjamin_D seems like every producer uses that however many times they want.

...and there's your answer.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Try this if you are just starting out: Dance Music Manual: Toys, Tools and Techniques

Thank you

quote:

Originally posted by Benjamin_D I have litened to songs lots actually. a lot of them are alike but seem to be different in ways also. just looking for help not smart ass comments. I understand music goes in 4, 8, 16, 32, then repeats to 64 beats. now after the 64 some songs repeat that however many times before something else happens and this is where songs chnge to me. seems like every producer uses that however many times they want. this is what i am looking for help on.

If this is the way you're going to approach music... you're going to be buying a fuckload of books.

I've read through a few books... Idiots Guide to Music Theory, Dance Music Manual, Manual to Remixing, etc. I found that closely listening to music was far more valuable - and I mean very closely, picking out sounds, effects, timing, etc. from a variety of people. The books weren't all that helpful, to get me started anyway. They seem to make more sense that now I've learned (a little). Take 5 or 6 tracks, play them from the place on the song you think you are having trouble with and listen to how each are transitioning at that interval. You may or may not find you aren't hearing what you think you are in many cases.

If you insist on books, those mentioned above may be helpful, but they weren't to me... just getting in front of the computer, monitors, and a keyboard is how I'm learning - and it's faster and more fun. Plus, now the books make a little more sense.

i once had a dream that i was in a book store and found this book full of formulas on how to produce traditional trance hits. i started flipping through the pages and it was full of usefull tips and some secret insightful ideas by the authour. however i forgot the name of the book when i woke up but did remember some tips.

hahaha anyway, for being a dj you should have a pretty good idea of how songs are put together. just take some of your favorite tracks and try and make tracks simialar. that way you will begin to understand how tracks are built.


good luck, and be patient

quote:

Originally posted by lowski i once had a dream that i was in a book store and found this book full of formulas on how to produce traditional trance hits. i started flipping through the pages and it was full of usefull tips and some secret insightful ideas by the authour. however i forgot the name of the book when i woke up but did remember some tips. hahaha anyway, for being a dj you should have a pretty good idea of how songs are put together. just take some of your favorite tracks and try and make tracks simialar. that way you will begin to understand how tracks are built. good luck, and be patient

Got you. Thank you for your help. i will play with it first before i buy any books.

quote:

Originally posted by dj_palm boxs

Remixers Bible, its got interesting stuff in it, its also got something to do with keyboard magazine I think. Books can help a little I believe, magazines are also good and often contain samples etc. You can learn a lot from just listening, but a book is often useful to let you know what you actually doing.

To answer your question right now, there are four beats in a bar (in 4/4 time, which most trance is) generally in trance there are 16 bars before a new element comes into the track, some people say that this means there are 16 bars in a measure, but I'm still not 100% clear on what a "measure" is.

The thing is, most people don't adhere to this structure strictly, but it works well as a rough starting point when your arranging.

Time signatures are complicated but most tunes fit into either 4/4 or 3/4, trance is almost always 4/4. In trance, if your writing oyur own stuff, just set your time signature to 4/4 and leave it there unless you really know exactly what your doing.

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips . To answer your question right now, there are four beats in a bar (in 4/4 time, which most trance is) generally in trance there are 16 bars before a new element comes into the track, some people say that this means there are 16 bars in a measure, but I'm still not 100% clear on what a "measure" is.

I dont believe it is 16 bars but 8 bars before you hear another instrument comes in or goes out. at least that is what i get out of it when i listen to it. Or less you are in a break down of a song then i have heard it go 16 bars or 256 beats. other than that i always hear a change at every 8 bars or 128 beats.

Music shouldn't be just numbers and measures. If it sounds like it flows naturally, you're doing it right. Books can help when it comes to mixing, mastering and the pure technical aspects of producing but as far as song structuring goes it should always be track dependent.

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