Song Arrangement Tips
Introduction
It’s easy to lose focus during a complex mixing process. Mixing and arranging music are closely connected. In music, timbre and texture are two basic elements that can be shaped in different ways. Arrangement refers to how the instruments in a song interact with each other and with the overall composition.
Songwriting involves deciding which instruments to use for each part and how they should be played. To achieve a high-quality result, you need to consider many factors, and it can be challenging to keep track of them all.
Several factors affect the quality of your mix, including the acoustics of your room, the choice of monitor speakers, and the quality of your audio interface and VST plugins. Even if your home studio is set up well, you may still find yourself struggling with your song.
There are several steps you need to follow to achieve a positive outcome.
Good arrangements offer a range of benefits beyond just improving your mix—they can truly elevate your song. Paying close attention to the arrangement while writing a song is essential. Memorable music always has a place in the world.
A strong arrangement brings out the most important parts of your composition. While memorable music can stand on its own, a great arrangement highlights your song’s best features.
Making smart mixing choices is just as important. The right synth tone for a busy lead, or simplifying the texture so the vocal stands out, can make or break a song. There are many factors to consider.
Below are 15 tips to help you turn your separate melodies into a song that will captivate your listeners.
1. Listen To Your Song
It may seem obvious, but many artists focus more on how their arrangement looks than on how it actually sounds.
By listening to your song several times, you’ll start to notice what needs improvement and what could be taken out. It’s also helpful to study other musicians’ arrangements and try incorporating some of their ideas into your own track.
2. Layering Sounds
An effective song arrangement isn’t about cramming in as many elements as possible. Instead, it’s about highlighting and making the most of the elements you already have. One popular technique in music production is layering.
Layering means using several audio tracks that play the same part at the same time. By blending these together, a single part can sound bigger and more powerful in the mix. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, you can read more here!
3. Minimalistic Approach
Some songs can sound too busy, with too many things happening at once. This can make the music less enjoyable to listen to.
Try muting certain parts of the song to see if it sounds better, or remove elements that clash with each other. It’s not about fitting as much as possible into a track—what matters most is how it sounds. Less is more!
4. Background Vocals
If the lead vocal has stayed pretty much the same throughout the arranging and production stages, adding some background vocals (also known as BGVs) can really liven up the track and give it a unique touch.
Producers or arrangers often have their own ideas for BGVs, but we’ve found it works best to collaborate directly with the vocalist(s) in the studio.
5. Tonality Of The Song
The register of a part refers to the height at which it is played. For example, the high register of a piano part is played on the upper right side of the keyboard. If every part of a track is in the same register, it will likely sound dull or too dense. As the song progresses, try spreading parts out and changing the register as needed.
6. Randomize!
Use non-linear composition techniques when arranging your track. This method lets you build different sections of music on a timeline and then set them to play in any order you choose.
It’s an easy and effective way to shake up your arrangements and see your track from a new angle. There are also some great randomizers available that can arrange notes and clips in ways you might not have thought of before.
7. Avoid The Fade
Producers have traditionally used fade-outs at the end of tracks, but this technique is becoming less popular.
Some songs now start with a fade-in and include natural sound effects, like running water or rain, instead of fading out at the end. You might find a song more memorable if it simply ends at a natural stopping point.
8. Harmony
Changing the harmony of a piece doesn’t just add interest—it can breathe new life into the music and make it far more engaging. This approach almost compels the listener to pay closer attention, as they try to reconcile the familiar melody with the new version they’re hearing and figure out exactly what has changed.
9. Experiment Between Genres
Do you often listen to a lot of music on the radio? There’s something special about being unique and standing out from the crowd.
Many of the greatest musicians of all time have redefined genres by doing things differently, but it’s important to be careful. The best approach is to find a balance between being original and making your music appealing enough to sell some copies too.
10. Get Assistance
You can never overstate the value of a fresh pair of ears. When you listen to the same track repeatedly, it’s easy to get stuck and lose direction. Bringing in a new perspective can open up exciting possibilities for your music.
Invite a producer or mixing engineer friend to give their thoughts. Their unique take on your song can offer helpful insights—and sometimes, even small tweaks can make a big difference!
11. Double Up
A modern approach to this technique is to duplicate parts and play them with a slight delay. Alternatively, a more traditional method is to have two instruments play the same part at the same time. This creates a wonderful effect, adding more depth to your music than you might expect!
There are also various VST plugins that can help you achieve this, producing more natural-sounding results that will definitely complement your song.
12. Arranging Drums
Drum kits are essential in beat-driven music, offering a wide range of sounds that can be powerful tools for arranging when used thoughtfully. For example, adding occasional tom hits to the main drum groove during the second half of a verse or a middle eight can create a sense of tension or make the section feel more intense.
By carefully studying your genre, you’ll start to notice these kinds of variations and can use them in your own music. Sometimes, a single well-placed percussive hit can make a big difference.
13. Play With SFX
One of the best ways to keep your listeners engaged is to surprise them. Try experimenting with vocal effects, switching up the instruments, or adding a fresh riff to a verse to keep things interesting. Making small changes throughout your song is important to hold your audience’s attention and make them curious about what comes next.
Adding sound effects that match the key of your song won’t disrupt the natural flow, but will bring in the extra excitement your listeners crave.
14. Keep The Human Touch
When perfecting a song before its release, it’s easy to get caught up in obsessing over every detail. While some genres—like electronic music—demand precise, flawless rhythmic patterns, other styles benefit from a more raw, visceral feel. Sometimes, small imperfections can actually elevate a song, giving it a more human touch and making it more memorable.
With that in mind, we suggest allowing for some natural timing “slips” in live genres, as opposed to the strict rhythmic precision of EDM. Even though shuffles aren’t typically found in electronic music, adding a tastefully executed shuffle can pleasantly surprise your listeners and set your track apart!
15. Keep It Brief
Make sure your arrangement is designed to last for a specific amount of time. If you and your listeners stay engaged throughout the entire piece, the length is probably just right.
But if the song starts to feel too long, your arrangement may be stretching it out unnecessarily. This can work against you, so we recommend trimming it to a length that feels natural and keeps the energy up.
Music Arrangement: How Do You Do It?
Choosing the right instruments for your track is like a painter picking the perfect colors. Start by looking at your lyrics and the story you want to tell—let these guide the mood and vibe of your song.
Pay special attention to how your kick drum and bass sound work together, especially when recording. This combination can really elevate your track and make mixing the low end much easier.
Once your rhythm section is solid, your harmonic instruments will bring true color and depth to your song. If you have a group of talented musicians, they’ll often be able to learn your song quickly and bring your arrangements to life on their own.
Arrangement of a Song: The Biggest Myth
If you think arrangement is just about the order of sections, you’re missing a whole framework for creating beautiful compositions. Arranging allows you to view your track from different perspectives, helping you cut out what isn’t working and highlight what is.
Simply choosing the order of your song’s sections won’t guarantee it grabs the listener’s attention. There are actually three types of arrangements, and you need to make active decisions about each to bring your track up to the level of the music you love.
Next, let’s talk about instrumental arrangements—how you distribute notes, chords, and melodies among the various instruments in your ensemble. Remember, this can change throughout your track.
For example, when a melody line shifts from vocals to a synth, it gives the melody a fresh feel. There’s also spatial arrangement, which is about placing sounds in your mix by adjusting their volume, panning, and sense of presence. I’ve listed these arrangement types as bullet points to make them as clear as possible.
Conclusion
With that, let’s wrap up our discussion. When putting together a musical arrangement, it’s a good idea to step back occasionally and consider different approaches or options.
Hopefully, some of these suggestions will come in handy along the way. At this stage, it’s important to make clear decisions about your music arrangement. Remember, this doesn’t have to be an intimidating process.
It’s amazing how many unique-sounding tracks you can create using just a few sounds, and how you can shape them to convey your message. By experimenting and exploring, you can take your track in directions you might never have expected. Hopefully, these tips will help you along your creative journey.
