Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Hats Off

Hats Off:

 Fantastic Hat Loop Pack Regal Loops comes with a new special product - 'Hats Off' is a fantastic Loop Pack focused around Hi-Hats. These have been exported both as mixed and separate loops to provide producers customization and ease of use. This pack also contains crisp and fresh Crash Drum Samples and some spicy Bonus Loops (808 basses, plucks, pads and more). All loops have been designed for 72/144 bpm but don't be afraid of setting them into a different tempo - the high export quality makes them not sound like an old broken washer right after making any adjustments.



Monday, April 29, 2019

Femme Fatale (Vox Kit) - Its FREE!!!

Go to Femme Fatale (Vox Kit): to get it for FREE!

Free Vocal Loops -  Femme Fatale (Vox Kit)
Ghostcraft & Modern Producers are bringing music makers a 100% FREE Vox Kit for the taking called 'Femme Fatale'. With 39 Vocal Samples that are perfect to add flavor to productions in any genre you'll be sure to get inspired! Includes Vocal Fills, Phrases, Shouts, Screams and more. This is just another way we like to take care of our supporters as we appreciate you all shopping with us and showing your support. Product Details:
39 Vocal Samples
44.1 KHz 16-Bit WAV Format
Fills
Phrases
Shouts
Screams
9.58 MB Download File Size (Zipped)
13.3 MB of Content (Unzipped)

Sunday, April 28, 2019

KELLR Ultimate Drums

KELLR Ultimate Drums:

KELLR does it again! Crafted over the course of 3 years, 'KELLR Ultimate Drums' combines the unique samples created by platinum producer KELLR into one massive pack. These 100% custom drum samples are perfect for Hip Hop, R&B, Pop and EDM production. With over 300 Drum Sounds and 100 Bonus Sounds, this pack is a must have for any modern producer! Product Includes:  459 Drum Samples (2) 808s (30) Claps (90) Hats & Crashes (69) Kicks (59) Perc sounds (7) Snaps (87) Snares BONUS Content: (43) Vox Shots BONUS Content: (72) FX sounds 100% Royalty-Free 164 MB Download File Size (Zipped)



Saturday, April 27, 2019

King Trap Construction Kits

King Trap:

 The King of Trap Music ‘King Trap‘ by Diamond Loopz is the ultimate Trap pack! It comes with 5 amazing and hard Beat Construction Kits. All kits you hear were influenced by top charting artists such as Drake, Future, Meek Mill, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Migos, Tory Lanez, Bryson Tiller, Travis Scott, Big Sean, 2Chainz, Metro Boomin, Wondagurl, London On Da Track and more. All beats are BPM labelled and include full WAV Trackouts as well as the MIDI Files so you have full control and flexibility over your tracks!


Friday, April 26, 2019

Drum Dealer: Rainbow Edition

Drum Dealer: Rainbow Edition:

 High-Quality Hip Hop & Trap Drums 'Drum Dealer: Rainbow Edition' brings you 130 of the highest quality Hip Hop and Trap Drum Sounds, all processed and EQ'd to perfection by Platinum-Selling Producer 2DEEP himself. This kit contains every necessary ingredient needed to cook up some of the dopest drum patterns, including everything from 808's, Kicks, Hi Hats, Claps and Snares, to Percussion, Open Hats, Cymbals and custom One-Shot Stabs. Pick up this kit today and step your production game up instantly! As always, 2DEEP aims to deliver nothing but the highest quality Kits, having production credits ranging from 50 Cent, Tank, and more.

 

Thursday, April 25, 2019

How to Improve Your Sound for Musicians and Composers

Our post here today is collection of our best articles for musicians and composers on how to improve your sound, added altogether in a single blog post. This a collation of articles added to this blog over the past three years and hopefully you will be able to find something here of value. Make sure to add this post link to your favorite social media sites listed below and add any comments or suggestions you have as well. Thanks.


Choosing Music Loops For Your Next Project

The focus of this article is on choosing the best music kits or loops for your next project. We will be looking at various categories  of music loops and will be revealing the best possibilities for finding loops that will be the most compatible to fit your particular style of music loops and equipment.
Most loops  are currently available as downloads and typically are available in 44khz and 24 bit wav files. Unless your our looking for LoFi files, these resolution rates are considered to be best for creating music loops and are usually compatible with most DAW software. With that in mind let's have a look at the possibilities available.

Construction Kits. 
Construction kits are a good place to start if your budget is small and need to get going quickly.  Construction kits feature complete backing tracks, usually distinguished by specific keys major or minor, tempo, length and  style and fx.  They feature basic instruments typically drums and bass, synth and keyboards, guitars and so on. Many construction kits focus on a particular style or genre of music as well. The limitation of contraction kits is that they may be too specific and not what you need. Be sure to look for audio samples to look for a good match for your musical style.

VSTs
VSTs or virtual studio technology allow the user  to increase the performance capabilities of an existing DAW program. Available as downloads paid or otherwise, they offer instrument expansion  and/or effects, Also, audio enhancement VSTs plugins can be added usually with visual elements, such as faders, switches,  and so on. VSTs are sometimes categorized into instrumental, expansion, or plugins according to their various functions.  When looking to add VSTs to your existing software be sure to check for compatibility and for specific instruments, enhancements  or effects you are looking for.

Vocal Kits
Vocal Kits usually offer backing vocals or vocal effects depending on the program. With some limitations they can be a nice add-on to your track building efforts.

Guitars and Bass
Live or programmed guitar or bass loops, synth bass  and acoustic guitars in a variety of styles are available as well.

Keyboards and Synths
Important expansion to your sound palette will include a variety of synths, analog and digital, along with acoustic pianos in differing style loops can be found.

Drum Loops And Kits
Most likely the most popular expansion are drum loops and  percussion instrument samples. The category can feature anything from  live drum loops sounds and samples. to classic 808 and 707 drum machine loops are available.

Orchestral Loops
Full orchestral string loops are available,  great for techno styles usually indicated in specific keys and tempos.

FX sounds
Special effect sounds can be an interesting addition if needed. A large variety of possibilities in different categories can be had.

In conclusion, much can be had in the world of expanding your musical palate whatever your style and influences may be. With a little understanding we have overcome the obstacles ahead and sought out a higher degree of knowledge in the process.

Recording Vocals at Home

The Basics -  Recording Vocals at Home

Today's article is on meeting the basic requirements for recording solo vocals in a home studio. Also we will be looking at some helpful tips on how to improve your recording in the home environment.

The Basics.
 Assuming you are a solo artist working within a DAW workstation or even with outboard recording gear you will need the following gear to get started laying some tracks down.

First of all, is the the dedicated microphone. Although microphone's can be expensive, in a home studio there are plenty of lower cost options. Typically you'll need a low impedance mic with XLR  connector,  a good quality mic cable, plus a decent mike stand and a pop filter or a foam windscreen mic cover.  While there are many choices available, a good pick is the Shure SM58 vocal mike. The SM 58 has been around a long time  has excellent response, is sturdy and it's relatively low cost makes it ideal for home recording. It' s cousin the SM57 is also great for instrumental recording as well.

Next in line is the audio interface. The audio interface is necessary if you are using a digital workstation.  The audio interface allows real time recording of external sounds by your workstation for vocals or instrument such as guitar or bass. The interface serves as go between to covert analog sound via mic or instrument to be converted into digital format or signal readable by your DAW workstation computer. Low cost alternatives are available but you will need at least 2 inputs (more inputs is better if you expand your setup later), and a monitor output and/or headphone out. XLR cables or RCA type cables (depending on the output type on your interface) will be needed if you are using external audio monitors.

Typically, audio interface devices use standard 2.0 USB connectors so you will need a USB cable as well.  Audio interfaces come in different A/D resolutions ranging from 16 bit to 32 bit, but most common is 24 bit at 192 kHz or 96kHz and are affordable at those specs. A further option are ADAT optical inputs which would allow for channel expansion but would be more expensive. Furthermore, some software packages would be included as well. Make sure your DAW is compatible with the interface. A last option for your  audio interface is a MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), out for connecting to other MIDI instruments, but if you want to keep costs down it's nice to have, but not needed.

If you are recording with outboard devices such as digital multi-track a dedicated preamp between the mic and recording device is not absolutely necessary but is a good idea. In any case, microphones are low level devices and require a preamp to boost your signal to line level.

Basic Tips for Recording:
1. Choose a room with minimal reflections, a small room will
do You can always use acoustic foam to deaden areas and walls but is not necessary for casual recordings.
2. Use a unidirectional mic particularly on vocals.
3. Pad the base of your microphone stand to avoid any unwanted rumble or sounds.
4. Avoid long cable runs and always use shielded cables.
5. Use a pop filter on your mic and angle the front of the mic away from source.
6. To create fuller vocal lines double or even triple track your vocal part in unison
7. For weak vocals add a unison piano/synth part on another track mixed in lower to help with pitch.
8. Record vocals "dry" and add effects if needed later.
9. Excessive reverb tends to soften vocal parts which is not always wanted. Use short chorus/delay effects instead to sharpen vocal parts
10. Be positive. Believe in the part your singing it does make a difference. 

In conclusion, we have looked at the most basic gear needed to get you on your way to recording vocals in a home environment,  and a clearer understanding of home based recording.


Understanding Basic Chords

Our article for today focuses on understanding basic chord progressions in a major scale. We will be looking at how to create triads, establishing key, chord inversions , and the most common chords that can be used in songwriting or creating music loops.

In figure 1 we have a major scale build in the key of C major.  Each tone of the scale pattern is typically identified by  roman numerals as shown.   The tones are named respectively as tonic (I), subtonic, mediant, sub-dominant, dominant, sub-mediant and leading tone.

Triads.
In figure 2 (see below), we have triads which is defined as scale tones built on major and minor thirds which form the basic chords shown.
The upper case roman numerals I, IV and V indicate  major chords while the lower case numerals indicate a minor chord with the exception of the vii scale tone which forms a diminished chord. While the key of C is shown triads or chords can be built in the same manner on any scale in a major key.

Establishing the Key. 
Establish the key is most easily done by emphasizing the tonic  and dominant or I - V chords in key.  In pop music  this is more commonly used in the form of tonic to sub dominant to dominant or I - IV - V chords in key. Literally hundreds of songs have used this simple cord progression in pop music with great success. 

Chord Inversions.
Chord inversions  of root position chords (Figure 2) can be used. Figure 3 shows the inversions for any root position chord which are 6 - 3 and 6- 4 inversions.  In 6-3 inversion the root the is moved up above the third and in the 6-4 inversion the root and the third tones are placed above the fifth of the chord. 

Chord progressions.
Many chord progressions can be derived using the chords shown in figure 2 and figure 3.  As long as the key is established any of these chords can be used in any succession following the tonic chord. The only exception is the diminished chord on vii or leading tone chord which would be resolved to the tonic chord  or vii- I progression.  With this method many chords can be easily derived in any key.

Seventh and Extended Chords.
Seventh and extended chords can be created as well  simply by adding another third tone or more,  namely ninth, eleventh and thirteenth tones to any of the triads as shown in figure 2. 

In conclusion, we have covered some of the basic ideas to understanding the use of major key chords build on scales in pop music  and to inspire their use in creating songs or music loops as you see fit.

Figure 1.


Major scale

Figure 2.

Figure 3.
Chord inversions major scale



Layering and Improving Drum Sounds

Our article for today is about layering drum parts or sounds in a DAW or a home recording studio. Layering drum sounds has become fairly common these days and we will have a look at some of the various techniques  and ideas for improving your drum and percussion tracks through layering.


Audio Mixer Photo

So what is layering? Layering is simple enough concept the idea being is where you add different sounds or different pitches of the same sound to create a certain effect such as greater fullness, increased volume, differing timbre or greater arrack or sharpness to the sound you are layering. Most drum parts are an excellent candidate for layering as they tend to be non pitched tones. In effect,  just about any other non pitched tone can be added for layering your drum or percussion sample..

Snare drum parts are a good place to start. The snare usually carries the back beat to your music in just about  any style of popular music you can think of.  Regardless if you are going for an 808 style snare or a"fat" snare sound layering can make your snares stand out from the rest of the crowd. The obvious start is to simply take an existing snare and raise or lower the pitch in a second layer part. Another choice is to add a metal sound to the snare to add sharpness and help the snare part cut through. A tambourine tuned up a bit can work, as well as a high pitched bell or any metal percussion sample can be added. 
More options for layering snare parts can include hand claps or finger snap samples can both work well. Experiment with different pitched tuning and volume levels for the best effect.

Bass drum is our next choice for layering. Because of the low frequency nature of bass drum parts it is common for the the bass drum part to get lost in the mix particular as more tracks are build up over the drum part so layering can help in getting your bass drum part to stand out. Some of the same ideas used in our snare layering can be applied here as well.  I have found that for most cases a second bass drum  sample tuned up a bit in pitch can be effective technique in creating a punchy bass drum part.

 To create a sub bass sound  using a very low  frequency resonant synth part layered  to the bass will work. Another alternative which I prefer is to use a high tom or better yet those old electronic laser toms samples you use to get back on 80s tracks will work really well, pitched way down and mixed lower in the track to create a deep sub sonic bass drum part. Boom.
  
Drummer Image by Skeeze on Pixelbay

Cymbals don't usually need to be layered. Hi hats sometimes have the problem of not being able to cut through, just like bass drums mentioned before and can get lost in the mix.  Raising the pitch of your hats can help them be heard in most cases,  rather than trying to punch up the volume on that track. You can use the same trick on ride cymbals as well if needed.

Layering tom toms is much less common than with snares and bass drums. If need be you can use different pitched toms to create emphasis or add more resonance to your toms.

Effects can be another method for enhancing your drum sound. Drums really don't seem to work all that well with most time delay effects such as chorus  or flagging effects. Typically, the most useful effects are filters or band equalization. Adding lots of low end frequency push can add more resonance to bass drum to the point of distortion.  Snare drums that failed to cut through can stand for some mid range boost. With a little experimentation you can quickly find out what works best for you .

Reverb effects do work well  on drums more so than short delayed effects such as chorus or flangers. Room or hall effects can be added to snares in particular on the entire drum track if desired. Usually, it's preferable to use dry drum sounds and add reverb effects later in the mixing process.

In conclusion, it is important to keep an open mind and a creative outlook on building your next drum track. Don't be afraid to experiment to get your drum samples ahead of the rest of the pack.


How To Create Drum Fills 



Today's article is about spicing up you loops with some drum fills. Drum fills add interest to your beats and can create excitement to your vocal or instrumental lead parts as well. 

Drum fills can usually work well in various parts of your song or loop as long as they complement or support the main lead part.  Both intro and ending or out-tro of your song is effective for using fills. Most music based on loops follow pop song form at least to some degree but tend to be less structured than typical pop songs.  Typical song chorus and bridge sections tend to be simplified or removed all together in favor of more repetition particularly obvious in hip hop loops. This makes adding drum fills a little less obvious as song form is minimized.  Even so, drum fills can be used effectively in looped based music. 
Drum fills work best at the end of a vocal or lead melodic phrase. A rare occurrence is to add a fill during a line but is very effective at accenting or building up a lead in your song. Look for adding drum fills during these breaks in your music. The last bar of every four or eight bars in your song is typical for adding a drum fill as well.

With that in mind,  here are some our tips and ideas for adding drum fills to  your music loops.

1. Short drum fills.  In figure one we have variations of a 16th note pattern. Any of these notes can be used at the end of a bar usually on the fourth beat (quarter note) of the pattern and could be used on snare drum or toms as part of a fill. Experiment with these variations.  Be sure to program added accents for greater interest to your drum fill and add a crash/bass drum hit at the end of the fill.

Figure 1



Figure 1. -  4 and 2 beat fills


2.  Half bar fills. Longer fills can be created  using the the same patterns shown simply by combing any of the patterns  together to form a half bar pattern (two quarter notes) or even longer patterns.  Figure 2 shows an example of how this is done. With this simple method seemingly  endless variations are possible by assigning the basic 4 or 3 or 2 beat patterns shown to snare, tom tom, or bass drum hits to create your drum fill.

Figure 2.



Figure 2 - Drum Patterns


Figure 2 Drum Patterns


3. Cymbal fills. Another idea here also is to use the same method describe but assign patterns to cymbals rather than drums to create cymbal fills. This would work well in ballads or slower songs in particular and would be somewhat more unique.

4. Rudimentary fills. Again take the basic bar pattern and introduce rudimentary aspects such as flams , rolls - open or closed, drags, paradiddles or any other drum rudiments to your patterns.

5. Triplets.  Add quarter note or even 16th note triplet patterns in the same method to create even more variations.

6. Melodic ideas. A different method that can extend a fill into a solo is to use a melodic lead and express the rhythmic pattern of the melody onto your drums and cymbals.  Shorter melodic phrases seems to work best here.

7.  Transcribing and writing. A good idea is to transcribe patterns from your favorite tunes and to experiment writing out  your own patterns as well. Before long you will have your own library of patterns to draw upon.

8.  Accents and articulation. If you are programming your fills be sure to add accents and experiment with tuning you instruments varying the pitch to simulate stick articulation or right and left hand strokes, to allow for better realism and greater expression.

In conclusion,  we have covered some simple thoughts and ideas to creating more interesting drum fills and to finding a more valid musical  experience for everyone


How to Build a Better Drum Loop

The foundation for any good loop starts with a drum loop. Most drum programming today seems to be of the set and forget variety. Monotonous patterns with little variation isn't going to
make your music shine. But, with a little thought we can remedy that situation.

1. When starting out to create a loop focus on the basics  hi hat, bass and snare drum. Leave out the additional percussion parts for later when your composition is more developed and you can better sweeten your tracks.

2. If you have ever heard a drum machine play a drum roll it's usually pretty awful. Sounding more like repetitive connection of drum hits than anything resembling a real drum roll your starting to get the idea that more needs to be done. What is essentially lacking is any change of dynamics  and tonal variation in the pattern or loop.
When composing your drum loop be sure to add accents. This helps in allowing more dynamic variation. Starting with the hi hat emphasize at least the first beat of every bar. You can also add an accent(s) on any main beat (quarter note) the bass drum syncs on. You can try other variations of accents such as on the off beats (eight note) or experiment with varying the accents that fit your pattern.  The same accents can be added to the bass drum part again emphasis on the main beat(s) can liven up your track. The snare can use accents during any fill as well. Remember to use accents selectively and not at random.

3. Tonal variation is also possible. Slight pitch changes on the hi hat,  bass and snare parts can be added also, creating a more realistic feel.

4. Many drummers are often known stylistically for playing either right on the beat, slightly ahead or on top of the beat, or laying back behind the beat.  Experiment with altering the timing on your snare drum hits on the back beats (the "2"  and "4"  of the beat typically) in particular.

5. Layering sounds is possible. For example, add a second snare drum to the existing snare part.  A good trick is to add a conga part mixed lower in the track to your snare or bass drum to give a more resonant sound.  A lot of experimentation is possible here.

6. Tired of the same old beats. Try a different time signature.12/8 time or odd time signatures can add interest to your tracks.

7. Effects. There is a lot here to experiment with also. Generally I prefer dry mixes of most drum sounds. Still, you can go lo-fi  for a gritty sound, add compression to fatten snares, add delays on cymbals parts (great for reggae), or  just make small eq changes on the drum parts


While certainly not an exhaustive view, hopefully these tips can spice up your tracks and and help you build a better drum loop.



Lady Gaga Songbook

Lady Gaga: Piano Solo Sheet Music / Songbook: Lady Gaga Lady Gaga: Piano Solo Sheet Music / Songbook: Lady Gaga
By Lady Gaga. For Piano/Keyboard. Piano Solo Personality. Softcover. 56 pages. Published by Hal Leonard


Lady Gaga: Piano Solo Sheet Music / Songbook: Lady Gaga

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Ariana Grande - My Everything - Sheet Music - Songbook

Ariana Grande - My Everything Ariana Grande - My Everything
By Ariana Grande. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook. R&B, Pop. Softcover. 80 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.146042). Visit the link for more titles and artists.


Ariana Grande - My Everything

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Vegas Pro 16 Video Editor

"VEGAS Pro 16"
"VEGAS Pro 16 will unleash your video creativity. It has all the powerful features you need for professional video and audio editing ? everything from impressive Hollywood effects to powerful disc authoring tools. VEGAS Pro 16: add speed, flexibility and innovation to your video productions."

Video has become an important part of music promotion. Get ahead of the pack and check out this pro quality video editing software. 

Monday, April 22, 2019

Trappin Astro

Trappin Astro:

Astro World Type Beats 'Trappin Astro' by Undisputed Music is heavily influenced by Travis Scott's album 'Astro World'. You'll love the creative Trap melodies and high-quality drums on offer here. These sounds will help you achieve that laid-back Trap sound with hypnotic melodies, 808s, hi-hats, claps, pads and much more. Inspired by Travis Scott, 808 Mafia, and other Trap artists and producers, this pack allows you to stay fresh whilst creating the popular Trap sound of the moment. Product Includes:  5 Construction Kits 46 WAV Files 44.1 kHz 16-Bit WAV Format 4 808s  7 Hi-Hats 5 Kicks 1 Open Hat 5 Snares and more.


Sunday, April 21, 2019

Afro & Melodic House

Afro & Melodic House:

Calling Deep, Afro & Melodic House Producers! Bingoshakerz are happy to present our latest imprint – 'Afro & Melodic House' by Lowton Records. This collection features 10 fully mixed & mastered Construction Kits. Packed with 550 MB+ of tribal beats, analogue bass loops, ethno-grooves, melodic synths, native & organic vocal sounds, percussion and FX loops! Each Construction Kit offers club-ready full mixes and all components broken out into constituent parts for maximum programming ease including MIDI Files. All Loops are ready for instant drag & drop action into any DAW or sampler.


Saturday, April 20, 2019

Get Your Music Going with These Songwriting Articles

Here are our favorite articles on improving your songwriting all in one blog post. If you are having trouble getting creative with your songwriting efforts then have a look at these four articles to get your songwriting going!

10 Most Common Mistakes Made by Beginning Songwriters

Today, we will be looking at the most common mistakes made by newbie songwriters. While songwriting can vary widely in style and content there are some aspects of songwriter that are problematic for the beginning songwriter. By examining some of the barriers faced in the process of writing a song we can focus on any difficulties and offer some positive solutions.

1. Incomplete song. One of the most common mistakes is also the most obvious which is failing to complete all aspects of your song. Songs typically require an intro, completed verses, an effective chorus,  a bridge section and a proper ending or fade out. Just having a few melodies and a scattered lyric need won't work and need to be developed into a complete song. Be thorough, in your compositions.

2. Lyrics are over written. Keeping it simple is key to writing effective songs. Create lyrics that avoid clutter and are overly descriptive. Remember, your  music brings a quality words can"t always express and a simple phrase is usually more credible.

3. Melody is too repetitive. Most pop, rock and country styles rely on an interesting melodic line to avoid boredom. Look to  a more active melody to create excitement in your songs.

4. Weak Hook. The hook is the most important part of your song and is the reason people will be drawn to you song. A good hook can make your songs memorable. While there is no specific formula you can follow to create good song hooks, it helps to build your song around your best lines in words and melody to this  part of your song. 

5. Too many chord changes. Avoid over harmonizing you melody. Your chords are there to support your melody and not to overwhelmed it.  Changing a major chord to minor, adding a 6th or using a diminished or augmented  chord can be more effective than a too busy harmony.

6. Rhythm Is sloppy. Keep your songs tight in terms of rhythm. Don"t allow the tempo to become erratic. Keep good time and your songs will be better for it.

7. Awkward lyric. If a certain line in your lyric seems awkward change it to something that adds to your song rather than something that does not

8.  Lack of emotion. Songs need to exciting, happy, sad  or even visionary. In other words give your audience a reason to listen by amping up the emotional quality to your songs. Boredom will end a song's success quicker than anything.

9.  Lack of editing. Is your song too short, too long, too busy?  Find the best version of your song by editing out unnecessary lyrics and melodies to increase their power and effectiveness.

10. No faith. If you don' put believe in your own songs chances are no one else will as well. Have confidence in your songs and within your songs as well. Tell a story, create an image, follow what goes down the road to find something people can relate with and are drawn to.

Last of all, with these ideas  presented your songwriting can improve and become an interesting and better vehicle for your music and creativity to explore. Till next time.

7 Myths About Songwriting


In today's article we'll look at popular myths surrounding the process of song creation.  In the examination of of these misconceptions we will attempt to unravel some of the song writing process as a whole and the self imposed barriers beginning  songwriters place upon themselves. In essence,  debunking falsehoods and finding a more reasonable and clearer path to writing songs.

Myth 1 - Worlds Greatest Songwriter. 
A common label used to describe successful songwriters.  Unfortunately, this can put the novice songwriter's mindset at  an imposed disadvantage.  Songwriting should be at best an expression of individualistic ideas and to compare to others who are successful is a unwelcome burden and hindrance.

Myth 2 -  I Don' Have a Good Singing Voice.
Many beginning songwriters claim this barrier. But the truth is if you can develop a reasonable relative pitch quality you will be able to use your voice to sing the songs you've written. The voice quality of the songwriter need only be a functional part in song creation. Performance can always be carried out by others if need be.

Myth 3  - I Have No idea How to Start.
Another common barrier. Songs are so common  in a musician's experience the understanding of the song as a whole already exists. Only the desire to break down the components  or mechanics of a song into a simpler format is needed. 

Myth 4 - Writers Block
Probably the biggest myth of all. An extension of the aforementioned myth. There are so many avenues to resolving the problem of writing a song  it would seem to be an unlikely postulate.  Simplifying the process  and  looking toward the resources in writing would be an eventual cure.

Myth 5 - I'm Waiting for Just the Right Inspiration.
Admittedly a really good excuse. It makes you sound artistic while allowing procrastination for a higher cause. Most of an individuals "inspiration" is the result of coalescing songwriting ideas through time and effort trial and error until they form in your mind as inspiration.  

Myth  6  - I Don' t Have A Good Understanding Of Music Theory.
While a knowledge of music in terms of theoretical aspect is important is not a prerequisite to writing songs. Finding your own path may in fact be more of help than theory can provide.  Besides,  as It is usually taught, theory follows composition and for the sake of creativity does not need to be a prerequisite.

Myth 7 - I Don't Think My Songs Are Any Good.
Novice songwriters do suffer from a lack of experience. Rarely is an artist's first attempt at songwriting his or hers best effort. Time and the desire to compose will solve your inexperience and will lead to better compositions. It is important to be critical of your song only in so far as finding a more interesting solution to a poor lyric, a lackluster melody or awkward passage. Moreover, continue to compose and let others decide how satisfying your songs are

In conclusion, we have looked at some of the blockades and myths to songwriting and providing at least a beginning to overcome those barriers real or self imposed. In understanding myths they must give way allowing knowledge to eventually rise above such confusion.  Good composing.

10 Tips On How to Improve Your Song Lyrics


Are your lyrics awkward or uninteresting or do your song lyrics lack any emotion? If this is the case then consider our suggestions on improving your lyrics and get your creativity going.

1. Organize. Be consistent with the meter and flow of your lyrics. Most songs are written in the form of verses, chorus and bridges sections.  Be aware of the length of each line and how well each verse supports the flow of the song building to the chorus.

2. Write Song Titles. A good place to start is develop your own resource of song titles and phrases you have created as reference. 

3. Tell a Story. Create a simple storyline and your may find writing lyrics much easier as the words follow the logic of the song.

4. Use Imagery. Creating an atmosphere in your song can be very effective. Draw on describing visual information to your listener will make your songs much more compelling.

5. Be Aware of the Characteristics of your Music. For example, country songs tend to be simple an straightforward. Pop songs tend to be positive and upbeat. Create lyrics that fit into the particular style of music that you are writing for.

5. Use repetition. Using repetition at key points in your song can create emphasis on an important part or passage. An example of this is to have the last line of your song repeated to the fade out or ending.

6. Decide on the Mood.  Is your song happy or sad, hyper or slow?  Be aware of the mood of your song and keep your ideas and themes consistent.

7. Surrealism. Words can often paint images by being offbeat or even nonsensical. Don't be afraid to experiment with uncommon lines to add interest to your songs.

8. Simple is Best. Generally, simple songs with a straightforward message or even a singular idea are more successful. Finding a supporting melody and harmonies is usually easier with simple lines than with complex lyrics.

9. Collaborate. Some of the best songs ever written have benefited from the collaboration between two songwriters. Personalities tend to create different ideas within a song that can be very powerful.

10. Research. If your stuck and having trouble look to any credible resources available to you for ideas.

In conclusion, I hope you'll find the tips and ideas presented here will enhance your song lyrics and will be a source of encouragement and inspiration for creating better songs overall.

Nine Tips for Writing a Song for Beginners


While songwriting is a difficult endeavor with a few tips and suggestions and with a little effort this article can help you overcome some of the obstacles in creating your first song.

1. Lyrics. It is a good idea to keep a notebook and jot down your ideas for song titles, verses and choruses Inspiration can come from everyday experiences. Try to complete your song lyrics before adding any melodies or chords.

2. Chords. Harmonic ideas can also be worked on by writing your favorite chord progressions down and using them as the basis for song at a later time. Reference a good piano or guitar book on chords if needed.

3. Melodies. Melodies are the most illusive in the process of creating your song. improvising a vocal lead melody over chord progressions at a keyboard or guitar is good way to start the process. Use any lyrics and chords you have written ahead of time can go a long way to ease the process.

4. In traditional songwriting  it is a good idea to avoid repetition of the same notes.  Constant repetition of the same note (there are exceptions such as in rap or hip hop) in most styles of music does tend to lead to boredom. Don't be afraid to add notes from other relative minor or nearby major keys (accidentals) which can help to create better interest in your melody. Also, if possible have a single high point (tone) in your melody.

5. The Hook. The song hook is usually the most memorable part of the song. Save your most inspired melodies and harmonies for this part of the song.

6.  Keep it simple. Focus on creating your song and don't worry about any musical arrangement of  bass, drums  or other  instruments for your song while in the process of writing.  While a good arrangement is essential it can be postponed till after the song is completed.l

7. Experiment with musical form. You don't always have to begin your song with an intro and verse, starting with a chorus at the beginning of song can work just as well. 

8. Collaborate. Not everyone Is great at writing lyrics or writing terrific melodies. If you have someone to collaborate with take advantage of your individual strengths.

9. Looped based music. The approach for creating looped based music such as hip-hop or rap is somewhat different than creating traditional rock or pop songs.  You may find it might be more to your style of writing. Look to investing in DAW computer software to create your tunes.

To sum up, we have just scratched the surface on just a few of some the main ideas and concepts in getting that first of song of yours written. It is important to focus your song writing efforts on resolving each of the various components of a song -  melody, harmony, lyrics and rhythm and working them out individually will go a long way to making the song writing process easier and a more rewarding experience.





The Pandora (Loop Pack)

The Pandora (Loop Pack):

Dark & Mysterious Loops
Introducing 'The Pandora' by Nozytic Music - The second official Loop Pack in the best-selling 'Hades' product family.Included inside this awesome collection are another 20 Loops to inspire dark and mysterious productions! Everything you hear is 100% Royalty-Free.This is one Pandora's Box you won't regret opening...
Product includes:

20 Original Loops
Fully Mixed & Mastered
44.1 KHz 24-Bit WAV Format
Dark, Mysterious Sounds
Compatible with PC or Mac
Works in any DAW
100% Royalty-Free
38.7 MB Download File Size (Zipped)
39.8 MB of Content (Unzipped)


Friday, April 19, 2019

APRIL TRAP

APRIL TRAP:

Trap Beat Construction Kits 'APRIL TRAP' is a pack originally produced by SHOBEATS. We're bringing you 5 high-quality Construction Kits with banging 808s, clean sounds, tuned electronic sounds and hard-hitting drums to boost your productions to the heart of the Trap sound. SHOBEATS carefully crafted the sounds you need to achieve this sought-after sound in the style of Lil Skies, Juice WRLD, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, Future, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Tory Lanez, TM88, Metro Boomin and more. Product Includes:   5 Constructions Kits 89 WAV Loops 82 MIDI Files Tempo & Key Labeled 52 One-Shot Drums 23 Presets All Files are 44.1 KHz.