First song
For the first song I will be using a MIDI keyboard controller or a PCR-800 for short as the bass of my song and then if I still have enough time I will be using guitar. With the software logic Pro I can access different instruments and play them while using the keyboard.
For the guitar I’ll be using a pretty simple chord progression.
For the guitar I decided to use some pedals from Logic Pro, the effects were distortion, compressor and a flanger.These pedals created a nice smooth sound that really added a lot to a pretty simple chord progression.The flanger is the best pedal out of the three as it change the sound the most out of any other effects I used, for example I tried using a fuzz pedal which made the guitar sound more heavier than I needed it to be but after switching I got the more dreamy sound that I wanted.
For the guitar I decided to use finger picking to create something of a smooth sounding progression that would sound perfectly with the effects.
For the keyboard I went with pretty simple chords that would match perfectly with the guitar and drums changing the last chord from Em to F to still keep it simple but still enough to sound different.
For the main part of the song I decided to just use two chords as a way to keep it simple and make the guitar sound more effective that way it would create a nice simple sound to support the guitar.
For the chorus I used a pretty simple chord progression that are the same chords as the guitar until the last chord on the second part of the chorus where the last chord switches from a Em chord to an F chord,I did this to add a slight bit of variety to the chorus.I decided to hold the notes because I thought it matched well with the guitar.
I then added a bass to fill out the verse more and make the song a bit more complex than just adding drums and guitar,I picked a pretty simple bass line that fit the speed of the drums and at the same time filled in the gaps between each guitar chord so the song doesn’t become boring and the same.
I then experimented more with the song by adding a string section to the song to see how that would make the song sound,I used short and jumpy chords that are the same as the keyboard chords used in the verse,I decided to use it because I thought gave the song a new and interesting sound rather than just having a basic guitar sound.
I used two different drum loops for the song one for the verse and one for the chorus to add a bit more variety to the song and match the rhythm and flow of the guitar.
The drum loop used for the chorus is slowed down so it can match the guitars rhythm and flow in the chorus along with the keyboard so the chorus doesn’t sounds exactly like the verse.
Second Song
For the second song I will be using a MIDI keyboard controller or a PCR-800 for short as the synth for the song,I would want to make this song more focused on synth work than the last but still using the guitar as a background instrument.
For the piano I wanted a something that sounded dark and full of reverb I only used single notes between chords Am and F so the first part of the progression would have the notes slowly travel higher and then lower to create a nice ominous sound that would be the main drive of my song.
The bass is very similar to the piano with only single notes being played that are between the chords Am and F I added the bass so the song would sound more interesting rather than the same instrument being played over and over again.
I added a synthesiser at the beginning of the song to make the intro seem more interesting and less methodical with just one instrumental,I also added little breaks for the synth in the first section of the song to make the song less of the same thing over and over again.
For the intro I added a guitar plucking the same chord over and over again as a build up to the main part of the song with the drums and synth coming in not long after,I added a lot of reverb onto the guitar so it would transition well to the piano.
For the main part of the song I decided to switch the type of playing style the intro had a plucked guitar but after I switched it to a more sustained type of sound and created a chord progression with the chords Dm,Em,C,Am which added a lot more to the song rather than plucking the same chord over and over again.
Alongside the guitar I decided to add another synth to make the song sound more complicated so I added a synth with a much brighter sound than the piano so it would work as a contrast to the dark sounding piano this allows for more depth in the song and less of the same noise being played by different things. The chords are C,C6,Dm,Dm6 I chose these chords because I thought they sounded nicely with the piano and guitar.
I then added a smooth vibrato expansive guitar pad layered in reverb towards the end of the song to add a bit more variety of sounds to the song but at the same time keeping a similar feeling that the other instruments give to the listener.The chords are Em and F which are two chords just above the C chord and Dm chord I did this as a way to elevate the song just before the end of the song.
I then added a drum loop to my song with a lot of intensity to make the song sound more engaging to the listener.These drums only have claps, hi-hat and bass drum to really drive the song and keep the rhythm and flow at the same pace.
This is the second drum loop I used for my song,I made this drum loop more complex and added a snare to it as a way to make the drums more impactful and a bigger part of the song as before adding the second drums the first drums didn’t really seem to add anything to the song.
Final Songs
I think the track ended up really well with the effects making the guitar and keyboard sound interesting along with the bass line that can matches perfetly with the feel of the other instruments.
Looking back Im not really a fan of the string section on the song and I think the song could’ve done without it and I should’ve spent more time programming the drums as they are admittedly pretty basic.
I think this song ended up better than the first,I really enjoy the different instruments used and how the opposite sounds work really well with each other in this track with the dark sounding piano matching perfectly with the bright sounding synth. The plucked guitar works really well for the intro alongside the drums which have a lot more depth in them than in the first.
The only thing I would improve on this song is the length of the song, I think this song could have gone on just a little bit longer as the song seems just a little bit too short and could’ve have used a bigger ending.