Hey everyone!
Few days ago I begun thinking about how I had made my best songs and realized they were all made the same way. I made a few songs the very same way just to try it out, and they turned out to be better than most of the other songs I had ever made in Jamstudio. And it took me nearly no time!
So I felt like sharing this 'strategy' and wrote a guide. While on it, I have put in lots of advices to new jamstudio users. Ya know, the kind of stuff you realize after some time using Jamstudio.
Im not saying this is the best way of making songs. All Im saying is that my best songs has come out of this strategy.
There are sure someone out there who has a better strategy, but I would like you to try it out and let me know what you think of it!
Getting startedI prefer starting off a jamstudio song making the refrain, though that is not a must. Also what you thought was going to be the refrain might turn into a good verse or intro.
Anyhow, before making a song you'd need a concept. But you
should not decide what the song should sound like before making it. Doing so, you put up a limit. All you need is a concept; should it be a dance song? A sad, slow song? (Etc..) Your concept will let you decide about what tempo you will want and what kind of instruments you will want to use. Do you see what I mean? A concept, but do not decide what the song should sound like. That, as I mentioned, is just limiting all the possibilities jamstudio have granted you.
InstrumentsNow, pick a few random instruments matching the concept you have chosen. Combine them till you get a really cool sound, and don’t give up before you’re really happy with it! You want your song to sound cool, dont you?
A tip is, while you’re experimenting with the sounds, just pick a few random chords and leave them for later.
Do not use unnecessary instruments. Check so that it feels something is missing in your song when you turn off any of the instruments.
Also remember to use some kinda bass, the song might get dry without it.
Here is an example, we’ll look at it through the entire guide.
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=529485&SongId=529726Assuming you started with making a refrain, and you’re now happy with the instruments, start on a verse and do the very same thing, but ofcourse make it sound like a verse should; Similiar to refrain, but still some difference, and perhaps little quieter?
We’ll take a look at the verse, just to make it clear.
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=529494&SongId=529744Note that the changeover from page 2 to 1 didn't sound all too good.
Wow – EffectTo make your song cool (cooler) your refrain wants a wow-effect. To get this, you ofcourse need good instrument combinations... But you might also want the refrain to be louder than the verse.
To the most important thing; a page with probably just one chord, (maybe more), to make your song step into the refrain. There are many ways to do it. For example, put off the drums, use some cool effect like morph/disolve etc.., However.. There are many more things you can do. Let us take a look at the example.
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=529524&SongId=529548Much better, don’t you agree?
And that is just one of many ways to do it.
IntroNow we’ve got the basics of the song, but how is it supposed to start out?
Intros can be made basically just the way you like. Keep in mind though to stay to your concept. I suggest that you make the intro sound bit like the verse, to make the listener ‘get into’ the song. Perhaps let it be a little quieter than the verse, some lesser differences at the instruments and so on.
Example !
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=529555&SongId=529610Bridge / OutroSo, now we have used up four out of five pages. It’s up to you to make the last one a bridge or some kind of outro. If you decide to make a bridge, make it like the refrain. Higher volumes than the verse, similiar to the rest of the song but still different enough to avoid the song being repeative.
I decided to make an outro. It can also be done in many ways. One way is to use one of the lead instruments without any other instruments in one page. Well, that’s what I did. You should also consider using it at some point in the song between two refrains, to give it more variation. Example: 1,5,1. In my case that sounds pretty sweet.
However, check the example.
Now the pages are also fixed, so I want you to take a look at the pageorder while on it.
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=529584&SongId=529668ChordworkMaking chords for your song might seem alittle tricky while you’re new. But actually, all you need to do is put some time and effort into it. Check so that every chord fits with the next chord. Ignoring that, your song is going to sound darnit weird.
Use the chords to give more emotions to your song. Now you might ask how the hell you’re supposed to know how to do it. But It’s quite simple, just experiment for some time and you will probably find something which pleases the ear.
Keep in mind, if you made a page for the wow-effect, See to that the chords go together well from the page before it, and ofcourse to the page coming after it.
So, now we’ll take a last look at the example before the song is finished!
http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=530130&SongId=530250A boring songI’d consider a boring song a song without emotions to it, since you kinda listen to music for the emotions, either happy/sad/etc etc etc. Ofcourse this is easy to avoid by just spending some time on it.
But, even a good song being too repeative will cause it to become boring. See to give variations to your songs!
A song without structureIf a song is to get a structure, it needs something being repeated in a good order. So, as I mentioned, without letting it become boring, repeat the melody twice or so. Not repeating it at all will cause the listener to get confused since the listener won’t find the melody. So basically give your songs variation but find a balance between what the listener will find as boring or confusing.
Finishing your song!Now we’re almost done! Listen through your song many times and adjust your volumes and so on. Naming the song should be done after your song is complete, since you don’t want to put up limits, remember?
It can sometimes be tricky to name it, but just pick what comes to your head when you listen to your song. I named mine “Space Mushrooms”!
Finished product: http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=532020&SongId=532246That's it! Let me know you got something I could add. And before you ask; Yea, the example was just made simple to help okay. I have made alot better stuff with this strategy!
Hope it help!
Victor
