I'm writing up a quick tip, sparked by a previous post that I commented on.
I would suggest to NOT think about writing a track in a linear fashion; meaning, do not start creating your song blindly by first strating on the intro, then moving on to a "verse" and later a "chorus" etc.
Instead, I might suggest to begin working on the track by starting off with your favorite instrument or instrument/sound that inspires a big idea. So if you prefer to get inspired with beats, grab an 8 - 16 bar loop and get to work. If you are someone, like me, that usually gets inspired by a specific "ambiance, if you will, start with a loop of that.
Once you are inspired and as satisfied as possible you can begin adding layers to the loop. Continue to play around with different sounds and instruments; don't be afraid to scrap sounds that you aren't happy with and replace it with others until you find one that you TRULY like.
Rinse and repeat the process until you are happy with your loop, and so that it sounds like an 8-bar section of a complete track.
You can do this with more than just one loop with slight variations if you prefer.
The point of working in this manner, is that once you have a SOLID 8-16 bar section that sounds great (to your personal taste) it will become incredibly easy to arrange your track and create relevant sections of the track that sound cohesive.
How is this done? EASY AF. Just remove or swap components from the complete section you finished according to specific feel/energy you wish to give your track.
You want an intro? remove everything except your pad synth (as an example)
You want a break? Remove the drums and the lead (as an example)
Etc...
You might be surprised how quickly you can finish a track once you have the core of the track complete. After it's all laid out all you do is mix it down, master and you're good to go!
NOTE: This might not be best for everybody. In the end, use your preferred method. If it works, it works.
TL;DR: It might make it easier during the creation process to NOT work in a linear fashion. Rather, create a loop, make it "perfect" and break it down into the other sections of your track.
Submitted August 23, 2017 at 03:12PM by TheEMF https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/6vku9i/how_to_begin_and_finish_a_track_efficiently/?utm_source=ifttt