Producing a Hit Song
A Step-by-Step Tutorial
This Tutorial was written using Steinberg’s Cubasis VST, the forerunner of Cubase SE 3. However, you can use any sequencer. The screen shots may be slightly different but the principles are the same.
General Information
Building up a song from small parts is the fun part of sequencing. Cubase and virtually all other sequencers can colour-code the parts. Use this to make it easy to identify the sections; it's so easy to get lost with lots of parts on the screen.
Use copy a lot - it's one way to get a lot of music from relatively little effort. Your best friends are your ears so treat them kindly and, er, listen to what they're telling you about the song.
Remember - nothing is ever permanent in a sequencer. Every section can be edited and rearranged so nothing is set in stone until you decide the song is complete.
Step 1
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You need a structure. Honest. Let's have a snappy eight-bar intro leading into the verse, and as the verse is pretty weak we'll run straight on into the chorus then back to the verse, into the middle 8 which is where the guitarist widdles for a few bars, and then we'll finish by repeating the chorus ad nauseam.
As the drums are going to thud through the whole of the song, we'll create an intro from a MIDI bass line and a cabasa played on the MIDI drum set- a nice Latin-make-you-wanna-move-your-ass type sound. We'll build the drum track using a two-bar drum sample and we'll lead into the verse with a one bar drum fill.
So we've 16 bars for the verse, 16 for the chorus, 16 for the verse, eight for the middle 8, and as many 16-bar choruses as we can stomach.
Step 2
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We can't repeat the same drum sample throughout the entire song - bores R us - so we'll use a slightly busier drum sample for the chorus and throw in a few "humanising" additions such as a hi hat here and there and, because the piece has a Latin feel - as heralded by the intro - a tambourine and agogos from the MIDI drum set.
Now we add the bass line. We can record one part each for the verse, the chorus and middle 8 and copy them as required.
We'll add a cool, funky Latin guitar part during the chorus. If your brother plays a mean guitar, record him. If not, use a guitar sample.
Sounds like it needs a piano so you're glad you bought the MIDI keyboard. Play simple lines during the verse and busier, more heavily rhythmic lines during the chorus. It doesn't matter what you play during the middle 8 - you won't be heard over the guitarist.
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