Continuing with the workflow of earworms. Having established a hook that lodges in my mind, and having fleshed it out on some instrument so that it is going round my head (the default is a my old Roland stage piano – I dont have to mess around loading and configuring – just switch on and play) then I have the basis for a production. At this point I move into sequencing, usually just the chorus (if that is where the hook lies). Initially just a raw piano sound, maybe a string chord track, bass, and very basic drum pattern. I tend to throw in some electronic noodling for good measure.
This is usually about 16 bars and I’ll loop it and mix down to MP3. I put this on a firestick and play it on my car stereo as I drive around. Taking the opportunity to listen to my masterpiece really rams it into my brain as an earworm. Lodging it in my mind then allows me to reconsider the hook variations and also entices me to think about where the verses and other production aspects might head.
For a first draft, it is very basic; usually defaults that come with Cubase, rather than plug-ins or other soft synths, and no FXs. The drum pattern starts off as a basic 4/4 kick and snare. Actually it sounds quite shit at this point, but because it does, then that motivates me to think about what it does need.
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