| Congratulations! Your singing has become | | | | have a slightly different rhythm, and fill in |
| amazing, and it's time the world knew. You've | | | | where the melody has breaks. A great example |
| also written some songs that are just kick | | | | is in the song "The Winner Takes It All," by |
| you-know-what. They need to be recorded, | | | | Abba. Listen to the theme that is always |
| MP3ed and put on the net ASAP. But you've got | | | | playing underneath the melody - it really |
| two problems. First, you can't afford a | | | | drives the song.Another thing you can do to |
| studio, let alone a band for all this stuff. | | | | put life into your tracks is to customize the |
| Second, you don't play all, or any, of the | | | | style. Depending on how good you are with |
| instruments.Well there is good news. With a | | | | your software and its capabilities, you can |
| deft combination of the internet and today's | | | | create your own riffs and mix them into the |
| software, you can do wonders. While it's | | | | song. Also, vary similar styles throughout |
| never going to be the same as a true band in | | | | the song to break the monotony. And, again, |
| a real studio, which you had better hire for | | | | don't underestimate drum fills!Creative use |
| that big record company showcase, you can | | | | of layering is a very effective technique. |
| still create great backing tracks.First, | | | | When all the tracks play all the time, it can |
| repeat after me. "I love MIDI." Thank | | | | be very boring. Wait to bring in some |
| you.MIDI, to refresh your memory, is like | | | | instruments till later in the song. That |
| sheet music for a pianist. The paper itself | | | | creates a "building" feel. Then, at some |
| makes no noises, but the pianist gets all the | | | | point towards the end, take them out again |
| information he needs from it to let us hear | | | | briefly to create a "break" or "bridge". When |
| Beethoven (especially if the music is also | | | | you bring them back, it is very |
| Beethoven!). In your computer set up, the | | | | powerful.Finally, don't allow any perfection. |
| MIDI file is the sheet music, the MIDI | | | | Yes, you read that correctly. If your music |
| sequencer or playback program is the pianist, | | | | is perfectly aligned rhythmically, it will |
| and your computer's sound card and | | | | sound artificial. Live musicians are never |
| synthesizer are the piano. That's all you | | | | precisely on the beat. Almost all programs |
| need!Before we get started, I'll mention the | | | | have a "humanize" function which corrects |
| ultimate cover song shortcut - the Internet! | | | | this automatically. Otherwise, take the time |
| There are tons of great MIDI files of almost | | | | and slide some notes in the piano roll editor |
| every piece of popular music out there. All | | | | window. If you need quantize (rhythm |
| you have to do is find them. If you can't, or | | | | correction) on the recorded tracks, set it to |
| you've got your own material, read on. Be | | | | less than 100%.When you've got your MIDI |
| legal, though!If You Play Keyboard or Guitar | | | | file, there are two ways to convert it to |
| WellFirst, thank your parents for the | | | | audio (wav, mp3) for CD burning. The quicker |
| lessons. Then, get your hands on a sequencer | | | | way is with a dedicated program that renders |
| program and record your tracks. Using MIDI, | | | | wave files from MIDI files directly. Most |
| you can choose the instrument sound for | | | | software synthesizer programs that have a |
| everything - all you need to do is input the | | | | stand-alone playback feature can do this. |
| notes. For drums, you can either record them | | | | Otherwise, open an audio recording program, |
| from your keyboard or use a plug-in drum | | | | play the MIDI file, and simultaneously record |
| machine. If you choose to record them, a | | | | the output. Make sure your audio recorder is |
| quick way to do it is to record a couple of | | | | set to receive from the correct input.If You |
| measures and then copy/paste to fill out the | | | | Play Nothing, and Don't Know Chords or Theory |
| song. But don't forget to put in some drum | | | | or Anything Guess what? You are the one who |
| fills!If Your Playing Is Limited to Little or | | | | should hire a musician. Yes, I know that some |
| Not at AllFor you there are wonderful | | | | programs will offer both a chord progression |
| programs, like Band in a Box and Jammer, to | | | | composer and even a melody composer. All you |
| create backing tracks. They are very stylish, | | | | would need to do is choose the style. If you |
| meaning, they function in styles. You must, | | | | are considering going this route, I have one |
| at the very least, know the chords for your | | | | request for you.PLEASE DON'T!Sorry to yell, |
| song. You simply enter the chords, choose the | | | | but think about this. The melody is composed |
| appropriate musical style, and click a button | | | | by a computer, the chords are composed by a |
| called "compose" (or some reasonable | | | | computer, the band is composed by a computer. |
| facsimile). Before you can say "Holy | | | | It is music that is completely composed by a |
| guacamole, Batman," your music is playing. | | | | computer. Oh my gosh! How revolting is |
| The drawback here is that your band will | | | | that?No, my friend, hire a qualified |
| sound canned. And well it should, for it is! | | | | musician. You sing the song to them, they |
| But, have no fear, there are ways to mitigate | | | | create the magic. Do not sell yourself short. |
| that quite well.Making it Human Best thing? | | | | Your song is important -- it's part of you! |
| Play what you can, at least the melody. That, | | | | Show it the greatest respect and make it as |
| in and of itself, will help tremendously, as | | | | beautiful as you can.Seth Lutnick is a |
| it's no longer just a band style playing | | | | singer, songwriter and arranger. Visit his |
| chord progressions.Next up, record a | | | | website, for more on creating and using a |
| counterpoint. Counterpoints make ordinary | | | | home recording studio, and personal action |
| songs exciting. They are secondary melodies | | | | planning. |
| that complement the main melody. They usually | | | | |