Music - Tools and Skills

Production principles

The process of music production divides into six basic stages:

• Songwriting

• Arranging

• Tracking

• Editing

• Mixing

• Mastering

This great article explores and unpacks these six stages.

https://www.waves.com/six-stages-of-music-production

The video below shows all these stages in action, using Ableton as its base. 

Elements of music

Elements of music construct and govern the language of music, including notes, scales, chords, rhythm, melody, harmony, and form. It serves as a set of rules and guidelines that musicians use to create, analyze, and interpret music. 

Here's a nice simple guide:

https://www.loopmasters.com/articles/3489-Songwriting-Production-8-Tips-for-Writing-Pop-Songs

And another...

https://www.iconcollective.edu/basic-music-theory

Song structure

Songs make us feel through rhythm and melody, but they stay with us thanks to the familiar patterns that comprise song structure. Song structure refers to how a song is organized, using a combination of different sections.

Here's some great reads:

https://mastering.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SONG-STRUCTURE-Cheat-Sheet.pdf

https://www.careersinmusic.com/song-structure/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/songwriting-101-learn-common-song-structures

https://chordchord.com/song-structure-template-generator-tool

Song writing

A songwriting template typically includes sections for lyrics, melody, chord progression, and song structure. It may also include prompts or guidelines for brainstorming song ideas. 

https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/songwriter/best-songwriting-template

Chord patterns and progressions

The term chord progression simply refers to the order in which chords are played in a song/piece of music.

Play a few different songs/pieces and you will see that there are various different ways in which composers order chords.