What's a Good Introduction to Arranging?

[Ed Driscoll]

Hi all,

I'm primarily a guitarist, with a modicum of keyboard skills, and a decent understanding of music theory, who writes songs and records them on Cakewalk Sonar XL 2.0

In the 1980s, I recorded lots of demos on a Tascam cassette four-track and a Yamaha CX5M (essentially a DX9 with a--very bad-- computer interface)

Now that I've got Sonar, and have (in comparison to the four-track) an enormous amount of flexibility in terms of tracks and sounds, I'd like to find a book that a good guide to arranging. I'd love to work some good string arrangements, and add some simple, but rich sounding arrangements to my songs (most rock-oriented--Beatles, Stones, Zep, Who, etc., sounding, with a touch of 80s new wave--Cars, Police, etc.). I've done a little bit of this already, but I feel like I'm fumbling in the dark.

Can someone recommend a book or two that are good introductions to arranging--how to write for a variety of instruments, and some examples of successful arrangements--that sort of thing?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Regards,

Ed

 

[Gidge]

im sure there are books like that but the best thing ive found is to sit down with songs you like and pick apart the arrangemts.....write down each instrument and part and write out when it plays and what type of part it plays.....write out which ones play a more dominant role in the arrangement....where they are panned....there relative volumes.....etc.....

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Gidge,

im sure there are books like that but the best thing ive found is to sit down with songs you like and pick apart the arrangemts.....write down each instrument and part and write out when it plays and what type of part it plays.....write out which ones play a more dominant role in the arrangement....where they are panned....there relative volumes.....etc.....

Thanks--I guess I was looking for some sort of "these are the ranges of each instrument" followed by examples of using the instruments together kind of book.

I'm sure there are numerous examples of just such a book out there--I was hoping someone could tell me either about something that's worked well for them, or something unusual or offbeat that I should consider.

Thanks,

Ed

 

[Beltrom]

Alright then. I'll do my best. But most of the arrangement books I've read are in Swedish.

Corey Allen : Arranging in the digital world
Broad assortment of styles. Heavily into displaying the examples that come's on the disk. Pointers on style, instrument selection and so on. And of course you have those range charts. Very General midi-oriented.
I think this one would have been excellent as a primer, but now I got it at the wrong time. i still use it as a reference once in a while though.

Eric Turkel : Arranging Techniques for Synthesists
I've borrowed this one three times at the library. Must buy it. Like it a lot. It's been a while, but as I remember there's lots of tips and guides. He really helps you out with harmony and stuff - and as I remember - with real world examples. You really should check this one out.

And as a special bonus:
http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/apr00/articles/arrangingpop.htm

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Beltrom,

Thanks for the ideas! I'll check on the books, and I really enjoyed the article you provided the URL for.

Regards,

Ed

 

[chazba]

Hi Beltrom...Great article, thanks for the URL.
writeon...chazba