Before you record your music: part 1

"Before you record your music," she said.  "There are some things you should do first."  Her name was Carol Childs and she was an A & R executive for Geffen Records.  I had just played her a demo of band I had produced—it was my first project and I was clearly a newbie.  The band was good, she told me, but the song arrangements needed more work.  She then shared some tips to help me ensure that next time I'd make the most of our studio recording time. "You have to come in here with songs that sound like they already belong on the radio," she concluded. "Or you may not get a second chance."  She'd taken mercy on me and I was determined to not make the same mistake twice.

In the years that followed, I picked up other tips from producers like Geoff Workman (Journey, Mottley Crue, Sammy Hagar, Twisted Sister) and accumulated some of my own.  All in all, I came up with 9 fundamental steps you can take to improve your odds of coming out of the studio with a recording you’re happy with and that the record execs, radio programmers, and other industry professionals will also buy into.

Now granted, if you’re one of the ones lucky enough (or unlucky enough, in some cases) to be working on a $25,000 to $100,000 budget that’s been funded by a label or an investor, you might have a little leeway (the operative word is “little”).  But don’t go rogue just because you have a big budget.  Because even though someone else is investing in you, it’s money you’re going to have to pay back (and in the case of a label, it’s all money that’s being billed against your future royalties).

The overall goal of the recording preparation process (and I realize this sounds redundant, but you’d be surprised) is to prepare.  I’ve been amazed at how many bands and artists show up in a studio to record with no real clue as to how they’re going to manage and maximize their experience.  The general notion behind the prep process is to do everything you possibly can, therefore, to ensure that the recording goes smoothly, professionally, effectively, and efficiently.

With that in mind, the first three foundational guidelines that follow in this article (and the remaining six that will appear in the next two articles to come) will help you make the most of whatever type of recording you’re about to do.

Step 1: Listen carefully to other recorded music that you think fits your style and learn from what they did that worked.

I know, I know, your style is totally unique and unlike anyone else’s—but there are bound to be other artists in your general genre or direction.  Pay attention to the elements that make those songs great, for example:

• What do you like about the music?
• What are the drum sounds like, or the beats, the guitar patches, vocals, etc. 
• How do they change the pace or the push or pull on the chorus (as an example, do they play on the front of the beat on the chorus and then settle to the back of the beat on the verses)?
• How does the arrangement build over the course of the entire song?
• Make note of which producers help create the type of sounds and music you like and listen to more of their music.  What are their tricks of the trade?

For a great resource in terms of finding songs to listen to, check out Pandora.com (you can choose a song and the service will then provide you with other songs that are similar.  This gives you an opportunity to hear a variety of takes on a genre).

Step 2: Arrange your songs before you go in the studio. 

It’s not that you won’t change things once you’re recording, but to the extent that you can, work out your arrangements thoroughly before you go in, you’ll be saving yourself time and money.  Besides, working things out on a 4-track or other pre-studio device will also give you a way to play around, get creative, and try out different versions before you have to commit to the real deal.

In terms of how a song is arranged, you want to keep it constantly interesting so here are some things to consider: 

• How will your first verse arrangement, differ from the second verse and so on?
• How will the first chorus arrangement differ from the second?
• How will the song build and where will you simplify or break it down?
• Where do back up vocals come in and how do they differ as you progress through the song?
• How do you create a memorable transition to the bridge and then back to the chorus?
• (For example, listen to the instrumental arrangements and the differing use of background vocals in Royal Bliss’ current Top 30 song, “We Did Nothing Wrong”) or King of Leon’s chart topper, “Use Somebody”);
• Where are the places where you can add instrumental hooks (think of the mega hook in Dire Straits, “Money for Nothing”)?

Step 3:  Establish the right BPM (beats-per-minute) for each song during your rehearsals and be able to play them to a click track (electronic metronome).

While you may not want to be totally locked in or restricted by a click, learning to play to one is a phenomenal way to prepare for the tight play you’ll need for the studio.  Remember, great players keep great time, in addition to everything else they do well.

• Choose the tempo for each song that feels the best and really allows you to easily slip into the groove for that tune (the groove is the tempo that just feels right, like you’re in the “zone” when you play).
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different rhythms, grooves, and tempos.  You never know when you’ll stumble across a new take on your song that takes it to the next level.
• For a handy tool, if you’re not sure what your current beats per minute rate is, check out the BPM Counter online.  It lets you hit your space bar to the beat of a song and it will calculate your beats per minute for you.

By following these first three practical guidelines, you will be taking steps that should help you to be more prepared and put your actual studio time and money to the best use.  Stay tuned for Steps 4 through 6 next.  They'll provide you with some other key ingredients for a successful session.

If you enjoyed this article, here are three more you might like “20 questions every band should know the answer to”, “Want the recipe for band magic?” and “Choosing a music producer and recording studio”