When Building A Song - Try Drums First!!
- full disclosure: This was written by a drummer… (me.)

Considering the times, (Covid-19 Pandemic, circa 2020), many musicians are recording at home by themselves.
And if lucky - collaborating via file-sharing with other musicians!

Layering tracks as you go is a popular way to build a song.
But - think of building a song much akin to building a house – it’s best to build from the ground up.

Unless you’re the type that likes to put the roof on first, a popular method for many professionals, is to record a rough guide track or
two to a click (usually guitar or piano, and vocal) – then – PUT THE DRUMS DOWN FIRST!

By recording other instrumentation first, you stand the chance of losing “the lock” (where everything is locked in as if jamming with the band in the same room).

Once the drums are completed, you are free to let the construction begin!
(This works for eDrums, Acoustic Drums, or Drum Machines – once complete and tightened up to the click, everyone else can jam along!)

Next up – bass guitar, to help finish that rock-solid foundation.
Or as a friend once used to say: “Drums and bass bake the cake, everything else is the icing!”

Rhythm guitar, and any piano/keyboards that would be considered part of “The Rhythm Section” get added next.

Building your song this way increases the chance of having a real groove, as you are now “jamming” to the drums, adding bass and rhythm instruments with a much better (and solid) feel as you play against that solid groove.

With the Rhythm Section complete - and tight - you are now free to add keeper vocals, harmonies, lead instruments and percussion.

As stated on other web pages here at RHR - this all starts with a great song, a great arangement, and some really good rough tracks recorded to a click.

If this sounds like a method that might work for you, please hit up my contact page for some free idea sharing!

Happy Recording,
Mark