HEVYDEVY FORUMS

So I have finished writing a song, and I wanna be able to record a final copy. However, there is one major problem: drums. I'm in way over my head, and I have no idea what to do. I know I want them done with like a drum machine or something, but how do I go about doing that? I figure to get this done though I have to know where the whole song is rhythmically, and I'm afraid I don't. Like I know what rhythm the parts have, but I don't know what their values are, or what time signature they're in (I'm pretty sure its 4/4 though) would someone be willing to help me figure it out? I'll post a video (can't record audio on the PC im using right now) if anyone is willing to help.

If you have your song written, then i guess setting the tempo, recording some of the song to the clicktrack on the one track, then messing around with the drums on the another shouldn't be a problem. Just put some sampler or (better) drum machine plugin on second track and find the option where you can punch the drums in realtime while listening to your riffage (I guess every decent multitrack software should have such feature, be it using MIDI controller or even tapping the computer keyboard).

In this way you can try to do shit without knowing stuff about time signatures. You'll end up with one longer drum track with crude sketch of the beat, which you can edit (quantize uneven rhythm, set velocities, add cymbals etc.). Watch where repetitive patterns emerge, cut them, loop, have fun etc. Hope I'm making sense and got what you're asking of.

This is exactly the reason why I compose everything in Guitar Pro.

AlucardXIX wrote:This is exactly the reason why I compose everything in Guitar Pro.

I knew you'll say that. Gotta try it some day. Does it have a feature with setting the key/scale and fixing the notes only on it? It would be cool.

BrunoN wrote:

AlucardXIX wrote:This is exactly the reason why I compose everything in Guitar Pro.

I knew you'll say that. Gotta try it some day. Does it have a feature with setting the key/scale and fixing the notes only on it? It would be cool.

It's all tab. Once you know the drum tab numbers its so simple to do drums for a song. You'll know your time sigs and tempos too. Learning to use GP to compose was a step forward in my song writing. Mainly because I could write out everything in there. Export drum and synth midi's so I could just plug them right in in Sonar and then route them correctly.

Overall it's definitely worth learning.

I actually downloaded Guitar Pro today, and I've started tabbing out the song. I can just copy the guitar parts rhythms into the drum parts, right?

Nathan_lol wrote:I actually downloaded Guitar Pro today, and I've started tabbing out the song. I can just copy the guitar parts rhythms into the drum parts, right?

Not sure what you mean... The easiest thing to do is put a simple hi-hat behind it, and then add more to it as you go.

Be warned, though, you'll have to delete stuff later in the bar if you want to make a crotchet into a set of quavers, and so on.

Ofcourse, if you really, really want, you can send me the track and I'll lay down some live drums to it. xD

Phase wrote:

Nathan_lol wrote:I actually downloaded Guitar Pro today, and I've started tabbing out the song. I can just copy the guitar parts rhythms into the drum parts, right?

Not sure what you mean... The easiest thing to do is put a simple hi-hat behind it, and then add more to it as you go.

Be warned, though, you'll have to delete stuff later in the bar if you want to make a crotchet into a set of quavers, and so on.

Ofcourse, if you really, really want, you can send me the track and I'll lay down some live drums to it. xD

Dude, that would be fucking awesome! You'd be willing to do that?

Nathan_lol wrote:

Phase wrote:

Nathan_lol wrote:I actually downloaded Guitar Pro today, and I've started tabbing out the song. I can just copy the guitar parts rhythms into the drum parts, right?

Not sure what you mean... The easiest thing to do is put a simple hi-hat behind it, and then add more to it as you go.

Be warned, though, you'll have to delete stuff later in the bar if you want to make a crotchet into a set of quavers, and so on.

Ofcourse, if you really, really want, you can send me the track and I'll lay down some live drums to it. xD

Dude, that would be fucking awesome! You'd be willing to do that?

Yeah sure, man. As long as you're not expecting mad blasterbation.

Not at all, the song dosen't require too much from drums, just enough to let the riffs shine.

I uploaded my shitty recording of it, I know that rhythmically it's a fucking mess, but please try to look past that, I plan on rerecording it. Could anyone try to give me some constructive criticism on this, besides my lack of rhythm and sloppy guitar playing? Oh and if it seems like a riff is going on for too long, its because vocals or a solo are supposed to go there. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vddK00D1x2I

Nathan_lol wrote:Not at all, the song dosen't require too much from drums, just enough to let the riffs shine.

I uploaded my shitty recording of it, I know that rhythmically it's a fucking mess, but please try to look past that, I plan on rerecording it. Could anyone try to give me some constructive criticism on this, besides my lack of rhythm and sloppy guitar playing? Oh and if it seems like a riff is going on for too long, its because vocals or a solo are supposed to go there. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vddK00D1x2I

This actually sounds like a start for something epic. Has potential to be awesome when finished.

Pretty solid for a playing without a metronome, by the way. I think.

Alriiiight, I've had a couple of listens. Here are my thoughts.

Sounds awesome, so no worries there. How ever, there are a few times where you drop speed, or a beat, and various other little things. If I try to play to it, it will reflect in the drums, and that'll A) sound really bad, and B) make it harder if you want to play to the drums. If you are tabbing it on guitar pro, you can send me the file on that and I can record the drums ot that track. THen you won't have to worry so much about dropping out of time.

Just a thought. =D

Don't worry, I plan on rerecording it and setting up a proper click track and all for the thing, and there will be one constant tempo throughout it. I'm working on doing it in Guitar Pro, but there are a few parts that are a little too weird for me.

Nathan_lol wrote:Don't worry, I plan on rerecording it and setting up a proper click track and all for the thing, and there will be one constant tempo throughout it. I'm working on doing it in Guitar Pro, but there are a few parts that are a little too weird for me.

Heh heh, fair enough, man. I'll start working out some ideas now, though. =D