Arranging Songs: How to Put the Parts Together

by Rikky Rooksby

This book is an essential manual of techniques for recording a song. It explores arranging essentials such as grouping instruments effectively, using multi-track recording, artfully layering parts, achieving a good mix, and creating unusual arrangements using common techniques. The accompanying CD illustrates all of the techniques presented in the book. Guitar chord boxes are included for the CD tracks where appropriate.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge nut for dissecting a recording and examining each little part, from the driving cellos of "Good Vibrations" to the drums of "Be My Baby" to the harmonium of "Tomorrow Never Knows." As a songwriter myself, I'm always struck with ideas and inspirations when listening to my favorite songs. This book has so many good ideas on instrumentation choices, flow of an arrangement, etc...you can almost hear your song forming in your head as you read this book. Any book by Rikki Rooksby is awesome and HIGHLY informative, but this is one of the best. The included CD provides some examples of arrangement, and yes, some of the "demos" have bad synthesizer parts, but you get the idea of what he's trying to get across.
Highly reccommended.