How to Create a House Music Song Structure

You can create a house music song structure using some basic guidelines. These guidelines will help you create a song that has a good foundation, and will be easy to follow.

Introduction

Most people approach songwriting from a linear perspective, starting with the verse and then moving on to the chorus. But for House Music, this simply won’t work. The structure of a House song is cyclical, meaning that it repeats itself over and over again. This can be difficult to wrap your head around at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s not so hard.

The key to understanding the cyclical nature of House Music is to think about each section of the song as a piece of a puzzle. The puzzle doesn’t have a specific order that it needs to be put together in, but each piece needs to fit together with the others in order for the puzzle to be complete. In other words, each section of the song needs to flow smoothly into the next.

The typical structure of a House song is made up of four main sections: the intro, the main section, the breakdown, and the outro. We’ll take a closer look at each one below.

What is House Music?

House music is a genre of electronic music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized by club DJs who played in dance clubs that were frequented by African-American, Latino, and gay clientele. House music is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, often with a syncopated bass line, and often with percussion or samples from other genres such as disco, soul, or rock.

The Basic Elements of House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and a prominent use of samples. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago in the early 1980s. House music quickly spread to other American cities such as Detroit, New York, and New Jersey.

The Kick

The Kick is the most important element of any House Music track. It gives the track its energy and drive, and is usually the first thing you’ll notice when you listen to a House tune.

There are two main types of kicks in House Music: the 4/4 kick and the 909 kick. The 4/4 kick is a very straight, even beat that is often used in slower-tempo tracks. The 909 kick is a more irregular, shuffling beat that is commonly used in faster tracks.

The Kick usually sits in the very center of the mix, and everything else in the track is built around it. This means that it’s very important to get your Kick sound right before you do anything else. Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your Kick sounds great.

First, start with a good sample. There are a lot of free kick samples out there, but it’s worth spending a few dollars on a professional sample if you want your track to sound its best. Second, EQ your kick so that it sits well in the mix. Third, add some compression to help control the dynamics of your kick and make it punch through the mix. And fourth, add some reverb to give your kick some extra depth and space.

Once you’ve got yourKick sorted out, you can start building the rest of your track around it. But remember: the Kick is still the most important element, so don’t forget to keep it front and center in your mix!

The Clap

The clap is one of the basic elements of house music. It’s a simple drum beat that combines with the bass line to create a groove. When you add other elements like synthesizers and vocals, you can create a full-fledged house track.

The Hats

If you’re new to house music, it can be helpful to think of a song as having three different parts, each with a different focus. The first part is the “hats.” The hats are what you might call the “top line” of the song. They’re the part that’s meant to catch your attention and get your feet moving. In a lot of ways, they’re the most important part of the song.

The second part is the “beat.” The beat is what drives the song forward. It’s the part that makes you want to move your body. And it’s usually the part that people remember long after they’ve forgotten the rest of the song.

The third part is the “bass.” The bass is what gives the song its power. It’s the part that make you feel the music in your chest. And it’s usually the part that people talk about when they’re trying to describe why they like a particular song.

The Percussion

The percussion is the backbone of most house tracks, providing the steady beat that anchors the rest of the song. There are countless ways to construct a percussion track, but many house producers use a simple formula of a kick drum on every other beat, with a hi-hat or clap on the off-beats. This foundation can then be embellished with additional drums and percussion instruments to add complexity and intrigue.

Additional elements such as ride cymbals, snare drums, and tom-toms can be added to fill out the sound, and certain percussion instruments like shakers and congas can be used to create rhythmic interest. Experimentation is key when crafting your percussion tracks, so don’t be afraid to try out different sounds and textures to find what works best for your song.

The House Music Song Structure

In House music, the song structure is not as important as the groove. That being said, there are still a few basic house music song structures that are commonly used. In this article, we’ll go over the 4-on-the-floor, Deep house, and Techno structures.

The Intro

After the intro, the first drop is the most important part of the song. This is where the energy of the track really kicks in and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The intro should be a build-up to this first drop, slowly increasing in energy and pace until it reaches a climax at the drop.

A typical house music song structure will look something like this:

-Intro (8-16 bars)
-First drop (8-16 bars)
-Build up (8-16 bars)
-Second drop (8-16 bars)
-Outro (8-16 bars)

The Buildup

The buildup is the essential part of the house music song structure. It’s what comes before the drop and it’s what makes the drop so satisfying. The buildup typically starts with a four-on-the-floor kick drum, a clap, and a hi-hat. From there, the producer will add more elements to the track, building up the tension until it reaches a climax.

The elements that are added during the buildup will depend on the style of house music that you’re making. If you’re making progressive house, then you might add a synth pad or a choir sample. If you’re making techno, then you might add a warehouse siren or an 808 cowbell. And if you’re making trance, then you might add a some tribal percussion or a melody line.

The key is to keep adding elements until the track is absolutely packed with sound. By the time you reach the climax of the buildup, your track should be so full that it feels like it’s about to burst.

The Drop

The drop is perhaps the most important element in a typical house song. It is the point where the beat and bass line suddenly change, usually after a long period of build-up. This change creates an intense moment of release that is often the climax of the song. The drop is usually followed by a breakdown, which is a section where the music becomes more sparse and often features heavily-reverbed synth lines or vocal snippets.

The Breakdown

As with any genre, house music has its own set of rules when it comes to song structure. The good news is, once you understand the basics, you can start to experiment and create your own unique sound.

The typical house music song structure consists of four parts: the intro, the build, the drop, and the outro. Let’s take a closer look at each one:

-The Intro: The intro is usually where you’ll find the track’s main melody. This is your chance to catch the listener’s attention and give them a taste of what’s to come.

-The Build: The build is all about tension and release. By adding in elements like percussion and synth swells, you can create a sense of anticipation that will make the drop even more powerful.

-The Drop: This is the moment that your track finally explodes into life. The drop is usually where you’ll find the bassline and the heaviest drums, so it’s important to make sure that everything sounds tight and well-balanced.

-The Outro: The outro is your chance to tie everything together and leave the listener with a lasting impression. A simple keyboard melody or a breakdown of the main elements can be effective here.

The Outro

After the break, the music fades out and drops in volume. This is known as the outro. The outro can be as simple as one bar of music or it can last for a minute or more. It’s up to you how long you want the outro to be. As with the intro, the outro should be unique and shouldn’t sound like anything else in the song.