So, what is arranging exactly? It’s not just about what elements are in play, but also the relationships between the constituent parts. You could also think of it as being the bridge between composition and mixing. While different genres have different sonic tropes and arrangement norms, there are numerous universal constants that are beneficial to get your head around.
The most common problem that we tend to face comes when we’re so far into the writing or production of a track is that we can’t hear how jarring many of the elements might be upon another listener’s first listen. We’ve heard our mix constantly already, and we’re too comfortable with it. Often we just can’t resist the impulse to add more. It’s a solid idea to hold off on the arrangement process until after you’ve had your initial writing sessions (something which was standard practice back in the heyday of studio-based recording). Genre dictates many of the arrangement norms, and here are some typical approaches to
