Effective song structure with FL Studio for your intro

There are many aspects of digital music production, but building an arrangement is crucial to creating an impressive track. In this tutorial, I will show you how to develop a successful arrangement from a simple chorus. You will learn how to effectively combine different elements and gradually build the arrangement in FL Studio.

Key Insights

• Start the song with an appropriate intro.
• Use neutral sounds like piano for the build.
• Change patterns to create a standalone intro.
• Pay attention to the rhythm and dynamics of the arrangement.
• Experiment with various percussion elements to enhance the groove.

Step-by-Step Guide to Song Building

First, zoom into your playlist and make room for the intro. Remember that a track generally builds slowly and then reaches a climax before dropping off again. Move your existing chorus slightly to the right to create space for the intro.

To start building, choose an instrument with a neutral sound. The piano is great for this. Click on your piano pattern and place it at the beginning of your playlist. Remember that we will define the build later, so for now focus on the placement.

Now you should adjust the piano pattern as the current sound is too direct and concise for an intro. Remove some notes from the melody to create a softer sound. To avoid making changes to your chorus, you'll need to first save the pattern as a new pattern. Click on “Make Unique” in the menu.

Now that you have a new pattern (Piano Number 2), you can remove notes without affecting the chorus. Focus on reducing the intermediate notes to create less dynamics and make the intro more tranquil.

Deactivate the sidechain effect in your pattern as it is unnecessary at the beginning of the song and could interfere with the clear sounds of your intro. You can reactivate the effect later when you add a kick.

To create an even more differentiated intro, make the first two patterns standalone again by applying the “Make Unique” command once more. Now continue editing the pattern (Piano Number 3) by removing unnecessary notes and extending the chords to create a harmonic foundation.

As we approach the arrangement of the song, it's important to pay attention to when the chorus should come in. Work with the timing and note that the chorus typically begins at 128 BPM after about a minute or 32 bars.

To make the arrangement more lively, add lighter drum sounds, such as hi-hats or shakers. Copy the drum pattern and place it in your intro, making sure the rhythm does not become too monotonous. Remove the cymbals on the first run that disrupt the sound.

To create a varied mood, vary the arrangement of the shakers and possibly add a closed hi-hat. This gives your intro more momentum and a dynamic rhythm.

As your intro will be longer, pull the patterns accordingly. In the build, aim to continuously escalate the track. Start with the piano and add more instruments, including the bass line, which gives the intro more fullness.

Another element that can give your intro depth is a clap. Transfer your clap pattern to the various sections of the arrangement by copying the claps using the shift key so that they are properly aligned in the grid.

Summary – Introduction to Song Building: An Effective Arrangement for Your Intro in FL Studio

In today's tutorial, you learned how to develop the build of your arrangement for an intro in FL Studio. You discovered which instruments are suitable and how to build the sound by changing patterns and adding elements. By experimenting and adjusting the various sounds, you can create your own unique intro that serves as the perfect start for your track.