Music Producing Checklist


The Compusician's Checklist (version 4)

This checklist is what I'm using to make sure that my future songs have all of the necessary elements. As I learn, grow, and share, the list changes. Please comment and/or use the list to help you in your adventure.




Add In / Sub Out – This is very important. Keep my mind free to try new things (ADD IN). But what isn't working with the group of sounds or idea, then take it out (SUB OUT).

Mood – Look at list of Emotions. What “mood” do I want to try to convey?

Adventure – Have I explored all possibilities in the short story of my point or perspective?

Panning – The song gains depth by proper panning. Left, Right, Middle.

Scat – In my Lyrics Tool box I have every 2 letter combination. Use different combinations to develop a melody.

Peak Limiter – I like this effect for Mastering SOME of the tracks.

Equalizing – This is how the vocals “fit in”. Vocals are in the “MID” range. I'll try to use pan left and pan right for the instruments, thus creating a space in the mid range for the vocals. Example: I kick out the instrumental as a wav file, bring it back into a new sequencer. Make three copies of the track (so I have 4). Pan one track slightly left and equalize out some of the middle. Pan one track slightly right and equalize out some of the middle. Set the vocals in another track and equalize to emphasize the middle AS MUCH IS NEEDED TO MAKE IT “FIT IN”. Mute the unnecessary tracks, or use one to experiment with effects. Bring back some “mid” from the instruments if needed from an unused copy of the track. Balance volume levels and get to Mastering.

Opening Riff – Almost every song has an “Alert Riff”, to let the listener know that their favorite song is coming on.

Each Instrument Riff – I can Add in or Sub out what is not working.

Each Instrument Showcasing – Add In or Sub Out what is not working.

Tool Boxes – Look over my “Toolboxes” (Vocal and Lyrics) to visualize any new ideas that come to mind.

Vocal Loops – I want to be known for great vocal FX and ideas. So, the old days of Joan Jett's, “I love Rock and Roll”has a great riff loop, I need to have an equally great riff loop with vocals and effects.

Song Structure – Intro | V1 | V2 | C1/C2 | V1 | V2 | C1/C2 | V2 | INST | C1/C2 | C1/C2 | Outro ** note that this is basic and can be changed up. (Verse, Chorus, Instrumental)

Interchanger's – I use these shorter transitions to be carefully placed in the song structure. Moving from complex to simple building back to complex or vise versa is a good use for interchanger's. A breather or an exciter.

Trailers – This is important. Every hit song has what I call “trailers”. Usually there is a vocal expression, then a short musical burst afterward. “I'm not your stepping stone”, by the Monkees makes good obvious use of “trailers”.

3 – The triangle. I can go up, down, or stay even. With 4 instruments playing at once, it is part of what makes music have the ability to be limitless.

4 – With vocals and instruments in 2 separate groups, I should have LOW – MID LOW – MID HIGH – HIGH. Now you start to see the endless possibilities of music composing. Couple this with “The Triangle”, and you can see the to near infinity. Putting your artistic touch (imagination) on the song is what takes your music PAST infinity, and beyond.

Pulsator – Whether it's the Bass, the Synth, the Drums, or another instrument, I want to add a Pulse to this song, and bring it in and out of the “Rotisserie”.

Tic Tac Toe – Imagine 3 words written down. High, Medium, Low. Then imagine 3 words written across. Fast, Middle, Slow. This should form what looks like a “Tic Tac Toe” diagram. When an instrument or vocal is playing “Fast and High”, another instrument or vocal needs to balance it by playing “Slow and Low”, or other choices not already used in that section of the song. In other sections of the song, an instrument may change it's make up, which should usually change the make up of the other instruments.

Contrasting – That “Tic Tac Toe” thing I made up is a great example of “Contrasting”. At the end of this article I made some “contrasts” to illustrate what I mean. Imagine you hear a cricket in the forest. Maybe an owl in the background. Contrasting would be the immediate sounds opposite to the current feeling. A lightning bolt, or a bears slight and low growl. It is how a story is told. Emotional swings using “contrasting”. (You won't believe what happens next, or “oh oh!”) (You CAN explain Love by describing hate. When you describe HOT, it helps explain COLD).

DJ – Do add loops, effects and samples to enhance the feeling in the song.

SFX – Sound effects. Yes. I have a tendency to over do it. Remember: ADD IN / SUB OUT.

Sell – Remember I'm trying to sell or convince the listener about my point of view.

Graint – It is not a word, “Graint”. And that is the point. Make up some words. Ain't Great, “Graint”!

Tangent – Go OFF tangent. Yes! In the old days you had about 3 minutes to make your point if you wanted to be heard on the radio. But now the canvas has a different color and your world is yours to explore. Are you painting this picture like Picasso or Rembrandt?

Similarity – Similarity to familiarity brings them in. You never want someone to say you sound just like one band. “You sound just like Pink Floyd”. Well, great. The world already has a Pink Floyd. But on the other hand, “You sound like Pink Floyd mixed with Nine Inch Nails”, is something else! Try Cindi Lauper with Leanne Rhymes. You want a similar sound, but different.

Rotisserie – Your song is an artistic performance. It is on stage. Get to the action, feeling and mood immediately. A play usually has more than one actor, and your performance should be like a chicken cooking on a rotisserie. Bring out the drums up front, then slowly set them back to the opening riff, which is slowly set back to the vocals, which then the drums come back, etc... (This is one example).

Mastering – I put Engineering and Mastering into the same category. You want to make sure your levels are right and not causing distortion. Over time you will develop a sound you like that comes from the Mastering process.

Mistakes – Mistakes can be good. Use them in your adventure. Often what happens is that a person hears your mistake, then comments or tells other people. Is that what you want? Free Publicity?

Poetry – Does my song work out fine Lyrically or Poetically? Repetition is GRAND in commercial music.

Drama – Add in a “skit”. Have a skit with that scat :) I like to tell a story in a play, (drama) fashion. The song will then have more meaning as to what I'm talking about.

List – Keep a list of bands you like to listen to, or to emulate, for specific reasons to your cause.

AC/DC, Joan Jett (I love Rock and Roll), Rob Zombie (Living Dead Girl), Sponge (Plowed), INXS, Cameo, K-Rhap, Simple Minds, Billy Idol, Garbage, Opera, Big Audio Dynamite, Fat Boy Slim

Contrasting examples -

Hot – Cold
Fast – Slow
Wow! - Calm
Sweet – Sour
Dark – Light
Beauty – Ugly
Love – Hate
Hard – Soft
Yes - No



When you have made the foundation of the house strong, as strong as a pyramid, then it will support any creativity you will add to it. You will want to “dress” your creation with paint, wood, shutters, or whatever, on top of your creativity. Step back, let a few days pass, and look again. Is it what you imagined? Is it acceptable to you? If so, then welcome your new baby (your song) to this world.

Peace Out, The Compusician

(You can reprint, link to, teach from, or use this article IF you use the whole article.)

Checklist v4