When in Doubt, Leave it Out.
Making decisions about recording and mixing options has always had the potential to bog a musician down with variables. Even home-recording rough demos can now invite the use of multi-tracking, countless effects, plug-ins, mic choices, etc. For an artist this often invites the opportunity to drown in options. By obsessively reviewing variables that often do not contribute to the material, you are distracting yourself from an important objective: finishing the song.
When considering any choice you make during the recording process, you can avoid missing the big picture and simplify things by asking yourself, “Does making this change in the recording improve the song?” If the answer is no, obviously leave it out. Importantly, if you truly can’t decide whether it improves it or not, then the answer still is leave it out. Every sound on your recording, every arrangement decision, every vocal, every mix technique should propel the song forward. Flourishes that are pleasant but not helpful only drag down the impact of the important elements of your song.
Tom Petty believes his pop anthem “Free Fallin’” was greatly improved when producer Jeff Lynne simply suggested he remove some pleasant but non-integral chords from the song. The advice was valuable enough that Tom gave Jeff a co-writing credit.
Often the adage is true that less is more.
Tags: A&R, Odds & Sods, Recording
Jim, good advice (and another Mies/architecture crossover.) When it fits, it fits, and any musician would be better served by trying something new rather than trying to shoehorn a sound, structure, or lyric into a track.
Agreed Josh. It is amazing in recording/mixing situations how quickly one can get locked onto a sonic bauble that may have merit in the right context but ultimately doesn’t serve the song. Thanks for checking in. Jim
Wise words, indeed! It made me think of author William Falkner’s advice to aspiring writers: “Kill your darlings”, adapted by screenwriter William Goldman to “Kill all your babies”. The thought being that a line, a passage or a phrase may be smart but if it’s only there to be smart and doesn’t add to the whole, then it should be cut.
Cool site!
Tony I love the “Kill your darlings” quote. Right on the mark. Thanks.
Jim, good advice (and another Mies/architecture crossover.) When it fits, it fits, and any musician would be better served by trying something new rather than trying to shoehorn a sound, structure, or lyric into a track.
Thanks Amy. Often it is that little inventive twist that takes something from good to great. Like the unplanned “chucka” guitar sound just before the chorus on Radiohead’s “Creep” single. Originally the guitar player was just making sure his guitar signal was up before he was to hit that monster chord in the chorus. The tape was running. They liked this fortuitous accident. They kept it in!