A member PM'd me about what were some of my processes and teqniques for making good R&B. This is my response, I figured it was good info that could be applied to hip hop also. enjoy
Remember this is just my opionion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This isent a stupid question at, all I will try my best
First off im going to assume your talking about making real R&B ,d-anglo,bilial,anthony Hamilton etc… Not R&B cats singing over hip hop beats(which goes on a lot these days)
Ceation……
I think that the fundamental difference between a hip hop and R&B track is its purpose. The purpose of a hip hop track is to set the melody for the song. So when a person hears a hip hop track with the rapper. The meldody of the beat and the hook of the vocalist are what they remember. THe beat bassically "pushes" the rapper along with the track
with R&B I think it’s a little different. Usually the vocalist sets the melody and the track is more like the back up singer. Basically the track inset in as much of a "pusher" as a hip hop track is(as far as the tone of the song is concerded.)
How does this help u….
Well generally R&B tracks melodies tend to be a lot smoother with a lot more chord changes. Usually there is very little looping without sometype of progression. Basically you have to practice your chourds. Now u don’t need any “formal” training on this but u do need to sit down and really figure out what sounds right.
As far as the techniques of making an R&B track, variation is the key. Sit down and come up with a melody and then make several variations (sequences) of that melody. Nice Phat full chords always help. The usual instruments apply(rhoads, bass, piano, guitar, strings etc..) Also very sublte drumming is very important, Usually u want R&B tracks to have a "live" feel. So make sure you switch up those patterns.
How I make the tracks
Ive noticed that with hip hop tracks I can usually come up with an idea and go with it..
For me R&B tracks take a lot more planning cause I basically making 4 or 5 varitaions of the song(bridges, different keys etc.) and composing them toghter. It usually takes me a at least 3 to 4 days to get a good R&B track out whare as I can bang out a quality hip hop track in a day..
As of yet I have only made 2 or 3 true R&B songs(haven’t focused on it yet). Afrque is a master at this (as far as composing, bridges, key changes etc), Whats funny is that he doesn’t even know that he is doing it which is proof u don’t need formal training if it is in you
Style
This is another thing that I always tell people about making any type of music. It has to be in you!!! I’m pretty sure hip hop is something that was in you from the start. You probably have listened to it intensely most of your adult life. And it is something that is programmed in you.
Well R&B is no different, Most hip hop producers cant make a good R&B songs and most R&B producers cant make a hip hop song. You can’t do one and not have any experience in the other and expect to be proficient at it. It takes practice and u really have to feel it.
I cant lie , im blessed in this aspect. Because of my musical influences and training, most of my tracks have a very musical R&B flava to them(even my hard core hip hop tracks). This is something I cannot plan or help, it just comes out. So I can transition more easily to the R&B side then RZA ,premier or lil john could.
Before u even start
u should ask yourself is it even worth it, should u inverst all this time in something else when u know your good at making hip hop beats??? I mean don’t get me wrong always experiment and try new stuff. But I know I’m not going to be making punk rock albums anytime soon. If u keep trying and trying and only end up with hip hop beats maybe thats a sign. Hell, most people cand do that well so your already ahead of the game.
Whew damn I dident mean to write all that, actually ive gotten the question from many different people so if u don’t mind me including your orginal post I would like to post this reply on the forum. Shit I may even holla at fade and ask him to make it an article.
Let me know If I can post it
Hope this helps
class....
Remember this is just my opionion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This isent a stupid question at, all I will try my best
First off im going to assume your talking about making real R&B ,d-anglo,bilial,anthony Hamilton etc… Not R&B cats singing over hip hop beats(which goes on a lot these days)
Ceation……
I think that the fundamental difference between a hip hop and R&B track is its purpose. The purpose of a hip hop track is to set the melody for the song. So when a person hears a hip hop track with the rapper. The meldody of the beat and the hook of the vocalist are what they remember. THe beat bassically "pushes" the rapper along with the track
with R&B I think it’s a little different. Usually the vocalist sets the melody and the track is more like the back up singer. Basically the track inset in as much of a "pusher" as a hip hop track is(as far as the tone of the song is concerded.)
How does this help u….
Well generally R&B tracks melodies tend to be a lot smoother with a lot more chord changes. Usually there is very little looping without sometype of progression. Basically you have to practice your chourds. Now u don’t need any “formal” training on this but u do need to sit down and really figure out what sounds right.
As far as the techniques of making an R&B track, variation is the key. Sit down and come up with a melody and then make several variations (sequences) of that melody. Nice Phat full chords always help. The usual instruments apply(rhoads, bass, piano, guitar, strings etc..) Also very sublte drumming is very important, Usually u want R&B tracks to have a "live" feel. So make sure you switch up those patterns.
How I make the tracks
Ive noticed that with hip hop tracks I can usually come up with an idea and go with it..
For me R&B tracks take a lot more planning cause I basically making 4 or 5 varitaions of the song(bridges, different keys etc.) and composing them toghter. It usually takes me a at least 3 to 4 days to get a good R&B track out whare as I can bang out a quality hip hop track in a day..
As of yet I have only made 2 or 3 true R&B songs(haven’t focused on it yet). Afrque is a master at this (as far as composing, bridges, key changes etc), Whats funny is that he doesn’t even know that he is doing it which is proof u don’t need formal training if it is in you
Style
This is another thing that I always tell people about making any type of music. It has to be in you!!! I’m pretty sure hip hop is something that was in you from the start. You probably have listened to it intensely most of your adult life. And it is something that is programmed in you.
Well R&B is no different, Most hip hop producers cant make a good R&B songs and most R&B producers cant make a hip hop song. You can’t do one and not have any experience in the other and expect to be proficient at it. It takes practice and u really have to feel it.
I cant lie , im blessed in this aspect. Because of my musical influences and training, most of my tracks have a very musical R&B flava to them(even my hard core hip hop tracks). This is something I cannot plan or help, it just comes out. So I can transition more easily to the R&B side then RZA ,premier or lil john could.
Before u even start
u should ask yourself is it even worth it, should u inverst all this time in something else when u know your good at making hip hop beats??? I mean don’t get me wrong always experiment and try new stuff. But I know I’m not going to be making punk rock albums anytime soon. If u keep trying and trying and only end up with hip hop beats maybe thats a sign. Hell, most people cand do that well so your already ahead of the game.
Whew damn I dident mean to write all that, actually ive gotten the question from many different people so if u don’t mind me including your orginal post I would like to post this reply on the forum. Shit I may even holla at fade and ask him to make it an article.
Let me know If I can post it
Hope this helps
class....
:thumb:
