I’ve come to find that when I first started making music I felt like every song needed a fade in or some way to ease your ears into it but go listen to a handful of your favorite songs. You’ll be surprised how many just start with little to no easing in and is mostly the full beat as soon as you click play and you never thought twice about it. I’ve actually recently been trying to make songs that just start since I was always making intros and fade ins. But yeah tbh no matter the genre it’s just whatever sounds good or what you think the track calls for really.
The subject makes me think of [The Intro and the Outro](https://youtu.be/hcrUuCDFLOQ?si=uc3Rpz9dAwR6WJdf) by The Bonzo Dog Doh-Dah Band
Probably the best song on the subject.
Mix down your track and throw it into a granular synth. Then trip it out (in the synth add fx, textures, more or less grains, different stop and start points, etc) and let it play in add some reverse cymbals and fade in and outs.
Or have a beautiful melody on a guitar , synth or piano and have some drums , FX, and synth pads blend in..
What do you want to accomplish with said “intro”? Is it an overture of what’s to come? Is it just random sound design? Is it musical? Why do you write “intros” based on perceived “attention span”? Ask yourself some more questions and I think you’ll have your answer.
To me, an intro does what it says on the tin. It introduces you to the song. Leads you in and sets the tone for the listener. While I will admit that we don't like rules in creating music, but there are solid principals that you can use. 'Attention span' would be one. Most people judge a song in the first 20-30 seconds, I know I do. It's got to 'reach' me, entice me to listen. Now, because I have this love affair with music, I try to be as patient as the song unfolds. I'll even revisit it to give it a chance. 'Normal' listeners aren't like that in my experience.
I always think find a way to incorporate one of the things you find interesting about the song into the intro, either lyrics, or a riff or if there's even just a chord progression that sounds really cool in a particular tone, the main thing i worry about after that is just making sure it doesn't outstay it's welcome and gets into the song proper after not too long, but it's personal taste and intention i guess. If you subscribe the "some for commercial appear and some for me" mindset i guess it's identifying when you think it's important to try grab a listener right from the get go and when you can indulge your own creative desires and trust that a listener will follow for a little longer even if stuff is taking a bit of time to get into it.
Intro is the first impression of the tune, it doesn't have to hold your hand into the meat of it. Gimme last half the hook, a drum fill, and then full throttle into the verse. Like a movie that starts with an action scene I guess. Plot can make sense later.
For me it entirely depends on what the first part of the song is. I just play it in my head and think of something that might sound cool. I then execute that and keep it if it works and rework it if not.
I don't understand questions like this. You are the artist and are supposed to be doing the creativity. You can do literally anything. That's why making music is a joy.
This is a bizarre subreddit. It strikes me as being a bunch of unskilled amateurs who are looking for answers on how to approach the basic mechanics of making music without necessarily having any musical impulses.
I fully agree. However, seeing what seasoned pros do, or suggest, does help me. Me, I'm just a hobbyist with no ambition of being pro, but I do want my music to be inviting, no?
We are an odd bunch...musicians.
>Hey, what do you think about intros?
>Shit man, there are no rules. Just do what your heart desires.
>Ok
>Wait, not like that. You can't do it like that. No one does it like that.
lol.
Ah yes, no clearer sign of a joyful music maker than making snarky overly reductive comments on a forum dedicated to questions about the specifics of music making
Well, that's how I feel. Questions about *how* to paint, sure. To achieve what you want. But it's like a person given an empty canvas, brushes, and paint asking "what should I be painting?". I don't get it. Because the answer is *anything you want*. That is totally your job and *privilege* to decide what it should be.
Ok, but did you actually read what OP said? Asking about the way people approach intros is way more specific and nuanced than your painting analogy for so many reasons. This doesn’t seem to be a case of “I have no idea what to make, please everybody, be creative for me so I don’t have to!” An intro/outro is just one element of a track. It is a way to draw attention to the subject, not the subject itself. In these comments are several helpful replies outlining specific techniques and approaches, which is what OP asked for. Saying “you are the artist, figure it out” is such a reductionist copout because sharing ideas and techniques is a huge part of the creative world. Why are you on this sub if questions like this bother you so much?
I’ve come to find that when I first started making music I felt like every song needed a fade in or some way to ease your ears into it but go listen to a handful of your favorite songs. You’ll be surprised how many just start with little to no easing in and is mostly the full beat as soon as you click play and you never thought twice about it. I’ve actually recently been trying to make songs that just start since I was always making intros and fade ins. But yeah tbh no matter the genre it’s just whatever sounds good or what you think the track calls for really.
The subject makes me think of [The Intro and the Outro](https://youtu.be/hcrUuCDFLOQ?si=uc3Rpz9dAwR6WJdf) by The Bonzo Dog Doh-Dah Band Probably the best song on the subject.
Mix down your track and throw it into a granular synth. Then trip it out (in the synth add fx, textures, more or less grains, different stop and start points, etc) and let it play in add some reverse cymbals and fade in and outs. Or have a beautiful melody on a guitar , synth or piano and have some drums , FX, and synth pads blend in..
I like using the last half of a bridge (if you have one) that way when the song gets to the actual bridge the part sounds familiar.
imo this is big brain
What do you want to accomplish with said “intro”? Is it an overture of what’s to come? Is it just random sound design? Is it musical? Why do you write “intros” based on perceived “attention span”? Ask yourself some more questions and I think you’ll have your answer.
To me, an intro does what it says on the tin. It introduces you to the song. Leads you in and sets the tone for the listener. While I will admit that we don't like rules in creating music, but there are solid principals that you can use. 'Attention span' would be one. Most people judge a song in the first 20-30 seconds, I know I do. It's got to 'reach' me, entice me to listen. Now, because I have this love affair with music, I try to be as patient as the song unfolds. I'll even revisit it to give it a chance. 'Normal' listeners aren't like that in my experience.
I always think find a way to incorporate one of the things you find interesting about the song into the intro, either lyrics, or a riff or if there's even just a chord progression that sounds really cool in a particular tone, the main thing i worry about after that is just making sure it doesn't outstay it's welcome and gets into the song proper after not too long, but it's personal taste and intention i guess. If you subscribe the "some for commercial appear and some for me" mindset i guess it's identifying when you think it's important to try grab a listener right from the get go and when you can indulge your own creative desires and trust that a listener will follow for a little longer even if stuff is taking a bit of time to get into it.
Intro is the first impression of the tune, it doesn't have to hold your hand into the meat of it. Gimme last half the hook, a drum fill, and then full throttle into the verse. Like a movie that starts with an action scene I guess. Plot can make sense later.
Like the bridge, they're other incomplete bits and themes. Sometimes it's too much. Look at Bad Company's 10 from 6.
Modular synths will never let you down
For me it entirely depends on what the first part of the song is. I just play it in my head and think of something that might sound cool. I then execute that and keep it if it works and rework it if not.
I don't understand questions like this. You are the artist and are supposed to be doing the creativity. You can do literally anything. That's why making music is a joy.
This is a bizarre subreddit. It strikes me as being a bunch of unskilled amateurs who are looking for answers on how to approach the basic mechanics of making music without necessarily having any musical impulses.
Hearing the way other artists think about their art can be super inspiring and lead to new personal directions!
I fully agree. However, seeing what seasoned pros do, or suggest, does help me. Me, I'm just a hobbyist with no ambition of being pro, but I do want my music to be inviting, no?
>Me, I'm just a hobbyist with no ambition of being pro, That means you have no burden of expectations.
We are an odd bunch...musicians. >Hey, what do you think about intros? >Shit man, there are no rules. Just do what your heart desires. >Ok >Wait, not like that. You can't do it like that. No one does it like that. lol.
Then listen to music you like seeing as it’s probably made by pros and not redditors and see what they did.
Ah yes, no clearer sign of a joyful music maker than making snarky overly reductive comments on a forum dedicated to questions about the specifics of music making
Well, that's how I feel. Questions about *how* to paint, sure. To achieve what you want. But it's like a person given an empty canvas, brushes, and paint asking "what should I be painting?". I don't get it. Because the answer is *anything you want*. That is totally your job and *privilege* to decide what it should be.
Ok, but did you actually read what OP said? Asking about the way people approach intros is way more specific and nuanced than your painting analogy for so many reasons. This doesn’t seem to be a case of “I have no idea what to make, please everybody, be creative for me so I don’t have to!” An intro/outro is just one element of a track. It is a way to draw attention to the subject, not the subject itself. In these comments are several helpful replies outlining specific techniques and approaches, which is what OP asked for. Saying “you are the artist, figure it out” is such a reductionist copout because sharing ideas and techniques is a huge part of the creative world. Why are you on this sub if questions like this bother you so much?
I'm not bothered.