I’ve always wanted to blog through the process of creating a loop and include folks along the way to get feedback at each portion. Then look back and see the evolution of the song as I made changes. So this post starts that journey.

Part 1. Main Groove

I’ve started to write a loop for an original arrangement of In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend. This arrangement may be pretty far out for those that know the traditional arrangements, but I hear it all coming together in my head well and if you’re a worth anything as a writer, you gotta trust that inner head arrangement. At this point I just have the main groove looping over the verse progression. This was done all in one session, total session time was probably 6 hours or so. I think I spent 3 hours on the drums alone, finding the right kick/snares and making tone adjustments and such. Spending time on each individual instrument’s (drums having many instruments -> kick, snare, toms, etc…) tone is so important.

Here’s how I organize my thoughts when searching for drum sounds. I make a list of all the candidates (all that I think may work) for each sound and then I go through each one comparing one to another and selecting the better of the 2. Repeat process until you only have one left and last sample standing wins!

So here’s what I have so far, just a few measures looped over. From here I’ll peel it back and get the instrumentation for the verse with vocals.

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I’ve heard this song quite a few times, but never like I heard it on Mars Hill’s Good Friday service. I heard the words in a new way, the arrangement was incredibly moving and I was broken. I probably listened to it 100 times for the next couple weeks. It really is one of the best arrangements of any hymn I’ve ever heard. Chad Gardner and the Mars Hill team did an INCREDIBLE job on this song.

This loop follows Mars Hill’s arrangement very closely. There are some instrumentation changes here and there, but really any credit for creativity must goto Chad Gardner and team for this. The first time we played this song with this loop in our Sunday service was absolutely incredible, one of the best worship times I’ve experienced. God did a lot of work in our hearts that day.

If you don’t have Reason and need some instruments muted, just let me know.

Remember to vote on the loop below, this really helps me get a sense of what folks find useful. Also it is used to calculate top loops widget in sidebar for people to quickly see the better loops.

Song: Jesus Paid It All by Elvina Hall (arrangement by Chad Gardner), Album “Good Friday Service”
Key: Am
Bpm: 78 (3/4)

Section: Time (bar)

• Intro
• Piano In: 0:36 (17)
• Band In: 0:55 (25)
• Verse 1: 1:50 (49)
• Interlude: 2:09 (57)
• Verse 2: 2:27 (65)
• Chorus 1: 2:46 (73)
• Instrumental: 3:06 (82)
• Verse 3: 3:43 (98)
• Chorus 2: 4:02 (106)
• Bridge: 4:27 (117)
• Bridge 2: 5:04 (133)
• Crash Ending: 6:00 (157)

If you download this loop or you’ve benefited in any way or are appreciative of the service, I’d ask that you please consider donating whatever you feel the loop is worth. The amount (including $0) I leave up to you.

 

 Jesus Paid It All (Loop) [6:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Download: aif / mp3 / mid / rns (Reason 4) / vocal cue

Recently I received this very good question from a reader:

“I was wondering what your process was in taking an existing worship song, and making a loop to go with it? I enjoy creating loops from scratch, but have a hard time making them for existing worship songs.”

First off I try to only do loops for songs that I feel inspiration to do and to re-arrange in some way. So before I start programming I usually have some concept or vibe already planned for that song. The exception to this rule is when I’m doing a custom loop, many times I go into those dry and that can be more of a struggle. But either way here’s what my process generally looks like.

1. Start with the main melodic hook and build out

I usually just keep looping over the main melodic hook and work with it until I find the instrumentation and rhythm that feels right. This is where I experiment and try and go wild creatively. If I have any bit of advise to give it’s chase your crazy idea. My best loops are all due to me chasing a creative idea that I thought might end up being a waste of time. There’s a fork in the road where I think, “Is this just going to be too crazy? Is it worth the time working on this when I might just throw it all away and start over?” And the answer is YES it’s worth the time! Don’t be safe, chase the idea, see it through and see where it takes you.

2. Peel back the main hook for an interesting intro

So now I’ll have a main hook section that has rich instrumentation and probably a good number of tracks. Now I want to see how I can build into that through the introduction. Sometimes that may mean opening with a distant pad, or right into the drum loop with big kick, or some keys or whatever. I usually try to layer slowly and really pace the buildup of the arrangement. You may have noticed a lot of my loops have extended intro sections(I know that’s a CCM sin), I like to take my time there and not rush that. Many times I’ll build the intro so I get to the main hook section before Verse 1 then cut it out. A good example of this is my loop for New Creation, verse 1 doesn’t come until 1:27.

3. Change up the verses on repeats

Typically the verses in my loops are pretty sparse, I try and leave space there. But I do like to build/change the instrumentation on repeats. So verse 2 may have an added element from verse 1, and verse 3 may have another or change completely. In my opinion this can be the difference between a good arrangement and a great arrangement. How you build your verses instrumentally can really move the arrangement along and make it less formulaic.

4. Contrast in the bridge

Bridges for me are the moments you contrast the rest of your instrumentation and you mix it up rhythmically. Of course that isn’t true for every song but typically that’s what I’m thinking when I get to the bridge section. You’ll see that clearly in loops like True Love. I love to introduce new sounds at this point and then mix them into the last chorus & outro. This sets up a nice crescendo instrumentally.

5. Now that you know, forget it…rigid formulas suck

The good thing about formulas is you build off previous experience and improve. The bad thing about formulas is if they never evolve and change with you then they become calculated and unauthentic. So now that you know some of the processes and strategies that I employ, you can throw them in your tool belt and choose to employ them or you can just throw them all away. Everyone has their own process, everyone has there own music sensibility, so what works for me may not work for others and what I think works for me maybe others think really doesn’t work for me either.

I hope this has helped but at the very least, I tried to answer the question honestly. Well there is one more thing. I usually loop late at night, in a dimly lit room with candles and a cold Pacifico. If you’re offended by that please pretend I’m pretending.

As always you can browse all my released loops at http://loops.ourrisingsound.com/ and download for your usage.

New Creation is an incredible song from Dex Alexander and Fellowship Church. If you haven’t seen the video of their live performance make sure to check it out. I’ve had this in the queue to do for a long time, but it wasn’t until we decided to do this song for Easter that it rose to the top of the stack.

Fair warning, I really changed up the vibe on the intro and verses…it’s a true remix there. You can sing the same melody over it and hopefully get the feel for it. I also inserted a few more bars into the verse section to give space for an added vocal section we did. I don’t have a live recording of our performance yet to demonstrate our arrangement, but as always I have the arrangement file guiding you. And if you choose to purchase the arrangement can be altered for your taste.

Remember to rate the loop below, this really helps me get a sense of what folks find useful. Also it is used to calculate top loops widget in sidebar for people to quickly see the better loops.

You can stream the loop below but you are not able to download the loop. In order to download the loop files you need to send payment through PayPal. The price for this loop is $4.99. Once payment is received I’ll contact you and give you download instructions. The following is what’s delivered upon receipt of payment:

• Loop (high quality stereo mp3 and aif)
• Vocal Cue track (aif)
• Master Reason 4 file (rns)
• Arrangement Details (rtf, shows exactly what parts come in at what time)

As always though please comment and rate the loop to let me know what you think. I had a lot of fun making this loop and I’m pleased that the original customer is very happy with it.

Song: New Creation by Fellowship Church, Album “Closer to the Start”
Key: C
Bpm: 111

Note: the free podcast file is lower quality mp3 (128kbps)

 

 Standard Podcast [6:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This custom loop is for use with Misty Edwards’ “Finally I Surrender” off her album Relentless.

You can stream the loop below but you are not able to download the loop. In order to download the loop files you need to send payment through PayPal. The price for this loop is $14.99 as is. Once payment is received I’ll contact you and give you download instructions. The following is what’s delivered upon receipt of payment:

• Loop (high quality stereo mp3 and aif)
• Vocal Cue track (aif)
• Master Reason 4 file (rns)
• Arrangement Details (rtf, shows exactly what parts come in at what time)

As always though please comment and rate the loop to let me know what you think. I had a lot of fun making this loop and I’m pleased that the original customer is very happy with it.

Loops in Worship recently interviewed me about my music background and loop work. I was humbled Will thought I might have something interesting to say or that people would be interested in hearing what I have to say. Anyway, check it out when you get a chance and make sure to browser around the rest of the site. They offer a lot of great resources for those interested in looping.

Leave a comment over there too if you are so inclined and please don’t be alarmed by my paleness in my picture.

This song has been on my to do list for some time and is the first song I’m doing as part of the Gospel Community Worship Project. I’ve always loved this song and been in a couple of Delirious’ concerts when they played it live and it was incredible. The arrangement here has the same instrumental hook that makes the song instantly recognizable.

I did make some changes to the end section, namely I don’t do the “there will come a day…” part. I just allow for some repeats on the “Hallelujah” tag. The loop here does have a bass line in it. If you need it muted you’re welcome to download the Reason file and mute it out, or you can comment or contact me and request me to do it for you if you don’t have Reason.

Remember to vote on the loop below, this really helps me get a sense of what folks find useful. Also it is used to calculate top loops widget in sidebar for people to quickly see the better loops.

Song: All God’s Children by Delirious, Album “Kingdom of Comfort”
Key: A
Bpm: 132

Section: Time (bar)

• Verse 1: 0:36 (21)
• Verse 2: 1:05 (37)
• Chorus 1: 1:34 (53)
• Verse 3: 2:18 (77)
• Chorus 2: 3:01 (101)
• Tag: 4:00 (133)
• Instrumental: 4:29 (149)
• Crash Ending: 4:58 (165)

If you download this loop or you’ve benefited in any way or are appreciative of the service, I’d ask that you please consider donating whatever you feel the loop is worth. The amount (including $0) I leave up to you.

 

 All God's Children - Delirious (Loop) [5:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Download: aif / mp3 / mid / rns (Reason 4) / vocal cue