Creating leads and basses that are complimentary

Creating melodic sounds geared around change and movement will help you arrange in less time

01 > Here’s the bare bones of a house track: a four-to-the-floor drum groove working together will simple, syncopated bass notes. The bass sounds sparse and crude, as we’ve purposely left some gaps in the pattern for another synth…

02 > Next, we add in the occasional high note using a second synth instance. This is more of a ‘lead’ part with much more personality. Combined with the simple bass notes, this is a kind of ‘call and answer’ that can carry an entire record.

03 > Saying that, our groove becomes repetitive after a few listens. How can we extend out what we have? Well, progressing this top synth somehow while leaving the low bass relatively solid should work. Let’s try out some options…

04 > We head into the top synth and rhythmically adjust parameters in time with the groove. Extending the synth’s release works well to a point, as does mixing in a third oscillator tuned apart from the other two.

05 > At this stage of experimentation, it helps to alter the drum groove somehow as we make these changes. Stripping back the beat in conjunction with our synth alterations immediately gives inspiration for some kind of ‘B’ section.

06 Overall, our track is developing with a certain ‘theme’ – we keep the high notes short, plucky and ‘deeper’ on the drop, then crank release and mix in the third oscillator during breakdowns. From here, we can also open the low bass just a touch during the latter section. Simple but effective!