04/13/08
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dkarma
Is there such thing as a track that is too short? Obviously < 30 sec doesn't apply here, but I've been working on about 12-15 different songs lately and they all seem to be 2.5-4 min. Sure I can extend it by looping for as long as I want, but the meat and potatoes of the track and all the good stuff seems to be taking a very short time to get to (and be done with). I don''t really get sick of them and try to end them fast, but I feel like if i "drag" them out the listener would miss the subtleties etc.
What do your tracks average in length?
Ever had a track that you couldn't finish?
How about a track that finished too early and you felt wasn't done but didn't know what to add?
04/15/08
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dylan
i guess length can be dependent upon genre. for example, repetition, groove and sonic nuance are usually a prime considerations in dance music, and those i have been able to stretch anywhere from 6-8 minutes, conservatively speaking. on the other hand i have been trying to write more traditional "songs" where the melody is usually the unifying element. i have found that this approach demands more careful consideration of phrasing, harmonic movement, and melodic variation, among other things. i don't have extensive knowledge of traditional music theory, so i usually like to focus on brevity (to avoid being too repetitive) with these tracks.
but ultimately the track's length just shouldn't really matter. i am of the mind that if it sounds good and is well written, it makes no difference if it is 2 minutes or 10. usually i am happy with short and catchy songs with good melodies and phat beats. occasionally, if i am feeling in the mood, i can go on for a long time and make something really epic. but that takes a lot of ambition, a lot of caffeine and a whole lot of head scratchin'.
