"Please Please Me" was a very dreary song. It was like a Roy Orbison number, very slow, bluesy vocals. It was obvious to me that it badly needed pepping up.
–George Martin
Are you a solo home recording artist? Singer-songwriter? Bedroom producer? If so, drum loops are a great way to establish feel and tempo before you start recording. First, find a loop that complements your song and repeat it until it's longer than the song you're recording. (E.g., if you're recording a pop or rock song, it should be under five minutes long, so drag the loop to exceed this length of time.) This is also an opportunity to "collaborate." By finding a loop with a different feel, or one that takes your song in a new direction, you can simulate the experience of collaborating with other musicians. If you read the quote at the top of this post, you'll know the Beatles brought in a very different song from the one that they released (and which went on to be their first number one). Perhaps you've also seen the Goddard film Sympathy For The Devil, which follows the Rolling Stones as they develop the song of the same name (watch the trailer here). Like "Please please Me," "Sympathy For The Devil" began as a much slower piece that evolved into the uptempo classic we all know. That's not to say your ballad should be turned into a punk-rock anthem (or maybe it should!). But songwriters often present their compositions in too hushed and hallowed a manner. Try speeding things up! Especially if the song is meant to be uptempo. Simply play and sing along while adjusting the bpm until you find one that works or even feels a little hurried. Just be sure it's not so fast you're tripping over the lyrics.
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