Reference Track Analysis
In Music Production, a common practice is analyzing a Reference Track and developing new ideas for one’s new track. So What is a Reference Track?
A reference track is a popluar song and was created by another artist
The reference track you have chosen could be representative of what you wanted to produce new. Sometimes you select a reference track just for learning purposes and start analyzing it.
How to Analyze a Reference Track:
From a Music Production perspective, assuming you have access to the “Reference Track” or “Popular Song” MIDI file and you imported the file in any DAW software (like Ableton Live or Logic Pro or any other similar software)
Below is an example of a reference track after it is imported into Ableton Live. This track is created by me by typing random notes in a piano roll.
Steps to Analyze A Reference Track:
After you imported into a DAW software (Ableton Live as an example, the following are some of the steps you can consider while analyzing a Reference Track:
- BPM (Beats Per Minute) – Look at the BPM of the reference track (120 BPM in the above image, you can find it at the top left side of the above image)
- Tracks – Observe how many tracks the reference song has (in the above image pink color 1. Celesta 2. MIDI etc. each of them are track)
- Instruments – What instruments are used for each track
- Track time – How much time each track plays in the total time of the song
- Song Length – how long the total song is. In the DAW if you scroll horizontally until you the last beat (musical note(s)) played you can find the song’s total time or song length
- Scale or Raga – Take a single track,(say 1. Celesta. in the above image) find the notes in the piano roll of that track and see what scale or raga notes match (mostly). For example, if you take the C scale (Western Music) or Shankara Bharanam Raga in Carnatic music, then you should find all white color notes because the C scale has only C, D, E, F, G, A, B white color notes in a piano roll
- Chords and Chords Progression – If 3 or more notes are played together then it is a chord. For example, if C E G notes are played then it is called a C chord. Similarly, G B D notes are played together then it is called G Chord. With this knowledge, in the reference song observe in each track what chords exist (if any), what chords are played (if exist) and how chord progression happening (i.e. C chord first, then G chord next, then C chord again, etc is called Chord progression)
- Tracks Transition – Analyze how each track (say 1. Celesta. in the above image) is playing the role in the song. Is it at the introduction or chorus or verse or bridge?
- Genre – Also know the Genre of the song ( Country or EDM – Electronic Dance Music or Hip-Hope or Jazz)
Analysis 2 – Song Lyrics analysis
Narrative Style – first-person narrative style or second-person or third-person to convey the message in the song
Song time period – starting a flashback into a time or in future or current time
Song situation – hopelessly in love with her ‘Romeo’ or anything other situation
having a ball dance in the evening or in the rain or in the park or riding on the bike
Song Actors Portraying as – portrays as a daughter or son or son-in-law or friend or leader or violin of a family or community or society or country
Dressed Up – How song actors are dressed up
Conclusion
The above are basic analysis steps and are not exhaustive at all. There are more steps to analyze the full reference song, which I will write in different posts in the future. Hope these posts help you to get a quick understanding of analyzing a reference track.