Technique: Vocals or Music First...

[ketamine]

When doing this style:



Should you,

a) build a track, and then find vocals to fit around it? or...
b) manipulate vocals first, over empty drum track, then write the music?

I guess either is not a problem if you're classically trained & know what chords / scales peices fall into, but if doing it by ear picking at the keyboard/piano roll like most of us do, which one works better?

[kid simple]

I would go with option b) but I suppose it's just a matter of what works for you personally.

Also, here's a easy way to figure out what key a vocal is in. Simply run the vocal through whatever pitch correction device you have (logic's one is really great). Look at what notes it tries to snap the vocal into. Those are the notes the vocalist is singing and therefore the key the song is in

[Shum]

focus on your rhythmic elements first and fit them to your acapella, there is nothing worse than acapellas laid over differing rhythms. build the rest of your music on top of that.