Tips and tricks for getting a pirates feel on a song?

[Jens]

I was wondering if any of you had some great tips for how to get your song more pirate-like. like scales, instruments, time signature etc etc.

[wub]

Did a Google in 'pirates scales' and this came up;

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/ar ... 84315.html

[Jens]

sounds good. laughed a bit on that title though

[Add9]

The melodic minor scale works quite well for achieving a pirate feel. Then you need a melody that is quite repetitive since pirates tend to sing like 100 verses over the same chord changes. It should be only a 4-bar melody/progression since pirates can't afford to think too hard about something like that.

If you include vocals, make sure they cover the big 3 pirate topics (alcohol, women, and treasure... AKA rum, wenches, and booty). Layer multiple takes to make it sound like a bunch of pirates are singing together. A male vocalist with a low and rough sounding voice will work best for this. Use pitch correction software to ensure that they are singing kind of poorly and out of tune with one another, yet still in tune enough to be pleasant to the ear, for this is how pirates sing.

Make sure to use samples of instruments like the violin, the fiddle, the harmonica, or the flute, or better yet, record these instruments yourself. Tell the performer to play as if they were slightly inebriated for best results. Then throw in some samples of tropical birds and water sounds. Maybe crowd noises too, to make it sound as if you were on a crowded boat or something. If you're going for a "landlubber feel"... as in, the boat has docked at the port and the pirates are out at a bar, then a honky-tonk piano would work well too.

Oh, and use 6/8 time, because pirates love the triplet feel.

Then get a sample of someone saying "Arrrrrrr" or "Walk the plank!" right before the drop!

And that's about it! Of course, once you're done, for extra pirate points, encourage everyone you know to illegally acquire the song rather than paying for it

[Jens]

The melodic minor scale works quite well for achieving a pirate feel. Then you need a melody that is quite repetitive since pirates tend to sing like 100 verses over the same chord changes. It should be only a 4-bar melody/progression since pirates can't afford to think too hard about something like that.

If you include vocals, make sure they cover the big 3 pirate topics (alcohol, women, and treasure... AKA rum, wenches, and booty). Layer multiple takes to make it sound like a bunch of pirates are singing together. A male vocalist with a low and rough sounding voice will work best for this. Use pitch correction software to ensure that they are singing kind of poorly and out of tune with one another, yet still in tune enough to be pleasant to the ear, for this is how pirates sing.

Make sure to use samples of instruments like the violin, the fiddle, the harmonica, or the flute, or better yet, record these instruments yourself. Tell the performer to play as if they were slightly inebriated for best results. Then throw in some samples of tropical birds and water sounds. Maybe crowd noises too, to make it sound as if you were on a crowded boat or something. If you're going for a "landlubber feel"... as in, the boat has docked at the port and the pirates are out at a bar, then a honky-tonk piano would work well too.

Oh, and use 6/8 time, because pirates love the triplet feel.

Then get a sample of someone saying "Arrrrrrr" or "Walk the plank!" right before the drop!

And that's about it! Of course, once you're done, for extra pirate points, encourage everyone you know to illegally acquire the song rather than paying for it

the last idea there with a pirate dubstep song... hilarious trying some of your tips

[rockonin]

I think Accordion samples would be quiet fitting.

[mks]

[nowaysj]

Name a production thread more absurd.

Loving this.

[RKM]

Name a production thread more absurd.

Loving this.

[Think_Dubstep]

The melodic minor scale works quite well for achieving a pirate feel. Then you need a melody that is quite repetitive since pirates tend to sing like 100 verses over the same chord changes. It should be only a 4-bar melody/progression since pirates can't afford to think too hard about something like that.

If you include vocals, make sure they cover the big 3 pirate topics (alcohol, women, and treasure... AKA rum, wenches, and booty). Layer multiple takes to make it sound like a bunch of pirates are singing together. A male vocalist with a low and rough sounding voice will work best for this. Use pitch correction software to ensure that they are singing kind of poorly and out of tune with one another, yet still in tune enough to be pleasant to the ear, for this is how pirates sing.

Make sure to use samples of instruments like the violin, the fiddle, the harmonica, or the flute, or better yet, record these instruments yourself. Tell the performer to play as if they were slightly inebriated for best results. Then throw in some samples of tropical birds and water sounds. Maybe crowd noises too, to make it sound as if you were on a crowded boat or something. If you're going for a "landlubber feel"... as in, the boat has docked at the port and the pirates are out at a bar, then a honky-tonk piano would work well too.

Oh, and use 6/8 time, because pirates love the triplet feel.

Then get a sample of someone saying "Arrrrrrr" or "Walk the plank!" right before the drop!

And that's about it! Of course, once you're done, for extra pirate points, encourage everyone you know to illegally acquire the song rather than paying for it

hahaha def made me laugh, but spot on! Dont forget an accordion!

[AxeD]

After the "my drop doesn't live up to my build up" thread, this is one of the best in production.
Although the former wins by a landslide, because that's really an exclusive bro-problem.
Could be a joke in a comedy about dubstep producers

[Electric_Head]

only use cracked software?


aaaar

[Think_Dubstep]

only use cracked software?


aaaar

LOL

[mromgwtf]

only use cracked software?


aaaar

LOL

>says LOL
>doesn't big up

[Think_Dubstep]

only use cracked software?


aaaar

LOL

>says LOL
>doesn't big up

>says doesnt big up
>gets a big up

[nowaysj]

After the "my drop doesn't live up to my build up" thread, this is one of the best in production.
Although the former wins by a landslide, because that's really an exclusive bro-problem.
Could be a joke in a comedy about dubstep producers

In retrospect, there was this thread a few years ago, this guy was trying to sell his massive presets. He was exceedingly foolish, and when posters finally pressed him to post a screenshot of a preset, it was massive with nothing done to it at all, but with a low pass filter added, and an lfo on the cutoff.

I think several people pissed themselves, myself included. A definite high point in production's history.

[Banesy]

While you are at it, remix this track plz.

[_ronzlo_]

http://seashanty.rad.io/

[knobgoblin]

Encode all your tracks at 64kbps mp3 for that authentic pirate feel.

[Add9]

wait until there's a party going on at your house to record your vocals for that authentic pirate feel.