Songstuff: Music Glossary

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The Process Of Writing A Song

A song writing process is used to enhance the quality of your work and the speed that each work is created. This article provides tips on creating and using a song writing process, plus observations and suggestions about writing key aspects of a song.

This article is ideal for songwriters who either don't use a formal song writing process, or the song writing process that they are using is not quite working for them. By Songstuff

A Guide To Song Forms - Song Form Overview

Song forms are generally made up of a number of sections that may or may not be repeated within the same song. Popular music is generally based on the use of traditional sectional song forms, or structures that are derived from those traditional song forms.

This article gives an overview of the different fundamental song forms, and it provides a basic understanding of common modern song forms. By Songstuff

A Guide To Song Forms - Extended Common Song Forms And More

Add some new tools to your song writing toolbox by learning about common song forms. This article describes how common song forms can be extended, and looks at some of the less common song forms, such as through composed songs.

This article builds upon the AAA, AABA, AB, ABC and AAB song forms, and upon compound song forms, explained in our other articles in this series. By Songstuff

A Guide To Song Forms - Compound Song Forms

Have you ever used a compound song form? As a songwriter, I bet you have. Compound song forms are far more common than you might at first think.

Building upon the AAA, AABA, AB, ABC and AAB song form articles from our series on song forms, this article explains common compound popular song forms that you can add to your song writing toolbox. By Songstuff

Keeping A Song Interesting

Keeping a song interesting is not as easy as it might at first seem. For example, how do you stop listeners getting bored and switching off? What can you do to help hold the attention of listeners until the very end of a song? Will varying song structure help? Would changing song arrangement and instrumentation be enough? What effect can be introduced during song performance? Will the song lyrics make a difference? This article helps to explain the variety of things that you can do, during song writing, song arrangement, song performance, song recording, song production and song mastering, to help you too keep your song interesting. By Songstuff

Glossary Navigation

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D

De-esser
An audio signal processing device that is used to remove excessive sibilance (The hissy 's' sound heard on some vocal or speech recordings). Often this is a psecial form of compressor that uses an Equaliser as part of the detection circuit.

deciBel (dB)
This is the ratio of two signal levels where the relationship is governed by the equation:

dB = 20Log10(v1/v2)

dBu means that the ratio is measured relative to 0.775V RMS.

dBm means that the ratio is a measure of power. 0 dBm equals 1 milliwatt, or 0.775V across a 600 Ohm impedance.

dBV means that the ratio is a measure of voltage. 0 dBV equals 1 volt.

dB SPL means that the ratio is a measure of Sound Pressure Level. 0 dB SPL equals 0.0002 dynes/ square centimeter, or 20 micro-Pascals.

Demo
This is a trial recording of a song or album. Such recordings are done as promotional recording to obtain work or a Music contract.

Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
This is a cassette-tape storage medium capable of storing digital audio information.

Digital To Analog Converter (DAC)
This is an electronic device that is used to convert digital audio signals into analog audio signals, or more generally to convert digital signals into analog signals.

Direct Current (DC)
This is an electrical signal whose polarity is fixed and whose amplitude remains constant with respect to time.

Direct Injection (DI) Box
This is a box that allows the direct connection of an electrical Musical instrument to the input of a Mixing Desk, as opposed to amplifying the instrument and recording the output with a Microphone.

Direct Output
This is a post-fade output from a Mixing Desk input channel. Direct Outs are commonly used for sending the signal to individual tape tracks during recording.

Distortion
Unwanted change in an audio signal that results in the presence of frequencies in the outpu signal that were not present in the original signal. There are sseveral types of distortion.

Drum Head
Material used to cover the shell of a drum. If struck with a stick or mallet this material will create a tone. Can be made from a number of natural or synthetic fiberous materials.

Drum Key
Tool used in the tuning of a drum. The key is commonly a "T" shape and fits over the top of a lug that runs through the top or bottom rim of a drum shell. By tighting the lug on a drum head the pitch can be raised or lowered.

Drum Stick
Object used to strike a drum. Usually made of wood or synthetic material. Most will have a wooden or nylon tip.

Dynamic Microphone
This kind of Microphone converts acoustic energy to electrical energy by using a moving coil and a permanent magnet. This kind of microphone does not require any external power to be applied.