Rhythmic Section
Once you have figured out a chord structure for your song, we want to create a rhythmic line to give it a bit of a groove! Create a draft recording either on GarageBand or live instruments of your chords and bass line and see if you can improvise a rhythmic groove over the top. Consider which sections you would like a rhythmic section in and which ones don't need it. Your rhythmic line doesn't have to be too complicated, it could be as simple as my following example (using the D F G chords from the previous page).
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Notation for Seismic Sound:
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Recording on GarageBand:
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You are of course welcome to add more rhythmic layers to your song, this is just a guide!
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Instrumental Backing Vocal line
Not all songs require these two elements, however, an variant in texture can be used to build/ create tension and interest in your song, just like in Oh Canada. With your recording of chords, bass line and rhythmic line, see if you can come up with an instrumental line over the top. It might be best to start with notes in the chord and add 'passing notes' in between.
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Here is a short instrumental line I created for the violin. It mainly uses notes of the chord with the occasional passing not (E semi-quaver)​
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Check out how to record using a live instrument below! Make sure if you have other tracks playing you use earphones so you don't get the interference when you're recording
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You can repeat this step with the vocals.
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