How To

Real strings add emotion to a music track – how’s it done?

Realstrings.com is a remote arranging and recording service.

See who’s using this way of getting real strings on recordings on the credits page.

I typically mix live and sampled strings.  While the live stuff provides the flesh and blood, the emotional rise and fall we expect from strings, the sampled stuff adds weight and body.

This online mixer, separates out the 2 for comparison.  It’s a 1 minute composition by Aaron Sapp, who has kindly allowed me to stream his music here.  Click on the image to open the mixer and play with the levels.

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This video explores how I came to put strings on Letter by Rhymefest.

Here’s a short video about how I approach one aspect of string arranging – making pads more interesting and emotional.

And here’s another about disco strings.

String Arranging – Part 2

What do strings do well?

A string section has the sound of flesh and blood; many people making big effort. It handles dynamics well and it has many uses in an arrangement because of the versatility and expressive qualities of string instruments.

Writing techniques

melodic lines/counter melodies
figures/riffs
pads
effects – trills, slides, runs, trem.
harmony and unison

Please check my blog post – Arranging – how I do it