Guides
Guides for arrangers
Practical, no-nonsense guides on medleys, arranging and turning recordings into sheet music.
Arranging for choir and band
How to arrange songs for a choir (SATB or unison) with a band or piano: voice ranges, splitting the melody, harmonies, and keeping the band out of the singers' way.
6 min read →Christmas medley ideas for choirs and bands
Ready-to-use Christmas medley song combinations for school concerts, choirs and bands, with suggested keys, order and transitions using traditional carols.
6 min read →How long should a medley be?
How many songs and how many bars of each to use in a medley, typical lengths for weddings, concerts, competitions and choirs, and how to cut a song down without losing the hook.
4 min read →How to arrange a song for your band
Give every instrument a job: melody, harmony, bass, rhythm and colour. A practical guide to arranging a song for voice, keys, guitar, bass, drums, strings and horns.
7 min read →How to arrange a song for string quartet
Turn a pop song into a string quartet arrangement: who plays the melody, how to write accompaniment patterns for violin, viola and cello, ranges, clefs and bowing tips.
6 min read →How to change key between songs in a medley
Four reliable ways to modulate from one song to the next in a medley (direct, pivot chord, dominant lead-in, common tone), with chord examples you can copy.
6 min read →How to make a medley from your favourite songs
How to pick songs, choose sections, change key, write transitions and arrange a medley for your band or choir. A practical guide with arranger tips.
8 min read →How to separate vocals and instruments from a song
What AI stem separation is, how well it isolates vocals, drums, bass, guitar and piano, and how musicians use stems for practice, transcription and arranging.
5 min read →How to transpose for B♭ and E♭ instruments
A simple method for writing parts for trumpet, clarinet, alto and tenor sax and horn: which interval to transpose by, how the key signature changes, and common mistakes.
5 min read →How to write a bass line from chords
Write a bass line from a chord chart: roots, fifths, walking lines and approach notes, patterns for pop, rock, ballad, Latin and waltz, and how to lock in with the kick drum.
5 min read →How to write a drum part
Read and write drum charts: the drum staff, common grooves for pop, rock, ballad and waltz, fills, and how much detail a drummer really wants.
5 min read →How to write a horn section
Write punchy horn section parts for a pop, soul or funk band: voicings for two to four horns, stabs and pads, unison lines, ranges and transpositions.
6 min read →How to write a lead sheet
A step by step guide to writing a lead sheet: picking the key, writing the melody, adding chord symbols and lyrics, and laying out the form so a band can play from it.
5 min read →Instrument ranges and transposition cheat sheet
Practical ranges for voice, violin, cello, trumpet, guitar, bass, accordion and keyboard, plus how to write for transposing instruments like trumpet in B flat.
5 min read →Medley transitions that work: 7 ways to join two songs
Drum fills, turnarounds, ritardando and fermata, overlaps, tempo changes, rests and modulations. Practical medley transition techniques with examples for bands and choirs.
6 min read →Medley vs mashup
Medley or mashup? The difference between playing songs one after another and playing them on top of each other, with examples, how each is arranged, and when to choose each one.
4 min read →MP3 to sheet music: turning a recording into a score
How audio-to-sheet-music conversion works, what it gets right and wrong, and how to get a usable score from an MP3 for every instrument in your band.
7 min read →Quinceañera medley ideas
Plan the music for a quinceañera: the father-daughter waltz, the surprise dance medley, the entrance and the party set, with tips on tempo, keys and transitions for live bands and DJs.
5 min read →School concert medley ideas
Plan a school concert medley that every student can play: picking songs, keys that suit young players, easy transitions, and a length that holds the audience's attention.
5 min read →Wedding medley ideas for live bands
How to build wedding medleys for the ceremony, first dance and dance floor: song pairings by tempo and key, set structure and transitions for live wedding bands.
5 min read →Worship medley ideas for church bands and choirs
How to build a worship medley for your church band or choir: pairing hymns by theme, key and tempo, writing seamless transitions, and keeping the congregation singing.
5 min read →