In our last article, we discussed the groove and the important role it plays in a track. In this next article, we will talk about the lead. As the name suggests, the lead is typically the most prominent part of the beat and it is the most "catchy". It is usually the lead part that hooks you into the beat, and it is the lead part that is usually the most memorable.
The lead was not as prominent in hip-hop's early years as it is today. That is because hip-hop mainly relied on samples for it's sounds instead of synths. However, even in hip-hop's early years there were artists that used synths such as Afrika Bambaata. However, as hip-hop evolved and the West Coast and the Dirty South made it's contributions, the lead sound has become more prominent. Furthermore, dance music and hip-hop have borrowed from each other, and as a result, lead sounds are more prominent than ever. To hear good examples of lead sounds occurring in hip-hop, check out "Big Poppa" by Notorious B.I.G or "Yeah" by Usher.
The lead falls within a song's harmonic structure, but is the star of the show. The other parts such as the pads and the groove support what goes on in the lead sound. Within the lead part, you have counter leads as well.
The counter lead has essentially the same characteristics as the lead, but it's sole purpose is to support the lead and to make the lead part more interesting. This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to have the lead part play a starting phrase and to have the counter lead play the ending part of a phrase in a "call and response" fashion. Another example is to have the lead part play a whole musical phrase and then have the counter lead only accent the most important notes in the phrase. One final example may be to have the lead playing a whole musical phrase and then having the counter lead playing long and sustained drone sounds to support it. The possibilities are endless between the lead and counter lead and you should experiment with it in your music.
Also, as a final point, experiment with having the lead and counter leads play only during certain sections of the song. For example, have the counter leads come in at the verse and then the lead sound come in only during the chorus. Dropping parts in and out of certain sections of a song is a great way to make your musical arrangements more interesting and to keep your listeners interested in the beat. In our next section, we'll discuss the bass.
The lead was not as prominent in hip-hop's early years as it is today. That is because hip-hop mainly relied on samples for it's sounds instead of synths. However, even in hip-hop's early years there were artists that used synths such as Afrika Bambaata. However, as hip-hop evolved and the West Coast and the Dirty South made it's contributions, the lead sound has become more prominent. Furthermore, dance music and hip-hop have borrowed from each other, and as a result, lead sounds are more prominent than ever. To hear good examples of lead sounds occurring in hip-hop, check out "Big Poppa" by Notorious B.I.G or "Yeah" by Usher.
The lead falls within a song's harmonic structure, but is the star of the show. The other parts such as the pads and the groove support what goes on in the lead sound. Within the lead part, you have counter leads as well.
The counter lead has essentially the same characteristics as the lead, but it's sole purpose is to support the lead and to make the lead part more interesting. This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to have the lead part play a starting phrase and to have the counter lead play the ending part of a phrase in a "call and response" fashion. Another example is to have the lead part play a whole musical phrase and then have the counter lead only accent the most important notes in the phrase. One final example may be to have the lead playing a whole musical phrase and then having the counter lead playing long and sustained drone sounds to support it. The possibilities are endless between the lead and counter lead and you should experiment with it in your music.
Also, as a final point, experiment with having the lead and counter leads play only during certain sections of the song. For example, have the counter leads come in at the verse and then the lead sound come in only during the chorus. Dropping parts in and out of certain sections of a song is a great way to make your musical arrangements more interesting and to keep your listeners interested in the beat. In our next section, we'll discuss the bass.
About the Author:
Frank Lubsey is a member of the Jam Sonic music production squad. With over decade of composing experience, Frank and the Jam Sonic squad make beats for hip-hop artists, jingles for small companies, and music for tv and film. Be sure to check out his website for hip-hop beats for sale and beatmaking articles and videos.
