Arranging Process & Tips

Written By Lindsay Straw

Welp, so much for trying to make a short educational video! But seriously, could anyone possibly condense everything they actively think about when it comes to arranging music and the theory knowledge that helps them do it into something less than 36 minutes?

In this video, I get into the weeds on everything I think about as a folky guitarist-arranger: essential theory concepts, reflections on what I've learned from copying and analyzing others' arrangements, the nuts and bolts of any song, types of arrangements I make, and a breakdown of the process I go through with any new song I'm learning and arranging for myself or a small group.

Lots of info here, so strap in for all 36 minutes, or use the timestamps below to skip ahead to your topic of interest!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:02 - Learn Your Theory

06:46 - Copying & Analyzing

10:10 - Nuts & Bolts

11:54 - Arranging Categories

16:54 - The Process - Choosing Key & Tuning

21:13 - Working Out Your Chord Progression

25:32 - Beyond the Bare Bones

31:05 - Song in Progress

34:00 - Conclusion

Lindsay Straw

Lindsay Straw is a Boston-based singer, guitarist, and Irish bouzouki player. A Berklee graduate, she blends roots music from both sides of the Atlantic, combining traditional Irish and Scottish influences with American styles. Performing solo and with The New Grown-Ups and The Ivy Leaf, she has three albums and a rich performance history. Known for her unique take on traditional music, she’s celebrated as a reincarnation of legendary trad singers of eras past.

http://www.lindsaystraw.com
Previous

Zoukology 2025 Dates Announced!
Next

Passim Summer Class: Irish Pub Songs