Good arrangements aren’t guessed, they’re studied.
 
In this on-demand mentoring video, I break down how to analyse arrangements properly, using both critical listening and visual analysis inside the DAW. This session focuses on how to think about arrangements, not just how to build them.
 
Rather than talking in theory, I drop four finished tracks directly into the DAW:
 
Two 140 dubstep tracks
Two drum & bass tracks
 
Each track has a very different approach to arrangement — not just in the overall structure, but in the micro-details that actually keep a listener engaged.
 
Because while many electronic tracks follow similar macro structures
(16-bar intro, 32-bar drop, breakdown, second drop, outro),
the real interest lives in the details.
 
What’s covered in this session:
 
Analysing macro arrangement (sections, length, flow)
Breaking down micro arrangement (small changes, movement, variation)
Understanding how drops are built internally
(e.g. a 64-bar drop made of multiple evolving 16-bar sections)
Noticing what’s added, removed, or altered in and out of drops
Understanding what intros are actually made of, not just their length
Using the DAW visually to see structure, density, and energy
Taking notes directly in the DAW using Ableton’s Edit Text
Alternative note-taking methods (voice notes, pen & paper, text files)
Building a personal reference library you can return to when writing
 
Throughout the video, the focus is on active analysis, not passive listening.
 
The goal is to leave you with usable notes and ideas, so when you’re writing your own music and hit a creative wall, you’re not guessing, you’re referencing proven structures and techniques.
 
By the time the fourth track appears, the process is intentionally left to you.
At that point, you should already understand what to listen for and what to look for.
 
This isn’t about copying tracks. It’s about training your ear, your eye, and your decision-making.