6 TIPS FOR TOPLINERS
I HAD THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF HELPING SOMEONE LISTEN THROUGH “TOPLINES” SUBMITTED TO THEM (IN THIS CASE, THEY WERE JUST MELODIES) AND WAS...PRETTY SHOCKED BY THE VARIETY OF SUBMISSIONS. SOME WERE OBVIOUSLY WELL THOUGHT OUT MELODIES, OTHERS WERE JUST RIDICULOUSLY BAD AND THE REST WERE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. I NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE TOPLINES WERE TURNING ME OFF, REGARDLESS OF HOW GOOD THE ACTUAL MELODIES WERE. I BEGAN TO JOT DOWN THE THINGS THAT KEPT DISTRACTING ME OR OTHERWISE TURNED ME OFF AND NOW WE HAVE OUR “6 TIPS FOR TOPLINERS” BLOG!
Quick introduction to the world of “Toplining”: This term refers to the process of creating lyrics and/or melodies over an existing instrumental bed or “beat”. Typically, a producer will send the instrumental or beat to their list of songwriters, topline writers and artists with a deadline to submit their own melodic and/or lyric creations. Then the producer will select the best one.
Easy on the Vocal Effects
Effects can be really fun to play around with, I get it. But if they are overdone or just over the top, they really distract from your topline. Remember, you (in most cases) are in a competition for the best lyrics and/or melodies. Don’t distract your listener with unnecessary stuff. Just a tiny amount of reverb and compression and perhaps EQ (if you have some basic knowledge or good presets) will do the trick.
Define notes, don’t just blur through them
Even if you are not a singer, make sure that you are presenting the melody clearly enough to be perfectly understood. If that is impossible for you, then hire someone to sing it for you. This is just a demo and my guess is you have a roommate or a brother or a friend who would love to record your demo for you, especially if you pay them ;-)
Don’t tune vocals unless you know what you are doing
The pendulum swings the other way and you use Autotune, but now you sound like one of those tuned rappers or “affected” vocal productions. The melody is still not clear. If you are not a singer (like, not good at all) then you will most likely need to hire someone to sing it for you unless you are skilled at tuning vocals. If you simply slap a tuning plug-in on it then you will sound like a tuned rapper. Which...I’m guessing is not what you are going for if you are toplining a melody…
Don’t do harmonies unless you are good at them
Oh my goodness, I heard some bad harmonies. If you aren’t good at it then just don’t. Same as number 1. You don’t want to distract your listener with unnecessary anything.
Don’t make harmonies essential to “getting the point across”
I also heard some great harmonies! But often the melody was dependent on the harmonies. Your topline needs to stand on its own feet. In addition, the artist this song was being written for wasn’t looking for that texture. If the song was for a band that has harmonies as part of their sound (like the Eagles or Rascal Flatts or Boybands/Girlbands) then that may work. But most likely you are not the vocal arranger and they would disregard your harmonies anyway. Stick to the melody unless you are toplining a song for BTS or something.
Make a recording with the instrumental not a cappella and not on your phone
Feels weird that I should point that out but here we are. Use garageband or some other DAW for crying out loud there is no excuse anymore these days. Coincidentally (or not), the worst singing and melody writing I heard was done this way. As if you were throwing some melody idea down without much thought and couldn’t be bothered with any effort. Bad impression which is a total turn off to the listener.
In a nutshell, never forget that you are more than likely competing for this songwriting opportunity. Put your best foot forward in every area to give yourself the best chance.
