WHAT IT'S NOT SONG ARRANGEMENT

Let's start by looking at what song arrangement isn't: It's not finding a chord sequence for a song (although it often is changing the pattern of a chord sequence to make a more sympathetic harmonic bed). It's not writing the lyrics to a song (although it can be working out exactly what the backing singers will be doing with themselves). It's not deciding what the rhythm to a track is (although, in truth, it sometimes is). Actually, the line between composing or producing a tune and arranging it is a very thin one. If you're either the producer or the composer, arrangement goes with the territory, whereas if you're being brought in by a composer or producer specifically as an arranger, it's usually to arrange the strings or the horns or the backing vocals (we'll examine those particular aspects and what the job pays later in the series).