How to Make an Instrumental Version of a Song
By simply writing the melodic line of a song an instrumental version of it can be made. Your imagination is the limit when it comes to how closely the new version relates to the original one. When making an instrumental version of a classical or operatic song, variations can be used to create a piece that is very different than the original.
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Things You'll Need
- Instrument (piano, violin, viola, organ, etc.)
- Sheet music of the song
- Blank sheet music
- Writing utensil
Instructions
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Identifying a Song and Using the Right Instruments
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Find a song that you like. It is best to probably find one that has a well-defined melody like most popular songs on mainstream radio. This may be particularly good if you are new to creating instrumental arrangements.
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Shy away from songs that do not use a traditional melody like rap songs if you are writing for an instrument which typically plays only the melodic line like the violin or viola. To make such pieces readily recognizable it might be better to have harmony as well. Harmony is more challenging to create on instruments like the violin when used solo.
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Use instruments like the organ or piano for songs that need a bass line as well as melody to sound full and be readily recognizable.
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Know that good pieces for the violin may include a variety of pieces that are termed easy listening or Christian such as the traditional hymn "Amazing Grace," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," by Paul Simon and "The Rose," sung by Bette Milder.
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Pieces that are good for keyboard instruments may include songs to musicals like "The Music of the Night " by Andrew Lloyd Webber and music to operatic songs like such as the "Troubador's Song" from Carmen. Other songs that are well suited to the piano may include "The Power of Love" sung by Luther Vandross or "Crazy" by Gnarlz Barkley.
Writing the Music
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Buy or download sheet music and copy the melodic line from the song you are using. Write that down first in treble, alto or tenor cleft, depending on the instrument you are using. Feel free to alter the tempo and phrasing to create the effect that you desire.
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Write the bass line if you are arranging for an organ, piano, synthesizer or other keyboard instrument. Make certain that both the melody and bass sound correct together and are in the same key.
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Create variations on the melodic theme of the piece by transposing to a different key, adding additional chords in the melodic line or by any other method that you like.
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Listen to instrumental versions of pieces you enjoy. For instance, if you like opera there is an instrumental version of the music from Bizet's Carmen that was arranged for violin and played by Leila Josefowitz. A piano version to the Theme from the popular movie Ghost played by Giovanni Marradi exists on the Cinema Romance album. Use the elements that you like about these or similar pieces in order to find what will work best in your arrangement.
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