I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject of making mixtapes - although mine have gotten mostly favorable reviews – but I have developed a few guidelines to keep in mind as a method of quality control. Some of this may or may not be borrowed from High Fidelity, for no other reason than the essence of the mixtape is so well captured in the book. I’m pretty sure any references were paraphrased, however, I’m not looking to rewrite things which have already been written.
(Note: Naturally if you’re introducing your listener to a band, you’ll have a mix full of songs by the one band. If that’s the case you can probably discard a few of these rules, but a few will still apply.)
1. Figure out what kind of mixtape you’re going to be making. There will likely be a difference depending on if you’re making one for your friend or that special someone (or possibly a complete stranger?), as well as if you’re introducing that person to a band/several bands, giving them a bunch of songs they like, or songs that you like or that remind you of them.
2. Pick a theme. This is optional, of course, although it may make it easier on you in terms of song selection to have a mental framework of what you’re looking for. For example, what is it about certain songs that remind you of the person you’re making the mix for? Seeing the common elements, if there are any, will help fill out the mix, especially if you only had a few songs in mind originally.
3. Start with a bang. If the mix is mellow on the whole, perhaps begin with one of the more upbeat songs of the bunch; if it’s more upbeat, you definitely want something that will establish that right off the bat. The first song is one of the most important; if you want the mix to attract the attention of the listener, the first song has to be one that will set the tone; hook them in and make them want to keep listening.
4. Elaboration. For the next few songs you may want to keep the tempo established by the first song, or modify it slightly. Whether your second song is slightly more upbeat or slightly mellower than the first is up to you and the songs you’ve chosen, but the important thing to remember is that it’s generally not a good idea to vary the mood too much right from the start. Unless for some reason the switch works perfectly to you, best to ease your way up or down at first.
5. Mellow out. Chances are your first 2-3 songs have been relatively upbeat (or at least in comparison to the batch of songs as a whole). Right around song 3 or 4 it’s a good idea to take it down a notch if possible. Too much of the same thing wears on the listener; if you have one or two slower/mellower songs, now might be a good time to deploy them. You can definitely take the mood back up if you wish, but letting the tone flow like waves is generally a good tactic for holding the listener’s attention.
6. Where you go from here is really up to you, but remember: SEQUENCING. It may sound trivial, but the order of your songs on the mix is as important as the songs themselves in executing the theme you wish to go for. Fortunately, things like the Playlist feature in iTunes let you order and reorder until the track list reads like you intend it to. Make sure the end of one song blends sonically into the beginning of the next in terms of pitch/key, or that it’s close enough so as not to upset the flow of the mix. Experiment with the order as often as needed until the mix as a whole seems to flow.
7. End strong. Besides the first song, the last song is also one of the most important. This is the lasting impression the mix will leave on the listener. Do you want to end with a bang or with a mellow feeling of finality? That’s your choice to make based upon what songs you’re working with and what sounds good. Either way, make sure the lasting impression is a good one.
8. Spread out the strong songs. No need to put all your winners at the front…what incentive is there to keep listening? If the song order permits, spread out your best/favorite songs so they’re not all bunched together.
9. Watch the time. Sure, you CAN use all 80 minutes of CD space, but do you need to? If so, then by all means go for it, but if you have the opportunity to choose quality over quantity, it might be a smart decision. If that’s the case, 60 minutes is long enough to include several great songs without overstaying your welcome.
10 (Optional). No repeats. Depending on what songs you’ve chosen, you may have more than one from the same artist. If they both fit into the theme of the mix, that’s fine, although I typically try not to include more than one song from the same artist. If you do, however, it’s generally a good idea not to put them right after one another.
The most important thing to remember is that these are just guidelines I’ve observed from making my own mixes. Everything depends on the mood you’re going for and the songs you choose. If what you’re doing sounds good the way that you’re doing it, that alone is what will determine the success of the mix with its recipient. Good luck!
