The Two Loop Principle: Step by Step Guide

The Two Loop Principle: Step by Step Guide

Music production can be difficult without the right knowledge.

Often times a musician will have a loop, but how to arrange it can be overwhelming. However, with the Two Loop Principle, the song will simply arrange itself.

If you are a beginner music producer and your melodies seem to lack emotion, energy and excitement. I strongly recommend you to read through this guide on how to use the “Two Loop Principle”.

This principle will allow you to have the power to create strong, simple melodies that pack energy & make the listener feel the emotion you want them to feel.

The Two Loop Principle allows you to create powerful arrangements by taking two loops and combining them. This rule can be applied to any type of music, from looping chords to mixing a set of loops. Whatever your "something" may be, the Two Loop Principle allows you the power to combine it with ease. Allowing your chords to cut through the mix and create that emotion that engages us into the music.

Implementing the Two Loop Principle into your music production will allow for less overthinking on your arrangements, allowing for your creativity to flow much easier which is the most important thing to creating impactful and music filled with emotion.

Follow this in-depth yet simple step by step guide when starting your projects to create a strong loop to design the rest of your mix around.

Step 1: Choose Your Starting Point

• Begin with a simple loop as your foundation.
• Instead of using just chords, you can incorporate a piano (or whatever instrument you wish to use) melody as well.

Step 2: Add Drum Elements

• Enhance your loop by adding drum elements.
• Consider including a kick, a deep snare, and a simple but unique effect on every other snare to create a breathing-like rhythm to get your listener engaged.

Step 3: Recognise the Challenge

• Understand that arranging this loop can be a daunting task.
• I believe arrangement is one of the most challenging aspects of music production. So, make sure to understand this and take your time.

Step 4: Understanding the Two Loop Principle

• Embrace the Two Loop Principle as your arrangement guideline.
• Comprehend the core concept: change your arrangement every two loops of the chords/melodies or other main musical elements e.g. drums.
• This principle is based on the natural expectation of listeners for songs to evolve at these intervals. This will keep your listeners engaged and wanting more.

Step 5: Visualising the Arrangement

• Arrange eight loops of your main musical elements e.g., chords, drums, basslines
• Keep your arrangements tidy and colour code tracks so they can be found easy.
• This makes working between elements fast and simple.

Step 6: Write your Initial Melody

• Begin your song with a piano melody (or whatever instrument you wish), allowing it to loop twice.
• This melody doesn’t need to be complex, implementing the Two-Loop principle will allow your melody to evolve overtime and stay engaging.

Step 7: Implement Changes

• Once you reach the second set of two loops, it's time to make a change.
• Changes can involve adding new instruments, enhancing existing ones, removing instruments, or reducing expression by moving some notes up or down. (make sure to stay in key!)

Step 8: Smooth Transitions

• Pay attention to your transitions.
• Consider both the exit point (before the change) and the entry point (as the change occurs).
• Use transition effects such as risers, impacts, vocal effects, filter sweeps. This will enhance the flow and signal a new section of the song.

Step 9: Continue Applying the Rule

• Continue to apply the Two Loop Rule throughout your arrangement.
• Depending on what you are trying to create and the genre, you can choose to increase or decrease the energy of the arrangement at each point by simply referring to Step: 7.

Step 10: Give Your Melody a Break

• If necessary, change the instrument or layer other instruments for your main melody to give variation and a break.
• This change will keep the listener engaged and wanting to hear more.

Step 11: Shift in Dynamics

• Notice how changes in dynamics impact the overall emotion of your arrangement.
• Continue to make slight adjustments to your dynamic range every two bars, adhering to the Two Loop Rule.
• Don’t change your dynamics to much as this can ruin the feel & emotion your mix is trying to create.

Step 12: Enhance the Chords

• As you approach different sections of your mix, consider enhancing the chords to maintain interest. You can achieve this simply with automation.
• In some instances, adding a drum loop with unique rhythms can bring up the energy.

Step 13: Gradual Changes for Anticipation

• If your song structure allows, introduce a moment of silence before significant transitions.
• This makes the entry point to your next section hit hard and keep the listener engaged.

• A trick I like to use is automating the stereo width before changes, as it narrows the mix down before introducing the width back in the next section.
• Make sure to utilise drum fills and effects to build anticipation.

Step 14: Adapt to Your Song's Style

• Depending on the type of song you're wanting to create, decide what sections to repeat, make subtle changes, or introduce more dramatic shifts.
• A tip I recommend is to just close your eyes, and just listen to those subtle changes and the energy and interest they create, and if you don’t like the sound just continue to make subtle changes until you do.

Step 15: Embrace the Two Loop Principle

• Remember that the Two Loop Principle serves as a reliable arrangement guideline.
• Following this rule helps you create dynamic and engaging compositions, without overthinking your arrangements allowing for your creativity to flow.

By following these steps and incorporating the Two Loop Principle into your music production process, you can simplify the arrangement process and allow your mind to flow easier to create engaging music filled with energy and emotion.

If you are interested more in this method a video I strongly recommend to watch this video by Alex Rome.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide. I hope it has helped to achieve some of your music production goals.