Arrangement is a part of the process that i've found difficult in the past. Its good to remember that in music there are structures that work, and using these as starting points doesn't compromise your intention of innovation.
Coming up with parts is often a very natural process, and there is a tendency to hear how the arrangement might sound in your head pretty early on and therefore start the arrangement too soon. I'm still developing my process on that front, but i have learnt that structure really aids your creative process. Knowing you have a structure to work with can help focus (as opposed to limit) you're flow, and something that will help you develop your own style.
Any musician, composer, producer, etc who is passionate about creating music wants to make something thats never been done before. Push the boundaries and create great works. However to get there you need to go through and learn from tried and tested methods. A way of doing this is drop your favourite track into your sequencer, add markers for when the track changes (either main instrument parts or intro, verse, chorus, bridge, etc) and then add your parts in. If you've never tried this, then as a starting point, this can really help move things forward, and once you've moved to a place resembling an arrangement you can choose where you want to take it.
Here's a few notes when i first tried it.
1. Import/Record in Chemical Brothers Track or one you like - Label it tracking track
2. Get the same tempo so you can mark it out easily and label
3. Add a Marker Track to all the major changes in the track and Label the Parts, e.g Intro Verse Chorus Bridge etc. For the purposes of this exercise i found it easiest to label parts that were the same the same, e.g verse 1 wherever it occured in the song.
4. Now decide how many parts you need to make, and write them in the notepad
5. Now loop / Listen to each part and see what sounds or loops the've used and write them in the notepad
6. Substitute each sound or part for your own, and come up with as many sections as you need.
7. Obviously try and create something as different as poss from the track. We are only using their arrangement as a guide. Things like cymbal crashes and fills are common and will help, as are build ups and breakdowns.
8. Try to stay focused. Take an hour to write down whats there, and then a day to make a rough track. - Notice how the parts need to work together melodically and rhythymically.
9. When your happy save your arrangement and delete the tracking track.
10. Make sure when you listen back it sounds nothing like the original, otherwise it will never see the light of day.
And here's a few basic recipies - http://tweakheadz.com/recipes.html
Shortened it is -
- Make a chorus/verse bass line.
- Add drums so they work together.
- Make a verse alternative.
- Rest.
- Do I still like it the next day? Think about a vocal melody.
- Rest.
- Do I still like it next day? Add in supporting riffs etc.
And just build it up like that.
I still haven't found the formula to intros and endings but I recommend getting a good solid verse, chorus and middle 8 before you even think about intros.
Sometimes it might come to you while your working in which case add it in. Other times it might take longer.
Key thing is to have a chorus and verse section that you like where it's heading. If that's good the rest will work itself out.
Of course everyone likes to work differently. ?- http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14612
UPDATE : My arrangement process has evolved a lot since first posting this post largely due to the Ill Gates Methodologywhich i think breaks it down perfectly. As suggested above he recommends looking at the arrangements of tracks you like and noting down the parts, but he also puts forward a very simple A, B C section. A is
A. (4-16 Bars) - Capture + Engage the Listener’s Attention – Make a Promise
B. (8-32 Bars) – Peak Out! - Deliver on the Promise of the A. Section
C. (4-32 Bars) – Departure from Main Theme
All of which is shown in great detail in the course linked above.
Another useful tutorial is by Dubstep Producers Dodge & Fuski who breakdown how they arrange a track. Its a good starting point especially if you want to make the big drop dubstep style of music
Anymore tips or approaches to arrangement please let me know in the comments below