How to Produce Your Own Blues Album

Ryan Sheeler, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Sep 3, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

So you want to make your own blues album? Here is a list of tips and concepts to help you down the road. Now with the Internet - you have so many more options than what you had before.

Step 1: Define the scope of the project

How many songs are going to go on your album? How many copies are you going to press? Where are you going to press them? How about artwork?

Step 2: Have a Budget

How much are you wanting to spend on recording time? CD Duplication? Cost of a run of CDs depends largely upon the size of the run involved. See sites and links at the end of this article.

Remember that you can save a lot of money by A) recording at home or a friend's studio and B) using original tunes more than cover tunes - see below

Step 3: Get the songs together

Are you doing originals or cover tunes? If you're doing cover tunes, you will have to apply for a Mechanical License, or else you will be in violation of copyright, and could (potentially) be subject to litigation for infringement. The paperwork usually through HarryFox.com can be VERY time-consuming and costly. So ideally it's better to do original material. But occasionally, especially in the blues idiom, cover tunes are used even encouraged. All the greats, BB, SRV, and others have recorded lots of blues covers. It's part of the style.

Think about your own favorite blues albums in your collection. What makes them sound so great? What can you learn from them that you can put into your own project? Learn all you can, and ask questions of your musician friends, and the people at the studio where you're going.

Step 4: Find musicians and practice

This step is a critical one that's often overlooked. There are many good reasons for this step including A) getting the right musicians and feel for your projects and B) tightening up your sound so you don't waste time in the studio. Producers and engineers don't want to waste their time or yours in the studio - so get yourselves ready. Time is money, as the adage says

Step 5: Record the songs and mix them

This is the most intense part. Just remember to keep that long-term thinking going. Are you getting the sounds and performances you want? Are you staying on budget? When is it "good enough"? In the studio, strive for excellence NOT perfectionism. J Perfection will starve the entire project of creativity and freshness.

Step 6: Finalize the artwork and Layout

Who is handling your artwork? Are you doing it yourself on your home computer? Or are you farming it out to a graphic designer friend or outside firm? Are you including a lyric booklet?

Whatever the case, strive for professionalism, and get the very best artwork product you can. Follow the guidelines of your CD duplicator of choice. And remember that the artwork is the first impression that listeners have of your music.

Step 6: Send them to the duplicator of your choice

Hopefully at this stage of the project, you've done your homework and chosen your duplicator of choice.

Then, you get to "hurry up and wait"! J

Step 7: Promote and Sell!

Now a box of CDs has arrived!!!! It feels like Christmas doesn't it? Now you've got to get out there and sell them - let people know what you have and why they need to have it too. Sell them at gigs; get them on your local radio station if you can. Sell them online through digital distribution - this is VERY important since it is the way of the future for the music business. For example CDBABY offers a comprehensive package for a nominal fee that will get you a site on their page, and will send out your music to digital retailers. And they will keep track of all the accounting for you!

If you follow these steps, and peruse some of the following links you should have a successful project. It can be done. I've done it, and you can too. Its hard work, but really fun, and rewarding.

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How to Produce Your Own Blues Album

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