The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Show and Tell

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-18-2018, 02:22 AM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default The way writing a song happens for me

First thing I do is to dream up a piece of music I can get into.
Then the melody begins to fall out. This video shows the process that occurs from the first step, to developing a melody. Rough in places and some stops along the way because I can't remember where I am, LOL, while getting caught up in the melody at times, but you get the idea. Sometimes the changes are different again due to a melody change or thinking too much about the turn from verse to chorus. Oh and then there's a bridge possibly to come later. It may not wind up sounding exactly like this in the end but it will be close enough to tell it's the same tune, Hopefully! Figuring out where the 1 chord is first then where the 4 and 5 chords happen, then the 6th and even the 7th chord.
I hope to show the full progression of this as it happens, all the way to the end result.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-18-2018, 10:12 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,066
Default

Interesting -- there's a good documentary on David Gilmour where both he and his wife (who writes some of his lyrics) talk about a similar process. So you're in good company, not counting the Trappings of Success.
__________________
Originals

Couch Standards
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-18-2018, 10:51 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Coastal Washington State
Posts: 44,927
Default

Very nice, Perry! Sounds like your song could be really pretty! It's got some really good potential there!

- Glenn
__________________
My You Tube Channel
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-18-2018, 01:14 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

Thank you Brent and Glenn. Here's to hoping I can finish it, respectfully.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-18-2018, 09:25 PM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,829
Default

Sounds good so far Perry. This should be interesting to see develop.
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-18-2018, 10:28 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

Thanks Barry! Yes it should, inspiration is a funny thing and I am so very picky about lyrics. They can be great or just blah. There is a fine, fine line between the two, frankly. Pressure is on me now.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-20-2018, 11:46 AM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,829
Default

I keep thinking this tune needs an harmonica playing the melody in the intro somehow....
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-20-2018, 11:30 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

Ooh, I'll have to think about that later, Barry. Too much on my plate right now.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-21-2018, 12:53 AM
jessupe jessupe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Marin Co.Ca.
Posts: 721
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Looburst View Post
First thing I do is to dream up a piece of music I can get into.
Then the melody begins to fall out. This video shows the process that occurs from the first step, to developing a melody. Rough in places and some stops along the way because I can't remember where I am, LOL, while getting caught up in the melody at times, but you get the idea. Sometimes the changes are different again due to a melody change or thinking too much about the turn from verse to chorus. Oh and then there's a bridge possibly to come later. It may not wind up sounding exactly like this in the end but it will be close enough to tell it's the same tune, Hopefully! Figuring out where the 1 chord is first then where the 4 and 5 chords happen, then the 6th and even the 7th chord.
I hope to show the full progression of this as it happens, all the way to the end result.
this is a really good video that does show the process that many, many song writers use.

there are many approaches, from writing lyrics first and then the music, or in the your case the music first, which I think is most common. the humming over the top is super important for coming up with the vocal hooks and choruses and do help give one an idea of what syllable/kind of words may go over any particular part.

I think you should post this in the "play" section too. Many beginners might benefit from watching the process, it's frankly a process that generally happens under cover and most people do not post a song until it is done,so I think it's an important video in that way and to a certain extent takes courage to post "things in progress"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-21-2018, 01:10 AM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

Thank you Jessupe! I may just do that.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-21-2018, 12:01 PM
DukeX DukeX is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,460
Default

Thanks for sharing, Looburst. It is quite lovely, and I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing more as your song develops.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-21-2018, 02:22 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

Thank you Duke! Now comes the harder part for me, what to say and how to say it.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-21-2018, 02:40 PM
jessupe jessupe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Marin Co.Ca.
Posts: 721
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Looburst View Post
Thank you Duke! Now comes the harder part for me, what to say and how to say it.
she ran away like the cats in the rain?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-21-2018, 04:09 PM
Looburst Looburst is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2,678
Default

LOL, Yep Jessupe, that's one way to do it.
Well here's some words, not sure if these will stay. It's just never simple!

You're trying to paint a picture thinking in singular brush strokes.
Each following line needs to reflect what the line before it just said and still carry it forward. There's more liberty you can take with lighter songs but "story" songs and "truth" songs, make you stay honest. Any old words are pretty easy, but the right words are a whole other thing.
This part always frustrates the crap out of me because I have such high hopes for my music and melodies.
__________________
Dump The Bucket On It!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-21-2018, 06:53 PM
jessupe jessupe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Marin Co.Ca.
Posts: 721
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Looburst View Post
LOL, Yep Jessupe, that's one way to do it.
Well here's some words, not sure if these will stay. It's just never simple!

You're trying to paint a picture thinking in singular brush strokes.
Each following line needs to reflect what the line before it just said and still carry it forward. There's more liberty you can take with lighter songs but "story" songs and "truth" songs, make you stay honest. Any old words are pretty easy, but the right words are a whole other thing.
This part always frustrates the crap out of me because I have such high hopes for my music and melodies.
dude, THAT is the chorus

"she did't like the kind of man I am, she ran away like cats in the rain"

see it's got something for everyone, if you like cats, well, theres cats in there, if you don't like cats you get to think how great it is a cats getting wet

so ya, when it goes triple plat' you just remember where you got it, lol
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Show and Tell

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=