[stylist] Songwriting

Tue Sep 7 17:32:51 UTC 2010

Marion,

I've seen  the chords written in that manner too yes. I never really 
look at the charts of my tunes, in fact I don't even chart them 
unless someone asks, at least not the current ones I play out these 
days, maybe I'll regret that if I dig up some oldies  to play  and my 
memory has exceeded its capacity :). . So if I chart them its usually 
for a sighted co-writer or studio folks and I think the linear method 
might be more confusing for them to pick off. Often times studio guys 
will make notes along the cords to indicate staccatto, ring out, and 
various accents which requires a little room. The two strains of 
thought in songwriting  I heard when I first started was... "There 
are no rules, just guidelines" and then the second thing I heard was, 
"There are rules, but as long as you know that you're breaking one, 
it might be  OK" :), it depends on the song really. I do think there 
is software that will make a chart, though I've not had the desire to 
look into that... more technology keeps me from doing what I love to do :).

Brad

At 11:22 AM 9/7/2010, you wrote:
>Brad,
>    Thanks a bunch for saving me all of this thought and writing! 
> (smile) This is pretty much the same advice I would have offered. 
> the only exception is that I don't write my chords above the 
> lyrics; rather, I write them within them using braces "{}" where 
> the chord changes appear. I believe there are MIDI instruments and 
> software that will actually make printed music from the instrument. 
> Perhaps that's a question to be asked on the Performing Arts list. 
> I am sure Kevin Reeves or Cameron Strife can answer that for us!
>
>Fraternally yours,
>Marion
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "BDM" <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
>To: <jsorozco at gmail.com>; "Writer's Division Mailing List" 
><stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 9:56 AM
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Songwriting
>
>
>>Joe,
>>
>>I am a performing songwriter, as are at least one other person on 
>>list there. As far as lyrics go for songwriting, poetry while 
>>similar, isn't a lyric for a number of reasons. Often times they 
>>can be altered to be a lyric. So yes you can take your poems and 
>>put them to music but very likely not as they are now. As for 
>>melody and muisic. You don't have to put it on paper as it were. I 
>>have none of my music on paper as it were. I will put a chord chart 
>>together which is basically chords over the tops of the lyrics 
>>which is pretty standard in the indie world and even professionals 
>>in Nashville. Not however if you are scoring out a piano piece  for 
>>a recital or orchestral type thing to be played  note for note. I 
>>couldn't tell you how to do that as I don't know Braile Music 
>>Notation. One can, if knowledgeable in theory, can  score out 
>>chords to match a melody like Beethoven did, or one can, like most 
>>do, apply chords by "feel" to the melody.  I write 90% of the time 
>>with an instrument starting with chords and melody and then go for 
>>words based off the feel of the music.  I'll say on the other side 
>>of the coin, that nearly all my co-writing has been done by 
>>applying music and melody to words already written which sometimes 
>>requier slight altering to  flush out consistency and etc. Words as 
>>well, if you listen carefully when spoken in natural voice, have a 
>>certain melody to them which can be used as well. It is both fun 
>>and exploritory to just match a melody to certain chords and you'll 
>>find it can generate different types of feeling or harmonies within 
>>it. Just experiment some with it if you have a melody in your head. 
>>If you can't sing and play at the same time, record your melody and 
>>try to put chords to it when you play it back. There is no right or 
>>wrong way, it is what works for you.
>>
>>There are many books and resources out there on songwriting. If you 
>>go to my website at
>>
>>http://www.braddunsemusic.com
>>
>>Then click on the songwriting link, there's an html file with 
>>various resources about songwriting.
>>
>>If you have any other questions just let me know. Glad to help anyway I can.
>>
>>Brad
>>
>>
>>At 08:32 AM 9/7/2010, you wrote:
>>>Dear all,
>>>
>>>I'm glad Marion came out of the woodwork when he did.  I have a question he,
>>>and hopefully others, will be able to answer.  How does one get started with
>>>songwriting?  I play piano by ear as a hobby but have no idea how I could
>>>translate my own invented melodies to paper, nor how to make others hear my
>>>poetry in the melodies I've arranged in my head.  Does one need to know
>>>music notation to succeed at this?  Thanks for any help, and Priscilla, oh
>>>dear peer pressure that you are, I am working out some kinks in my novel
>>>before it is worthy of your reading.
>>>
>>>Best,
>>>
>>>Joe
>>>
>>>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
>>>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>Brad Dunse
>>
>>Instead of waiting out the storm, learn to dance in the rain
>>
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>>
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>
>
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Brad Dunse

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die

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