[stylist] Songwriting

Tue Sep 7 18:00:24 UTC 2010

Brad,
    The linear method, as you refer to it, works better for me as a totally 
blind guy. I know it can be rather confusing for those light dependent 
people, though, as I am the Music Director at my church and the sighted 
people generally re-write what i send them! (grin)

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "BDM" <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:32 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Songwriting


> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>Writers Division web site:
>>>>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>>>><http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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>>>
>>>
>>>Brad Dunse
>>>
>>>Instead of waiting out the storm, learn to dance in the rain
>>>
>>>E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
>>>
>>>Website: http://www.braddunsemusic.com
>>>
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>>>
>>>Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
>>>
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>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Writers Division web site:
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>>><http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> Brad Dunse
>
> Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to 
> die
>
> E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
>
> Website: http://www.braddunsemusic.com
>
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>
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>
> _______________________________________________
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