[stylist] Songwriting

BDM lists at braddunsemusic.com
Tue Sep 7 19:13:54 UTC 2010 

Ah, the advantages of being "the boss" 'toothy smile'

Brad

At 01:00 PM 9/7/2010, you wrote:
>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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>Brad Dunse
>>>>
>>>>Instead of waiting out the storm, learn to dance in the rain
>>>>
>>>>E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
>>>>
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>>>>
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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
>>
>>E Mail: brad at braddunsemusic.com
>>
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>>
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>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Writers Division web site:
>>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>
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>>
>
>
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Brad Dunse

He who angers you controls you

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