If you have Broadband access to GuitarTricks you can follow through on some of the songs I've written . I usually go through the whole process for writing tunes using a computer and recording software.
Usually what I do is write out a template for the entire song.
Normally, you'd need a highband subscription for access to this stuff but I'll print it out for free so ya get an idea of what I'm talking about.
Writing a Song the Easy Way
Most popular songs having an intro, verse, chorus, verse, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus end.
So you write out a blank page like this
TITLE
Copyright 2005 K. Taylor/Schmange Music U.K./Canada
Verse #1
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Verse #2
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Chorus #1
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Bridge
_______________________________
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Verse #3
_______________________________
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Chorus
_______________________________
_______________________________
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Chorus repeat
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Repeat and end or fade out.
Now all you do is fill in the blanks.
Start with a drum machine and plan it out so that it plays 4 bars of intro, 8 bars of two verses, 1 chorus with a slightly expanded beat, another verse and chorus, a bridge with something completely different, and then either another verse and chorus or just a chorus that repeat itself.
If you want to cheat, you can even take a popular song and just copy the drum tracks or even download a MIDI drum track off the net and use it as your template.
Note: I've only provided a short example of the audio file below but if you have highband access you'll get either the full audio file or be able to email me for the .wav file or the original MIDI file so that you can customize it yourself.
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/MoogBoogDrums.mp3
Keep in mind that the original files are very basic and raw. Later they'll be improved with reverb and all kinds of tweaking. The thing to keep in mind is that all the various parts like the verses and chorus's etc... are already pre-planned as best as possible.
Next stage is to add some bass. I ended up using a Moog Synth.
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/Moogfull.mp3
Then, to jump ahead a bit I added synth and other parts.... meanwhile I was writing lyrics to fit.
So I added a scratch vocal:
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/mp3/Xanamoog.voxtest.mp3
Notice that the vocal have a lot of nonsense words that I've improvised. I've also left the vocals way back in the mix. This gives me the opportunity later to use this take as a guide to write new lyrics and ideas.
The best bet is to listen to this mix with headphones and use a microphone to improvise your own vocals while you're listening. That way you can come up with all kinds of new ideas without feeling limited by what you're hearing.
The end result now, is that you've got a full song as a scratch version that you can now put on a small mini tape recorder and carry around with you.
You can practice new lyrics or come up with new leads or full passages that would work.
You can also use your imagination to hear the song in your head as it would sound when finished.
It's only half finished, but I know exactly where all the verses and chorus's go and have half the lyrics finished.
Now all I've gotta do is finish it off and complete the lyrics.
Here's a scratch version of what I came up with so far.
All I did was write out the above plan on paper and then keep adding in all the blanks. I just did it in sections. Do the verse. Then come up with a chorus.
While you're writing the music for the verses and chorus parts, you get melodies and lyrical parts coming to you.
All I've gotta do now is finish off the vocal and it's done.
The important thing is to actually have a plan and get it down on paper and tape so that you have something to work with.
If the end result doesn't work...stick it in a drawer somewhere and come back to it later. You never know when an old idea might take you in a new direction.
If you'd like to delve into this topic further, the whole series is posted here:
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=8864&s_id=107
Kevin Taylor
[email]schmange@schmange.com[/email]
Schmange Music U.K./Canada
http://www.schmange.com
TV/Film Soundtracks
http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/SchmangeOnline/Soundtrackst0964.htm
Buy The CD
http://www.cdbaby.com/schmange2
Listen to the Tunes
http://www.weedtunes.com/index.php/a/av/artist/99
Saturday, July 9, 2005
5:54:58 PM
