Exactly how I feel - by Matt Kimbler original country song
This is a rough draft version of a song I'm working on, please tell me your personal opinion. Keep in mind tho that I've only been playing for a short time now. This is the link http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jv03r198l70&feature=plcp
# 1
Matt -good first effort! The most important thing for me is that you have a really nice melody going there. That's usually the road block for most song writers. If you want to just play for your family and friends and are not worried about sounding more "polished", then you're good to go. However, if my job was to think like a producer and comment on your song, here's the things I'd say to work on:
-you have a nice singing voice, but its a bit rough and a little pitchy at times. A visit to a vocal coach would probably be helpful.
-you need to enunciate. Think of how someone like Alan Jackson sings... you can clearly understand every word he sings. We don't sing like we talk. Talking we tend to r'll sm wrds togth bu ya still gt the meaning. Singing, you need to make every-word-clear-so-we-know-what-you-are-saying. For your style, the audience being able to understand your lyrics is really important.
-from this day forward, you solemnly swear that you will tune your guitar before you play it. Always. Tuner. Right there. Pick up guitar. Tune it. Then play. Always.
-you have a nice playing/picking style going there. However, at times when you do your little riffs or runs between chords, you are breaking rhythm. You're completely abandoning the tempo, then finding your way back to the beat. This is something you definitely need to stop doing. What you need is a drum machine that you can play along with.. even a little "Dr. Rhythm" or something will really help you a lot. Pick a beat you like, strum to it. Then, when you're trying to write or play a riff between chord changes, slow the tempo down and just tap it out (you can use your acoustic body to tap), while also saying the beats out loud... "da da da da ... da..." like that. So hear it in your head, then stop, slow the beat down, tap it out and make sure you understand where every note must fall so that its still in time with the drum beat. If the riff doesn't fit rhythmically, change it so it does.
-you're using the same melody for the verse as you are for the chorus. This isn't "wrong" or a bad thing necessarily, plenty of songs do this, but just be aware of it. A bridge, or a different verse/chorus would really add a lot of interest to the tune. Also see if you can shorten the tune down a little. Three & a half minutes is a good time frame to aim for, but its just a guideline.
You've got some real potential as a singer/songwriter. Keep working at it... the above suggestions will help you improve. Last piece of advice... remember, you don't have to do anything fancy... just make sure what you're doing is well-polished and you'll see a lot of reward for your hard work.
-you have a nice singing voice, but its a bit rough and a little pitchy at times. A visit to a vocal coach would probably be helpful.
-you need to enunciate. Think of how someone like Alan Jackson sings... you can clearly understand every word he sings. We don't sing like we talk. Talking we tend to r'll sm wrds togth bu ya still gt the meaning. Singing, you need to make every-word-clear-so-we-know-what-you-are-saying. For your style, the audience being able to understand your lyrics is really important.
-from this day forward, you solemnly swear that you will tune your guitar before you play it. Always. Tuner. Right there. Pick up guitar. Tune it. Then play. Always.
-you have a nice playing/picking style going there. However, at times when you do your little riffs or runs between chords, you are breaking rhythm. You're completely abandoning the tempo, then finding your way back to the beat. This is something you definitely need to stop doing. What you need is a drum machine that you can play along with.. even a little "Dr. Rhythm" or something will really help you a lot. Pick a beat you like, strum to it. Then, when you're trying to write or play a riff between chord changes, slow the tempo down and just tap it out (you can use your acoustic body to tap), while also saying the beats out loud... "da da da da ... da..." like that. So hear it in your head, then stop, slow the beat down, tap it out and make sure you understand where every note must fall so that its still in time with the drum beat. If the riff doesn't fit rhythmically, change it so it does.
-you're using the same melody for the verse as you are for the chorus. This isn't "wrong" or a bad thing necessarily, plenty of songs do this, but just be aware of it. A bridge, or a different verse/chorus would really add a lot of interest to the tune. Also see if you can shorten the tune down a little. Three & a half minutes is a good time frame to aim for, but its just a guideline.
You've got some real potential as a singer/songwriter. Keep working at it... the above suggestions will help you improve. Last piece of advice... remember, you don't have to do anything fancy... just make sure what you're doing is well-polished and you'll see a lot of reward for your hard work.
# 2
Thanks lizard, this is exactly the feedback I was wanting to hear. Like I said I haven't been playin guitar long at all and things are still new to me, so I love hearing the things I need to work on. This is very helpful on where I need to work I appreciate it alot.
# 3
Hey Matt.. I feel Slipin Lizard gave you a great critique.
Here is a link to some singer breathing exercise you may want to take a look at.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/breathing-basics-for-singing.html
You may want to get a strap and try singing standing up or at least with a higher sitting arrangement so your not squashing your stomach into your lungs.
Maybe also try recording with out your sing and then sing along with your recording.
To me, you sounded like you had a bit of sinus problem.
Overall, I thought you did great as a novice. Can wait to hear the remake
Keep at it..
Here is a link to some singer breathing exercise you may want to take a look at.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/breathing-basics-for-singing.html
You may want to get a strap and try singing standing up or at least with a higher sitting arrangement so your not squashing your stomach into your lungs.
Maybe also try recording with out your sing and then sing along with your recording.
To me, you sounded like you had a bit of sinus problem.
Overall, I thought you did great as a novice. Can wait to hear the remake
Keep at it..
# 4
Thanks compart1, ill definitely check out this link. Anything to help is a plus to me. Also I had no idea how you set constricted your voice, that's useful information. And yes this time of year I always have a little sinus problems. Once again thanks for the advice!
# 5