Marty Dolciamore

Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello http://youtu.be/uVwrrkt22Ag

Here's my Breedlove, ain't she sweet!

There is a technique called "naked melody" that can be utilized. Sting does this a lot and there's a lady in my song circle that writes beautiful melodies without the ability to play an instrument. First, take your instrument and put it away - don't go anywhere near it. Get your recording device, find a spot that is conducive to making you feel alive and begin singing/recording your lyrics. Work on emphasizing different words, use different rhythms, use ascending passages for hopeful, upbeat, danceable tunes - descending passages for introspective/moody/sad tunes. I usually work the chorus first, with about five to ten (minimum) versions. Once you have the chorus set you can move to the verse and be sure to contrast the melodies there. Change the box of pitches that you used in the chorus, usually casting your verse melody down at least a third. Next is rhythm - long phrasing in chorus, short phrasing in verse and vice versa. After you have a group of these down begin mixing and matching until you find what works. OK? You good? Sounds fantastic? Ready for part two? Pick up your instrument and start playing chord harmonies against what you've come up with, and dear God, please forget I, IV, V - start moving around. If you're not that proficient on an instrument, hire someone to back you up and tell them, "Yes, that's what I hear" or "No, try again". As is the case with everything I've just said, these are "tools" not "rules" - feel free to break them or disregard them totally. Marty

Verses can be a little slippery at times - most times you can get your muse chatting by ruminating on the "hook" in your chorus, and not going for the obvious but trying to think out of the box a little. Here's a chorus from a song by Don Henry and Jon Vezner: Where have you been?" "I've looked for you forever and a day." "Where have you been?" "I'm just not myself when you're away." What story could you tell with this simple hook, "Where have you been"? A missing dog/child/memory? Take some time and think about story possibilities and then check out the verse lyrics here: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858626220/?&specific_com=73015341871 Were they anything like you were thinking? The other problem that crops up from time to time is the dreaded 2nd Verse, when your 1st verse doesn't lead to anything more, YIKES!!! - Ralph Murphy has a neat trick for this one - Make this your second verse and write a first verse that leads to the second - it's just a cat, skin any way you want Marty p.s. the format that most contract songwriters in Nashville use is chorus first and then verses and maybe, maybe a bridge.

Singing does seem to be an afterthought in some of today's music. I'm blessed to be in a band with two other talented singers and our harmonies are pretty damn good. I've always tried to stay open to new ideas and possibilities and there have been some great payoffs. I joined a Barbershop Harmony mixed chorus last summer and was asked to join a quartet in October and we sang our first gig a month later and we'll be competing this February in a novice competition in Northern California. The idea of acapella singing has always intrigued me, no instruments save your own voice and the crafting of matching timbre, tone and pitch to a sparkling harmony - so sweet. Jimmy Webb in his book "Tunesmith" talks about the necessity of getting out there and performing your songs - I've committed myself this year to at least four open mic's a month, should be fun. Marty

I like to scout out new territory before I pull my rifle out and get serious, so I'm curious as to what the members on this forum want to do with their songs. There are those who aspire to be singer/songwriters, those who only write melody or lyrics and are looking to collaborate and the pure songwriters who are looking to get their songs recorded by signed artists and there are those who just write because they love to write. About ten years ago when I began to knuckle down to this song writing business, I decided I needed a mission statement that would encapsulate my vision of what I wanted to get out of my songs so that I knew where I wanted to go - it was simply this: "To hear my songs performed in public venues, i.e. concert halls, radio, TV, Film, elevators, etc." I was surprised to see that nowhere in my statement did the term "money" come in to play. This year i've begun to perform more. So, fellow writers, what do you want to do with your songs? Marty

Jim, Good stuff, man - is that you singing? Nice voice. You're hitting all the genre's I'm familiar with. Can't Figure That Out could stand a little B3 - sweet! Heartache is nice the way you go from old timey radio into that clear vocal, could you cut that down a bit or maybe stick it somewhere else in the song? It's a long way to go for a listener, IMHO. At 22 seconds if you could sweep it into the clear vocal that would be too friggin' cool. Change is nice - check out the Smithereens, this could be a bit more edgy like them. I'm fanning you bro - keep rocking! Marty

ALWAYS record - read the story on Satisfaction by Keith Richards - I resurrected an old blues tune and worked it into a different key so I could scream/sing the bridge - fun! Marty

Nobody's in Love this Year - Warren Zevon

1. Do you sing, play an instrument or instruments? Yes, Yes, Yes What instruments? Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keys When did you start playing? 1962 Did you teach yourself? Yes 2. Are you in a band or bands? Yes What is the name of the band? The B Movie Kings What do you play? Lead guitar What other instruments are in the band? Guitar, Bass, Drums and Sax Do you have a band website? Yes http://www.bmoviekings.net/ 3. Do you write songs? Yes Do you write lyrics, music or both? Both Do you have a writing partner? No 4. Do you record your music? Yes Do you use a home studio? If so what gear do you use? My DAW is a Roland Cakewalk Firewire I/O, with two Rokit 5 near field speakers Audiovox mic's and I'm using Reaper S/W Do you use a recording studio? Do you have music available on the web? if so where? http://www.reverbnation.com/martydolciamore 5. What other roles do you perform in the music business? Management? Label owner? Publishing? Promotion? Other? 6. Are you a tech head? Somewhat 7. What country do you live in? U. S. A. 8. What are your ambitions? to have my songs performed in any public venue, i.e., TV, Film, Concerts, Radio, Music Halls, etc. 9. Do you draw/paint/write stories/computer art/dance or other creative pursuit? writing soundtracks What are your pastimes? Barbershop Quartet lead singer, cycling, bowling, golf, hiking and traveling 10. What would you like to get out of Songstuff? right now, I'm just looking around