Rudi

Fire Brothers - Quicksilver Messenger Service (fine Nicky Hopkins piano)

Hi Kevin, I like the rhyme rhythms. I cant identify with the very abstract subject. What I perceived as metaphors for mental illness, broke down about halfway in. I would have done once. I was fascinated by notions of demons, possession and all the other 'denial of mortality' baggage that appealed to me as a kid. A majority of rap sounds in a rut of incestuous formats and styles to me. I cant separate this one out from them either. Sorry. I like the dripping sound effects. I think you have some talent, but I am missing a connection to your style. Not your fault of course. Good luck

broken arrow - Robbie Robertson

Slow Down - Larry Williams A 'down' is a chalk hill. I am living on one right now

Went West She said there was a smudge across the sky a long, brown stain interrupting her view She said it was a better day yesterday when the oil refinery had a day off. Point the camera the other way, that’s the direction the old day went That’s what they used to mean by the saying ‘went west’ That watercolour she likes has a smudge across the sky It’s akin to the one she didn’t like But the artist saw it worthy of inclusion So is the painting better than the real view? Need it take an artist to tell you that a smudge is ok? I can’t modify her model of me. The one she keeps in her head Perhaps that artist could paint my smudge across a portrait of me? Would she like me any better then? Should I stick around or should I head west now?

Go for it Goldy. A sliver of honesty will do its work in due course.

I have not used any. I'm not averse to it; just never done it.

cherry red - groundhogs

Really? I've used them for 15 years. I know how they work and still think they are crap.

Up On Cripple Creek - Band

San Francisco Sketches - Blodwyn Pig

My last song was a problem. I realised late that it sounded like something else. Then I kept hearing other songs like it all over the place. Let me give you the (short) list You Got It - Roy Orbison We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinny Shes Electric - Oasis Do all these songs sound the same? No. Not really. They have different melodies, phrasings, rhythms and styles. But they (and other lesser known songs) were all WEDGED IN MY HEAD ! I dont even like 'She's Electric', so why was I obsessing about it and the others? Answer: They all have the same chord pattern in them. I was picking up on this subliminally, because they shared this with my song. Just as well a chord pattern is not copyright, or else Fern Kinny would be suing Roy Orbison who would be suing the Gallaghers etc etc. The point is, it helps to understand the elements of a song that resembles others, because you can change it OR, other elements that will remove it further from those annoying well known ones. When you are new to creating music, its much harder, because the 'other' song takes over your thinking and you cant play your own song at all anymore. Regard other similar songs as obstacles to be wary of, and ultimately overcome.

Truck Stop Girl - Little Feat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adw9L7wjQ2c

Do you means there's money to be had out of teaching what we know? You dont need any money to learn songwriting. You need a keen interest and a pair of ears.

Hi, Sennheiser EH 350 were pretty cheap when I bought them. I never bought them to use as monitors though. I got some Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor phones for studio work. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my old Sennheiser EH 350s sounded almost indistinguishable from the ATH-M50 ! I now use both in the studio, and use the Sennheisers most often. They are neutral and fit for purpose. I can just barely hear a little lightness in the bass range on the Sennheisers. Now, my ears may be too aged to discern anything more, but the EH 350s are worth trying for yourself if on a budget. Other than that, the new Sure range are worth checking out. I got a pair of SRH440s for listening to CDs & TV, but they are actually made for studio work. (I have discovered I dont actually like them for regular listening). Good luck.

Squarks The video is a great intro too. The music was uncommon, and thats a good thing. Welcome to SS Rudi

Pikaso: A key change would take half an hour at least.

No reply from Badger yet.... Could he, in fact be Rikky Rooksbe? Researching a quick sequel?

Theoretically any chords could be used to 'fit in' with any chord you could select. There are however more likely combinations of one sort than others. For example if you selected Bm, then Em and F#m would give you a basic three chord trick. Though D, G and F# would be the next most likely inclusions. Though if using F# you would be more likely to want to remove F#m from the initial selection. Then A and E might appear as further options, but as before Em might then lose ground as a possibility. All this is before we go anywhere near a 7th, 9th or augmented chords. 7ths could apply to any of the above triads, but augmented would probably be of more use only to F# or F#m. Diminished chords are only really used in a transitional way (linking more basic chords together), So if you didnt know what you were trying to link, the diminished chord would just sound odd. Youre probably much better off taking the time out to learn commonly used chord progressions. What you are asking for is a bit like saying 'If I select a colour, I want a program to blank out all the other colours that dont fit with the selected colour, leaving me all the ones that do. am not familiar with the book you mention, but the basic idea you propose is flawed IMO. Rudi

In both instances, probably the basic triad of the song key itself. Exceptions are much more likely to be for intros.

Bus Stop - Hollies

Passenger - Grateful Dead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIXxpROmPx0

I did, but I cant remember what it was. Tin Man - America (tin man - wizard of oz - kansas)

Duke of Earl - Darts

As a gigging 'little' band we load, drive, unload, set up (boot the DJ out of the way) & sound check well before playing. We sit around and waiting to start. Perform (the easy bit). Then break down, try to be polite to all the pissed people telling you about how they used to play a bit, weave in and out of more drunken people carrying all that heavy gear back to the cars. Load in the dark. Drive home, unload etc.. I feel exhausted now..