TCgypsy

Thanks Folks. I have two new songs in the pipeline right now with one being nearly finished. They are both in an indie rock sorta kinda genre (I hate labels). I am also revisiting some old songs and sprucing them up a bit. Cheers, TC

I've been a member for a long time, and I used to post quite a bit in here. I took a bit of a hiatis playing in another band but now I am back! Seeyas in the forums. Peace, TC

I keep waiting for someone to say "kazoo" - the most overlooked instrument in modern songwriting...

You can do a song a million ways. I have completely changed my approach to songs after experimentation. Sometimes I hear exactly how it will go in my head, and other times it evolves as I begin serious work on it. --TC

I second this ^^ This is very important so you don't step all over the vocals in your quest for an interesting arrangement. Another tip along the same lines DRUMS If you are doing drums in your song don't wait until the end to 'add' them. Just like in the preceeding tip, lay down the groove once you get the skeleton of the song down. I use scratch tracks for the harmonic progression (guitar or keyboards) and vocals while I lay down the drums. I will usually end up going back and doing some editing on the drums as the arrangement/production gels but having the grooves laid in for the various parts helps tremendously. When you build on a solid foundation and play to the actual grooves you get better results than using a click track or trying to freewheel the tune. --TC

Interesting. I use Christian references and thematic material in some of my songs. Most of my lyrics are subtle but I have been known to use some Biblical phrases. For instance, in Granite Walls I use the following Biblical references in the chorus Tear down these granite wallsLeave no stone upon another <--- paraphrasedTear down these walls and climb outsideStand upon the sea of glass <--- directCast your crown upon the altar <--- direct Tear down these walls and say goodbye In Bits and Pieces I use thematic references Acquiescent to your reasonFaith had no place at allDid you trade innocence for silver? <--- in particular, this line Most folks probably don't even notice these references/themes but I feel like there are some powerful idea in the Bible even for people who don't believe. I just finished the lyrics for a Christian version of "You are my Destiny" which I will be posting soon, and I have started on another Christian rock tune called "Thy Will Be Done." I am superbusy right now with the upcoming Easter events at my church (I play in the contemporary music group) but maybe we can collaborate on something once I am done with that and finish my latest tune. I will PM you once things wind down a bit. If anyone else is interested in collaborating on some Christian rock stuff shoot me a PM. Peace, TC

First, let me say the song/performance is excellent. You definitely have some low end issues. You just need to shape the low end with a high pass filter (somewhere between 30-50Hz). It is very rumbly - you have my subs jumping pretty good here. Otherwise, the production is excellent. Peace, TC

This may sound stupid but JUST DO IT. Don't wait for anything to 'get started' - the best way to learn singing and recording techniques or whatever you want to improve is to DO IT. You will learn way more by commiting to the process than by sitting on the sidelines. The nice thing is you can start recording on your computer for less than 50 bucks now. Peace, TC

It's interesting you say that because I used to put all of my guitars in cases after I was done. Naturally, this 'discipline' (for lack of a better word) kept my guitars in awesome condition. However, having to go to the "guitar closet" drag a case out depending on which one I thought I might play put a damper on my creativity. The only guitar I keep in the case at all times now is my expensive classical guitar because it's a delicate instrument. I have a couple multiguitar stands occupied by various types of guitar and my bass, but I also have a cheesy light $15 stand that I have in easy reach right with a guitar on it. I rotate which guitar gets to sit on the cheesy stand but the ability to grab it and find what pops into my head or respond to inspiration helps pave the way to songwriting.

Writing lyrics can be a time consuming process. I generally have a few lines or at least a thematic idea when I am writing the music. Honing and crafting the lyrics into their final form just takes work. Using thesaurus and rhymezone online can help. Keep in mind that not every line has to be epic. Don't be afraid to do the song with whatever lyrics you have even if you don't think they are quite up to par. It's easy to go back and rewrite parts of the lyric; I do this all the time. The computer age does have its advantages! --TC

3 beats per minute is beyond my range of tempos unless someone is just trying to be cute and using 1/64th notes throughout (I would just count differently to make it work). I agree with Joel about using click tracks. I am NOT a fan. I do use a metronome sometimes for practice, though (it keeps me honest and helps me iron out little transition issues). One of the things I enjoyed about gigging and studio work with an entire band was the "human" feel you are referring to, Joel. If everyone is on the same page, it can be magic. And sometimes little rhythmic 'mistakes' can create a golden take in studio if everyone else adjusts to the 'error' - if I can find the recording (it's on tape) I will post one such episode where a blown ending turned into an awesome ending. Now, of course, this was with a bunch of us who had played together for 2-3 years and only happened to this degree once where it turned out so well but you get my point.

I love Nat King Cole. His feel was amazing, and every song he sang was "vibe-city" (not to mention a great voice). I love writing mystery songs. One of the ones of mine that is mysterious is Granite Walls. I like songs that are open to a wide range of interpretation - not for every song, mind you, but I do enjoy leaving the conclusions to the listener. I can definitely relate!

I'm an amazing songwriter! I am just waiting for everyone else to figure that out. In all seriousness, I just enjoy the process and hearing other folks. I am doing art for its own sake. I had 3 songs published in the 80s and 90s (none were hits, lol), and I gigged quite a bit. Now I am just doing this for me, and trying to help other folks get better especially at production (if it doesn't sound good, very few people are going to care how good the song is). I may try to pitch a song or two but it's not high on my priority list.

I write what I hear, too (in my head). But, for whatever reason, certain sounds can trigger the process for me. This happens listening to music and playing instruments or jingling my keys, or singing to my dog (yes, I do this, lol), etc., etc. Sometimes just the way my voice sounds in a certain acoustic space creates a vibe that can spark my creative process. Sometimes I even dream songs.

Hitting the high notes and scaling through my passagio.