JamTimeMusic

Hey Bo, I like the idea behind your lyrics. On taking your lyrics further I would personally change this line as I don't like the presumption that the rival is more skillful : 'Can endurance out weigh the skill' The lead up to the chorus is very positive but you have to ensure your message is the same the whole way through in my opinion. When the chorus comes in the second line asks the question "Will you be the one?" whereas I feel it should continue to say "You will be the one" Just my thoughts. Please show us what else you have JD

Hey guys, My co-writer and I are thinking about trying this as a one off. Anyone else tried it before? http://www.abbeyroadonlinemastering.com/default.aspx JD

I could swear I responded to this already! Hmm. Thanks guys for the replies. I think I have a better understanding of what I need to do or at least aim to do. I will let you know how I get on JD

Hey all, I and my co-writer are currently recording our band album at our home studios. We have learnt so much about recording, mixing over the years but mastering is something that we don't really have much knowledge about. I've read a lot of the posts here on the site and although I have seen lots of recommendations about what programs to use and read the debate of actually who should do the mastering, e.g. fresh ears or self, but I come out of that thinking "But what is mastering?" At the mixing stage I do my EQing so what's left for the mastering? Is it just limiting or something else I have missed? I appreciate your time responding to this. Oh and one of the posts I read somewhere said 'If you have access to the raw files rather than just a wav of the entire song then you don't need to use mastering effects on the entire track because you can get it right at the mixing stage! Maybe you can help? Cheers JD

I use Pro Tools. I've not heard of reaper. What is Reaper and why would you use it?

OMG the top article is insane! Thank you so much. I'm in a mastering phase and this will help so so much to improve my mixes.

Me singing and my co-writer playing the guitar and my small home studio or anywhere really. Add total belief that a great song is about to be written and you got a great song.

Hey Dee. Hard to say if that works but maybe it does. I'm not sure how the phrasing fits in with it. Seems a couple too many notes in both middle lines but hard for me to say with just a piano to follow. When I get some time I will have a fiddle with it. I don't think anyone has posted any more lyrics because perhaps they feel your lyrics are very strong which they are. So unless anyone else posts lyrics we might as well move on to the melody and music soon.

Sorry for the delay. I just haven't had the time or availability to finish the vocal. Hopefully this weekend. I had my wife practising this song. If one thing i've learnt is this is quite a rangey song and she couldn't handle it. I'll do what I can do soon and post it up.

But yes ultimately if it sounds crap then change it!

Some good suggestions already. A book that was a major inspiration to me was called " The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron. I highly recommend you get this. Amazing book. JD

Interesting post. Scansion is important although I use the term 'does it scan well'.Having written melodies for other people they often have to rewrite the lyrics because their original words don't scan well with the melody. An important process. Good post JD

Buy a book called "The artists way" by Julia Cameron. Best book I've ever read and worked a treat for everything you described. JD

I would think that it is the editor. Studio sounds like a new product that I haven't tried. I Melodyne all our vocals before we put it out. Just corrects and flat notes etc because it actually identifies the actual notes. You have to use just a plain vocal on it's own though, no music. JD

Hey, Sorry. I got home late from work that night so didnt get to finish it. I'm doing just piano and vocal at the moment. Will post it up as soon as I have the vocal done.

Hey buddy, Well you hit a point. Yeah Pro Tools can do what you want but so can any program like that. But sounds are not usually included so you'd need to get a sound module or plugin so that you can use MIDI instruments. A way to do it using vocals is with a program called Melodyne. It's a vocal program that allows you to move each note therefore allowing you to create a harmony. If what We've suggested is too much work then perhaps get yourself a 4 track recorder so you can use a guitar or similar to play the harmony line. Hope that helps JD

Nice article. Some interesting points I hadn't considered. Cheers JD

Dee being honest do you then feel that the words are more abstract than story telling? Do you think it should be? I kinda see where MP is taking the lyric at the moment. I haven't been totally sure about some aspects but I want to sing it again to see how the current lyric flows. My objective for this song as that if it were good enough it would be able to compete against the thousands of other songs being pitched to artists across the world. In my experience a song pitched to another artist needs to have the full package. So, as this started as a challenging critique process, can you and others kindly comment on the lyric and melody and tell us where you think we can do better. MP I've got some time Thurs evening so ill try and put together a piano and vocal piece. JD

Hey quad, I must apologise to you as I jumped on the "I don't need inspiration boat". It clearly offended you and I do understand why. I meant merely to say I don't particularly rely on it at all. If you need it and use it then that is fantastic as each of us here clearly have different ways to write. Don't worry about getting hot headed either. I get annoyed by people who are very blunt but sometimes what you don't like is often good for you. Take care JD

Totally agree with Lazz unless you're the type of song writer who writes songs for their own listening. I write for a target market so I don't wait for inspiration or even need it when writing. I am an open book and when I write I let the ink of my soul flow through me like water. The day I became a good song writer was the day I learnt how to let great melodies into my life. The day I became a very good songwriter was the day I learnt the fundamentals of what actually makes a good song, and then I applied it. Nothing helps more than practicing those two things. Creative release and practicing the fundamentals. Hope that helps JD

That's great Dee. I really like your first attempt. It has a good feel to the story and appears to flow well. I'm not in a position to go over the lyric line by line at the moment but I and hopefully others will do so. Interesting that you use the phrase " I will make it happen". What inspired me to start this topic was because my co writer and I wrote a song called "Make it Happen" for this years UK song writing contest. They have an Olympic theme this year. Closing entry by June so if a good song develops out of this topic it should be considered to enter. Speak soon JD

Good stuff MP, Because we have had so many lyric revisions as soon as I get a chance I will do a few vocal takes with a few of the lyrics to see how they flow and sound. I've got a few busy days at work but i'll get round to it next week. JD

Cheers Lazz

Kaitlyn I'd love to hear more about your story. How the sale came about, how many sales you made etc. Rob, My Co and I had the same problem so we are releasing an album of our own stuff BUT we've started to learn and recognise when a song can be written for someone else. It has to be a lot more structured and perhaps more predictable. I have a book by a guy called Jason Blume. He explains it well. JD

Hey all, With the Olympics coming up in the UK next year I thought it would be a good challenge to get us writing an Olympic themed song. So, I challenge you to get inspired and write a song geared for the olympics. This exercise is for learning and having fun. This is the challenge: Write an Olympic themed song that is motivational, uplifting and inspirational. A song that when you listen to it and/or hear it's words it makes you smile. Play: LET IT GO My Co writer and I wrote Let It Go a year ago. It goes some way to achieving this but not an olympic theme. Have a listen. Get a vibe for how uptempo it could be for inspiration. I'm going to set an initial date for your rough ideas to be ready by the end of May 2011. For those who write lyrics only please feel free to post lyric ideas and provide feedback for others who do the same. We as a group can then decide who's lyrics fit the bill best and then as a group of writers we can then work on a melody and music if we don't already have one. Points to consider: If you were listening to the song on the radio would the lyrics keep you interested? The verses should develop the story and provide new information for the listener. The chorus often includes the title of the song. Consider use of repetition, rhymes, assonance and alliteration. I will also participate in this. I look forward to seeing your work. Enjoy JD