i dont think mike patton uses these formulas!
I think people stress too much about finishing a song - i was doing the same and then decided to just do it/ to just get them done - the basic formula was apparant through most but the more you 'just' finish and just get done the more room you have to experiment. do whatever is fun. if it seems a funny arrangement, too simple or too complex just go with it.
I found that when i decided to put a hold on writing down every single idea that i had and learn to actually sing i completed songs better that way. an increased range (it aint the best by any means) allows you to make parts different even though they are infact pretty much the same.
Im getting a br1600cd for christmas and intend on getting into recording a good chunk of over 100 acoustic songs and hopfully making other stuff with my drum machine and other instuments. im over excited about it and have a head full of ideas. im just gonna get as many down as possible. the more you have, the more you have to choose from to play so the more fresh each jam session will be. plus you can develop songs through time. I recently got hold of a basic song my mate did about 5 years ago (shit that long ago!) and strapped a capo on (kinky stuff!!) the 6th fret (suits my singing better) and made the song into my own simple arrangement and added in lyrics and made it 'complete'. now i jam it every now and again and to me it is its own thing. Anyway, that that and this is this, im off to bed to dream about my br1600cd. and girls.
daveyP