Sharp Practise
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1/30/2008 8:54:55 AM
---- Updated 2/1/2008 9:05:00 AM
How I go about writing a song
So, let’s look at how the song Magnet is shaping up.
When I first had the idea, all I got was the chorus tune and the lyric to go with it, which I soon amended slightly to take out an obvious cliché. However, this early burst had set the key and the tempo of the song, so it made a good starting point. Pacy, punchy, so a good fit for the new album’s overall feel.
The next problem was, OK I’ve got a fixed chorus but how will that work with a verse beside it? So, I approached this from the musical point of view first, and picked out a chord sequence which compliments that of the chorus. Same key, slightly lower register, so the song will pick up in the chorus. So far, so good.
Now we need some words to go with the verse music. The song chorus is about a guy who’s drawn irresistibly to a girl that he knows is bad for him, but he’s got to go to her. No great problem there; think about how to tell that story in sixteen lines of words with a natural break in the storyline half way through.
Next problem – is there a need for a bridge or middle eight? The answer to this came from jamming the track, looking for substitute chords for the verse. And that answer was no, because a natural melodic link part suggested itself that will introduce, break up and close down the song in a way that makes sense in the overall context and yet adds the necessary variety.
So, the job’s a good ‘un, but you’ll have to wait for the album to see exactly how well Magnet turns out!
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Hop On Pop
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1/30/2008 11:03:40 AM
Excellent post!
Thanks so much for the insight into your process. I don't know that I could do the same about how I go about writing my songs. I just kinda pluck mine from the air. Occasionally I'll work it out, but you have detailed, very clearly and concisely, HOW you do what a lot of us just kinda — do.
Thanks for the post.
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