The Recording

I have started recording Apple Pie (the now official title of my song, so yay). I changed Fm to Gm and kept C, and I also added  D to the "oooh baby" and G to the "aaaii no", both of which resolve to C. I also included an additional two vocal parts for additional harmonies on emphasized lyrics. I am so tempted to share what I have with the world, but I can't because it would ruin the suspense of the official release, and also it is not the best it can be right now. You guys are just gonna have to wait.

But in the meantime, here is a freaking awesome song you guys should listen too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKtsdZs9LJo&feature=kp

The Change

After much soul searching during my absence for the past couple of weeks (including spring break), I have decided to completely change my song. Don't worry, I'm just as far with this new one as the old one.

Here Are the Lyrics:

I'll cut down some logs and
Build you a home
Wash the blood from the walls and
Pull you close

Let's lie down in sand and
Let the tears pour
Wouldn't call me a man but
I'll try to be yours

Oooooh baby
Holding you softly
Aaiii no
I can't let you go

Roller coasters
Apple pie
If you're unhappy
use my shoulder to cry

Thunder storms
Blue goodbyes
Time slows
We'll be fine


Oooooh baby
Holding you softly
Aaiii no
How I love thee so

The notes are simple and rhythmic to keep the emotional factor in play; a simple Fm to C

I'm already in the recording process. Can't wait to finish this baby of mine up!

The Notes/Chords Part 2

I have finally created the base line of where the notes on my song are going to rest. I'm going for a very simplistic acoustic feel for "Feel Nothing". Every measure there will be only one chord played at the beginning of each measure. 

To automatically set the notes in the right key, I am going to place a capo (which creates a permanent note change on each string for the song) on the third fret of my guitar). Every line will alternate from a modified (due to the capo) "Am" chord and and "E" chord. On some of the softer parts of the lyrics I will throw in a "D" for some variance and style. For some of the more what I like to call "aggressive" verses, there will be an increased volume at which the chord as played as well as an occasional change in rhythm change.

The whole song flows like a sinusoidal wave; there is a beginning, build up, climax, and a resolution. These elements will be represented by the volume and pattern of the chords played.

A very popular song that follows this flow-like structure is Kiss From A Rose, covered by Seal.

https://soundcloud.com/putu-siee-sevenfoldism/seal-kiss-from-a-rose

By next week my song will be finalized and I will start recording in preparation for the final version.

I'm really excited to share the final product.

The Woodlums

Just gonna leave these here as inspiration

Some friends and I went to the woods on Saturday and found what we call a pinnacle point in the world. We define this as a spot where everything comes together; a center of the universe. We spent 8 hours out there, just exploring, sitting around, and making music. It was one of the best days of my entire life.

The Notes/Chords

I'm still pretty undecided on the notes I want to use for my song. I have defiently finalized the key of it though: B minor has emerged as the champion. The best thing I have going right now is A minor followed by E minor with a capo on the third fret in a whole note progression, and switching up the E minor with a D on some phrases for flare. I want the song to be more complex than just a voice and guitar. I'm thinking of either adding a piano or saxophone, along with a drumline. I defiently want to keep it more down to earth and not intstrument heavy, because I want people to be concentrating on the lyrics and their meaning.

Given the fact that I have not set in stone any notes, I have no inspirational song link to share this week. In next weeks part 2 hopefully we will see one.

Sorry for the delay guys. Writing songs is hard work.

The Key

Now, after writing the lyrics, picking the key became simple. Given the context of the song, it should be in a minor key because it is heart wrenching and a bit depressing. After much consideration with my blood brother Gabe, we came down between two keys: B minor and C# minor. After I sang "Feel Nothing" (working title) in each key, we decided to go with B minor because I believed it sounded better and it will be also easier to write in.

One of the most popular songs ever written in B minor would be "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0G1Ucw5HDg

This has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid. The lyrics and key mesh together so well, and it's something I want to replicate in my song.

The Tone

Hey everyone! Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry I missed last friday. Certain circumstances distracted me from my computer.

Today, we will be talking about the use of tone in writing a song. Tone is one of the most important aspects of song writing. Tone creates a certain level of empathy between the audience and the artist. Empathy is what keeps the audience replaying the song, because they feel like the song is about them or can just relate to the song.

A song that I believe accomplishes the very well is Kiss From a Rose by Seal. But not just any version; the Straight No Chaser A Cappella version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojAeWCP6q0

What this version does is take the already excellent tone of the original and put it into a more emotional a cappella version, which in my opinion makes it ten times better. The shifts in tone from sorrow and longing to passionate and longing is amazing, and is something I might want to replicate in my song. Adding tone shifts increased complexity, something which all great songs have (such as Bohemian Rhapsody and American Pie).

The Muse

The muse is defined as the central inspiration or idea of a song. It can be anything from a break-up to a brand-spanking-new Ford Pickup. Usually, the muse is also central to what is happening in the author's life. An excellent example of this is the song American Pie by Don McLean.

https://soundcloud.com/user4664891/don-mclean-american-pie?in=connor-simrell/sets/the-legends

This song was clearly inspired by the events of World War II. The lyrics at first describe life before the war, and when the music "dies" is clearly a euphemism towards the start of the war or the nuking of Japan.

This most prominent moment in my life right now would have to be being with my new girlfriend. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before with another person, and I feel like I could just pour my heart out into the lyrics.

Here is a verse that I've written that may or may not be used in the final product:

The taste of your skin
Still lingers on my lips
Imprinted memory
Of my hands on your hips

I stare into your eyes
You stare into my soul
You got me where you want me
I'm under your control

The Beginning

There are so many factors that you need to consider when you set out to write an amazing song, and each of these factors needs to grab the listener. You need a relatable muse, tone, and lyrics. Once you've established these, you must address the tempo, the key, the notes and chords, and the vocals, and how you want to include these in the song. After all this work, you will spend hours recording and editing until you have come up with your final product. This entire process could take anywhere from weeks to years. The song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen supposedly took 7-10 years to get to its perfection of a final product, and took three weeks to record alone. I, on the other hand, have a mere semester to achieve musical greatness.

I will break up these factors (the muse, tone, lyrics, key, notes/chords, vocals, and recording) into individual blog entries that I will be posting every friday until I reach my final product. The road to greatness is a long one, and I want to document every step of my journey. Also, In every blog post I will be including a link to a song that I believe to be excellent, for me as inspiration and for your listening pleasure. This week's song, of course, is Bohemian Rhapsody.

https://soundcloud.com/ecpa/queen-bohemian-rhapsody

Join me on my journey as a novice, though study and passion, attempts to create a musical masterpiece.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody