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NOTE: This is a project intended to get feedback about the creative process of musicians. Voting doesn't really apply. Please read the member profile for details!
The last entry explored song concept. This time around I'm hoping for some feedback about building chord structure. My knowledge of music theory is pretty limited. I do a lot of playing by ear and I keep a reference dictionary of guitar chords close by.
In the song concept I had worked out some basic two note pairings that I felt conveyed the mood I was looking for (check the user profile for an audio sample). My next step is to sit down with a chord dictionary and expand those note pairings into a progression of full chords. I'll use these chords to help me arrange the instruments by providing a range of notes to choose from.
The original note pairings: F#/B, G/C#, F#/D, F/A, E/A
After a lot of flipping pages and strumming strings I settle on a chord progression of B11, G13, E11, F6, Esus4 (you can hear this progression in the first part of the audio file). I intentionally look for chords with plenty of notes because my intention is to spread the notes across several instruments. This approach will let me start small at first and gradually build the full shape of the chords by adding instruments, building from sickness to outrage.
B11: A B C# E F#
G13: A B C# E G
E11: A B D F# E
F6: A D F
Esus4: A B D E
I start playing with instruments and sounds, just working within this progression, which I think will become the verse. Because I do a lot by ear I need to hear what the song sounds like before I can begin to work on a bridge or chorus. I wish I could develop the progression for an entire song at the outset, but the arrangement process tends to lead me down unexpected paths and I find I have to allow for a certain amount of "unplanned inspiration."
I start small, with no distorted sounds, and the intention of building noise and rounding out the chords as the song progresses. I do cheat at one point. The second guitar chord is E/C, which doesn't fit within the G13 chord like its supposed to. I wanted a little more dissonance there and that chord just "sounded good." I don't know what rules I may have broken. I also have an idea for rhythm at this point and add kick drum, snare, and a crunchy little substitute for a high-hat. You can hear the results in the second portion of the audio file.
I'd really like to hear how the rest of you approach chord progressions and arrangement. Its a mysterious process to me and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same! (I think the next entry will be about lyrics, as I've made some progress there.)
The last entry explored song concept. This time around I'm hoping for some feedback about building chord structure. My knowledge of music theory is pretty limited. I do a lot of playing by ear and I keep a reference dictionary of guitar chords close by.
In the song concept I had worked out some basic two note pairings that I felt conveyed the mood I was looking for (check the user profile for an audio sample). My next step is to sit down with a chord dictionary and expand those note pairings into a progression of full chords. I'll use these chords to help me arrange the instruments by providing a range of notes to choose from.
The original note pairings: F#/B, G/C#, F#/D, F/A, E/A
After a lot of flipping pages and strumming strings I settle on a chord progression of B11, G13, E11, F6, Esus4 (you can hear this progression in the first part of the audio file). I intentionally look for chords with plenty of notes because my intention is to spread the notes across several instruments. This approach will let me start small at first and gradually build the full shape of the chords by adding instruments, building from sickness to outrage.
B11: A B C# E F#
G13: A B C# E G
E11: A B D F# E
F6: A D F
Esus4: A B D E
I start playing with instruments and sounds, just working within this progression, which I think will become the verse. Because I do a lot by ear I need to hear what the song sounds like before I can begin to work on a bridge or chorus. I wish I could develop the progression for an entire song at the outset, but the arrangement process tends to lead me down unexpected paths and I find I have to allow for a certain amount of "unplanned inspiration."
I start small, with no distorted sounds, and the intention of building noise and rounding out the chords as the song progresses. I do cheat at one point. The second guitar chord is E/C, which doesn't fit within the G13 chord like its supposed to. I wanted a little more dissonance there and that chord just "sounded good." I don't know what rules I may have broken. I also have an idea for rhythm at this point and add kick drum, snare, and a crunchy little substitute for a high-hat. You can hear the results in the second portion of the audio file.
I'd really like to hear how the rest of you approach chord progressions and arrangement. Its a mysterious process to me and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same! (I think the next entry will be about lyrics, as I've made some progress there.)
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TobinMueller
This is such a cool idea, this song journal. Thanks for
taking the extra effort to capture these creative stages
and letting your rough creative moments show. There is
construction this week outside my studio and
jackhammers are pounding away at the CT rock layer
trying to fit in 4 homes in a space only 1 should stand.
Thanks for bringing a larger creative space and possibility
back into my brain. You have a cool brooding concept
going. Looking forward to more!