Songwriting

Nitebob · 2012-02-08T15:00:01+00:00

Okay so I've written 3 songs and half-finished 2 others totalling 5. Now I've noticed that three of the five have the same chord progression, even though the melodies and feel of the songs differ greatly, and one is played with capo, so progression is still the same....should I be concerned?

Bob-Dubery

Unsolicited plug: If you have an interest in songwriting, then you might want to check out the book Songwriters on Songwriting by Paul Zollo.

It's NOT a method book, it's a compendium of interviews with songwriters: Paul Simon, Dylan, Burt Bacharach, Gerry Goffin, Loudon Wainwright III, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Robbie Robertson etc etc etc.

deebee

Another way to go is to do ballady type songs in minors, and more up tempo rockers in majors. It's just a way of getting around things differently without becoming stale. Em7 is a nice key to use for slow-ish songs. I also have songs that i wrote up to 3 years ago that still don't have chords put to them, and then i have some that i put the music to as soon as they are written. If you have songs that can be played in various ways, simply print a few copies and do various versions for your songbook.

Nitebob

Thanks Bob, will see if I can get a copy on Kalahari...

Deebee, I have songs that needs a melody and melodies that needs songs and for some reason the two are not reconcilable... ???

Warren

Nitebob wrote C G F Am mostly...

Which makes it a

I, V, IV, vi

progression.

Those chords are used in LOADS of songs, so don't feel bad at all ? In fact, I think that order you're using is somewhat less common than, say, I vi IV V, which is a classic "doo-wop" progression.

Bob-Dubery

Well if there was a law against repeating chord sequences then Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan (to name but two) would have had significantly curtailed careers.

Nitebob

What would you say of the following progression:

Dm F C G...?

I thought this one to be kinda special

Warren

Dm F C G

=

i III VII iv

So same basic progression as "Wonderwall", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Mad World", according to a quick Google on that progression.

DonovanB

For some reason every time I pick up a guitar I always end up playing Am, Dm7 or G.

Squonk

This week it has been in Double Dropped D tuning. Amazing how this tuning sings.
Both E's are dropped down a step to D

Got a melody just need to fit the Lyric in

make-and-do

Try this: http://garyewer.wordpress.com/
I've found his site very useful re songwriting.
Most examples used are fairly pop related but the principles can still be applied to other genres.

Squonk

@ Make and Do

Great Site

make-and-do

Squonk wrote @ Make and Do

Great Site

Hey Squonk, there's a lot of repeat info, but yes it's a great resource.
I've learned loads since first stumbling onto it.

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