General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

[LukeGilmour]

I have had this problem for a while and im not too sure how to solve it.

many times i get a cool riff, melody or rhytm (in guitar, bass, keyboards, whatever) and i record the main part of the song with all the instruments, but i fail to add choruses, bridges, and things that make the song "move" from where it is, staying just as a "theme". (its a bit easier with intro/outro parts though)

is there some book i could read, something i could study?

any help would be nice

thanks!

 

[Wattage]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Best thing I can recommend break down you're favorite songs and study how they are put together. Reading about songwriting is fine but working with music is generally more productive in my experience.

Study song structures it will help, do it a lot then go through your stuff and start putting together. You probably have a number of things that go together already. I also find it helps to have some sort of vision of what the song will be when writing it, that way you are working towards a goal as opposed to fishing for things to make it work.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Yep. Also, when your writing guitar parts ask yourself if it feels like a verse to you or a chorus. As an example play a simple i iV progression - how does it feel? Like a verse right. Then try and come up with a chorus. As far as books I love Rikky Rooksby's "How To Write Songs On Guitar." An all around good song writers manual.

 

[Ninja Monkey]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

For verses, try a toned down variation on the main theme, maybe modulated a half step or two sharp or flat, for choruses, strum yer chords and sing ya fool!

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

take whatever version of a scale you're playing, say for example B#major, and use the minor version of the same key, A in this case, and create a progression/riff around that. that's how crazy train is

 

[jonetall]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Thanks a lot! these will help a ton. but one question, about the servant slayer combo you posted. Forward + x, xx, sidestep, repeat

I asked for sol's but this doesn't look possible for him (to me anyway). when you press forward and x with no lock on, he does a heavy attack that send enemies flying, so no combo there, and when you lock on, he preforms a sliding trip, which knocks the enemy down, so am I missing something here?or is this for raven?

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Honestly, a lot of songs still use some of the same chords/riffs from a verse in the chorus and also really utilize dynamics. Perhaps A verse is simply G to Cadd9, but then the chorus is G, Em7 to Cadd9 but uses a little distortion, heavier drums and more percussion where the verse is soft, mainly acousti with a little clean guitar fill and light on the percussion.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Most of the previous postings are suggesting that you should study some music theory. I agree with them.

My tip is to find a writing partner. This way, when you dry up, the second person might have another, half-finished sequence in a related key that compliments your sequence.

The benefits of collaboration are that material gets nearer to completion much more quickly AND there is somebody else to let you know when your supposedly greatest ever riff actually stinks. This disadvantage is that you have to split the proceeds. Still, half of something is better than one hundred per cent of zilch.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

learn some cliche chord patterns like D A Bm G for example, theres a million chorus's right there for you lol

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

learn some cliche chord patterns like D A Bm G for example, theres a million chorus's right there for you lol

+1....despite my efforts to be original, one of my recent tunes has that progression for the chorus...I think of it as the 1, 5, 6, 4, and it's my favorite.

As for the OP, there's only one way to make progress...sit down with a piece of paper and sharp pencil, and your guitar and do it.
:friday:

 

[sosomething]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

what the hell is a verse or a chorus??

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

what the hell is a verse or a chorus??

you and your instrumental rock get outta here! shoo, shoo!

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

what the hell is a verse or a chorus??

Well chorus is the name for the solo part in jazz music. Verse? that is prolly some typo or sth.

 

[sosomething]

Re: General Playing tips ---> getting the other parts done

Turns out "chorus" is the name of that effect people used on their cheap-ass clean tones in the 80s.

Still haven't figured out what "verse" is supposed to be.