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General => Musicians => Topic started by: Ħ on May 10, 2011, 12:35:06 AM

Title: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ħ on May 10, 2011, 12:35:06 AM: So for a belated Mother's Day gift, I want to write my mom a song. The thing is, I'm not very skilled at anything (although I suppose I could just do some editing and throw a bunch of takes together), and I don't know an awful lot of music theory. Throughout the day, I'll come up with maybe a nice melody or lyric, but I don't really know where to go from there. Would anyone be able to help me out? I'm thinking something maybe 3 or 4 minutes. I have access to electric guitar, bass guitar, a microcube, keyboard, flute, vocals (well....my vocals -_-), and probably a drum machine on the Internet. Obviously I don't need it to be too complex, but here's the basic layout I have in my mind:

1) Intro ~ 30 seconds
2) Chorus (acoustic) ~ 30 seconds
3) Verse ~ 30 seconds
4) Chorus (electric) ~ 30 seconds
5) Guitar solo (based on chorus melody) ~ 30 seconds
6) Chorus (electric, possible key change) ~ 30 seconds
7) Chorus (acoustic) ~ 30 seconds

I have friend who is good at editing, and I think a simple Garage Band mash-up will suffice.

But I want to ask for help, because I have no idea what to do. :lol

The first thing I'm thinking of is what key to write it in. I'm thinking that it might be cool to have something in minor, and have a key change (possibly to a major...maybe the 5th of the original key....the idea sounds cool but I still have to test it). Something with kind of a casual predictable feel. I obviously don't want to be showing off or anything in a gift to my mom.

So yeah, if anyone knows anything to help me, or knows the right questions to ask myself, it would be very very very much appreciated. :)
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: goldfalcon on May 11, 2011, 09:27:34 AM: I wouldn't get too caught up in the layout right from the start. You should just start with an idea and see where it goes. Maybe ends up being short, maybe longer, but in the end you'll probably have something that works a lot better than if you try to fit ideas to a specific mold. And simple isn't a bad thing either. Some of the best tunes are ones with simple chord progressions and a simple little melody. :)

Alex
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ħ on May 11, 2011, 04:54:12 PM: I'm thinking A-F-C-G....typical, but still strong. And she's not super critical music-wise, so I don't think she'll catch how ordinary the chord progression is.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 11, 2011, 05:21:10 PM: Nah she'll just be happy to get an awesome present in song form from her son. Good idea Brother H.

You'll always be Brother H to me, Brother H.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: antigoon on May 11, 2011, 08:36:14 PM: Go with the flow baby
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ScioPath on May 11, 2011, 08:43:47 PM: You're overthinking this.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: antigoon on May 11, 2011, 08:45:21 PM: I'd like to see MemberH and AndyDT locked in a room together
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 12, 2011, 05:54:26 AM: Hawt.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ravenheart on May 12, 2011, 01:51:08 PM: Quote from: ScioPath on May 11, 2011, 08:43:47 PM
You're overthinking this.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: mizzl on May 12, 2011, 01:53:31 PM: Quote from: Ravenheart on May 12, 2011, 01:51:08 PM
Quote from: ScioPath on May 11, 2011, 08:43:47 PM
You're overthinking this.
This. What you're suggesting might be the bare skeleton of a song, but nowhere near a complete one
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ClairvoyantCat on May 12, 2011, 01:56:35 PM: I think that one part that lasts for 30 seconds could potentially turn out really well.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: The Degenerate on May 12, 2011, 06:37:32 PM: Quote from: mizzl on May 12, 2011, 01:53:31 PM
Quote from: Ravenheart on May 12, 2011, 01:51:08 PM
Quote from: ScioPath on May 11, 2011, 08:43:47 PM
You're overthinking this.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: jonny108 on May 13, 2011, 07:18:55 AM: Must do it in E major. The happiest of all keys :)
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: antigoon on May 14, 2011, 10:31:22 AM: but in all seriousness this formula works wonders

(RAH)²(AH)³ + [ROMA(1+MA)] + (GA)² + (OOH)(LA)²
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:33:35 AM: Quote from: antigoon on May 14, 2011, 10:31:22 AM
but in all seriousness this formula works wonders

(RAH)²(AH)³ + [ROMA(1+MA)] + (GA)² + (OOH)(LA)²

I'm more fond of this forumla for mother's day songwriting:

1 is true 2 is true 3 is true ....... N is true 1 through N are false

Belief in 1 +∞ -∞ -∞ -∞ -X

Belief in 2 -∞ +∞ -∞ -∞ -X

Belief in 3 -∞ -∞ +∞ -∞ -X

.
.
.

Belief in N -∞ -∞ -∞ +∞ -X

No Belief -∞ -∞ -∞ -∞ +X
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: antigoon on May 14, 2011, 10:34:42 AM: That's ridiculous. It doesn't even make sense.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ClairvoyantCat on May 14, 2011, 10:37:40 AM: Back on topic, weird H symbol guy, get rid of the first chorus after the intro. I just can't see it working with the song.

In other words, using the chorus early on is kind of like a Rock slide, which can be effective as a 75 x .9 = 67.5 which is +10 blunt force but heading straight into the verse would me more like quick attack, or in other words 40 x 1 = 40 with +10 blunt force and it's also +10 poison which will make it even more effective so yeah hitting her with the quick attack is your best option.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 10:21:15 PM: Quote from: ClairvoyantCat on May 14, 2011, 10:37:40 AM
Back on topic, weird H symbol guy, get rid of the first chorus after the intro. I just can't see it working with the song.

In other words, using the chorus early on is kind of like a Rock slide, which can be effective as a 75 x .9 = 67.5 which is +10 blunt force but heading straight into the verse would me more like quick attack, or in other words 40 x 1 = 40 with +10 blunt force and it's also +10 poison which will make it even more effective so yeah hitting her with the quick attack is your best option.
POTY
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:21:26 PM: Hit your Mom with quick attack instead of writing her a song.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 10:22:17 PM: Quote from: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:21:26 PM
Hit your Mom with quick attack instead of writing her a song.
No, this is POTY.

:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ZBomber on May 14, 2011, 10:26:50 PM: Quote from: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 10:22:17 PM
Quote from: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:21:26 PM
Hit your Mom with quick attack instead of writing her a song.
No, this is POTY.

:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:29:49 PM: (https://imageshack.us/m/863/1621/pokemon1.png)
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ClairvoyantCat on May 14, 2011, 10:30:49 PM: Holy fucking shit

:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ravenheart on May 14, 2011, 10:31:07 PM: OH MY GOD

:lol :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :lol
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ZBomber on May 14, 2011, 10:32:00 PM: :lol The question is, how is H a higher level than his mom, assuming that level = age

And why does his mom have feet coming out of her neck? That doesn't look healthy.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 10:32:06 PM: I can't even put enough ":rollin's" to show the true greatness of that photoshop.

Holy fuck I am in awe.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ħ on May 14, 2011, 10:56:56 PM: :mehlin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ravenheart on May 14, 2011, 10:57:41 PM: Quote from: Ħ on May 14, 2011, 10:56:56 PM
:mehlin
Shaddup.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 10:57:54 PM: Quote from: Ħ on May 14, 2011, 10:56:56 PM
:rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ClairvoyantCat on May 14, 2011, 10:58:01 PM: Quote from: Ħ on May 14, 2011, 10:56:56 PM
:mehlin

What's the matter?

Rockslide got ya?
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 10:58:31 PM: It's seismic toss you acorn eater.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ZBomber on May 14, 2011, 10:59:04 PM: Pretty sure the :mehlin smiley is Rollout
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ħ on May 14, 2011, 11:02:50 PM: No this is rock slide:

:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
:mehlin :mehlin :mehlin :mehlin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 11:13:36 PM: (https://imageshack.us/m/846/5618/mom1y.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/684/8109/18468148.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/844/9708/mom2j.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/695/7853/72774314.jpg)

(https://www.tasty-deals.com/resources/quiznos.jpg)
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: zxlkho on May 14, 2011, 11:14:28 PM: :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Ravenheart on May 14, 2011, 11:15:39 PM: :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: ZBomber on May 14, 2011, 11:16:16 PM: Quote from: Quadrochosis on May 14, 2011, 11:13:36 PM
(https://imageshack.us/m/846/5618/mom1y.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/684/8109/18468148.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/844/9708/mom2j.jpg)

(https://imageshack.us/m/695/7853/72774314.jpg)

(https://www.tasty-deals.com/resources/quiznos.jpg)

I came.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: Volk9 on May 15, 2011, 01:45:36 AM: (https://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww127/vacillate/miscellaneous/VRSSO33T4WU64Z4UWFHC7NNSD4IYDZ5P.jpg)
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: The Degenerate on May 15, 2011, 05:49:32 PM: This is beautiful.
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: goldfalcon on May 18, 2011, 07:00:19 AM: Well, how'd the song turn out?

Alex
Title: Re: Writing a song for my mom for mother's day.
Post by: jsem on May 18, 2011, 02:38:08 PM: :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

Just discovered this thread.. :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

Seriously though, how'd the song go