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Thanks for the advice man! I usually start by thinking of a message (or a line), and build from there. I used to start with chords, but that really got me nowhere. Once again, thanks for the help! 🙂
Jackson E. Graham
http://jacksonegraham.wixsite.com/jackson-e-graham@warrioroftherealm, no problem. Hope it helps.
Also just thought of something else. Be sure to find some kind of music theory book you can work through if you have not done so already. That is going to be the equivalent to studying grammar and punctuation in becoming a better writer.
Also (I use that word too much), you will want to think about what it is you want to say as an artist. This can have different iterations in each of your works of art, but you really want to spend some amount of time thinking about it. Usually, when I begin to dwell on these thoughts, I eventually start to stand in awe of our God and Savior because I want to say what He wants to say. This leads me to want to know Him more and become more like Him, both in creativity and character. So I recommend that you take some time to dwell on Him and His will as it is expressed through the scriptures. Then allow your creativity flow from that wellspring of life that He is creating in you.
Final also (for now): don’t be afraid to be totally honest about what you think and feel. None of us are perfect and our art is always going to be a broken reflection of reality. This does not excuse you from doing the best you can to know and understand The Truth as it is expressed through the person of Jesus Christ, but you should allow yourself to try new things and make mistakes while leaning on the power of Christ to use your brokenness to accomplish His will.
Okay, I’ll stop ranting now. Best of luck with your song writing. I hope you will share what you come up with soon!
Thanks for the encouragement man! 🙂
By the way,
@gretald, @bluejay, @writefury, @daeus, @hannah-olsen, @mark-kamibaya, @Sarah-H, @kate-flournoy, @emma-flournoy, @dragon-snapper, @michael-stantonHappy Thanksgiving y’all!
Jackson E. Graham
http://jacksonegraham.wixsite.com/jackson-e-grahamThanks @WarrioroftheRealm! You too. Where do you live? Our Thanksgiving is tomorrow. 😉
Same to you @WarrioroftheRealm. 😀
Thanks, Jackson. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
@Warrioroftherealm
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you, as well! Enjoy the time off with your family tomorrow (that is, if you’re celebrating tomorrow). 😉@warrioroftherealm Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
*smiles to self* Almost time for the feast of the year… 😛 😀☀ ☀ ☀ ENFP ☀ ☀ ☀
@warrioroftherealm Happy Thanksgiving to you too! A pet peeve on songwriting crossed my mind a couple days ago. Songs recently have been just so boring. I attribute that to the second and/or third verses. They don’t build on the foundation of the first verse. Because (even though a song may or may not be a story) it has to progress forward in the same way a story does.
Repeating the exact same thing for two or more verses just bores the listeners. Think of it like three boxes stacked on top of each other. The first verse is the bottom one, second verse is the second, and so on. The chorus holds them together, but the verses give new information and reinforce the theme (which is stated in the chorus).
My favorite songs are the ones that either actually tell a story or reverse/build on expectations with every verse. Here’s an example (it’s not Christian, though).
Take “Passion” as a theme. First verse could be how you need passion to succeed. Second verse could be how you reach the top because of your undying passion. Third verse tells of your greatness but hints of the negative affects of having such an obsessive passion. They build on each other. And the chorus tells of how a passion is good. By the third time the chorus is repeated the chorus has put on a new meaning. The singer says that passion is good, but the listeners know that the singer has destroyed his life because of his obsession.
I just had to get that off my mind.
So what do you think of that?
I blog on story and spiritual things at mkami.weebly.com
@gretald, @bluejay, @writefury, @daeus,@Sarah-H, @kate-flournoy, @emma-flournoy, @dragon-snapper
I live in Idaho, so Thanksgiving is actually the 24th, but we were celebrating it one day earlier because my Dad is working the night of the 24th.
Haha! I have a pet-peeve of repetition too. 🙂 I don’t understand why people like to hear the same three lines repeated 20 or more times in a row. It gets really boring, and meaningless.
By the way guys, what are some of your favorite bands/genres? I know this topic is about songwriting, but I thought I might as well ask.
My favorite genres (besides soundtrack) are Country/Southern Rock/Blues and Worship. Definitely check out Rhett Walker Band, Needtobreathe, and Justin Johnson! 🙂
Jackson E. Graham
http://jacksonegraham.wixsite.com/jackson-e-graham@WarrioroftheRealm Got it.
And I agree hugely with you and @Mark-Kamibaya about repetition in songs!!Have you heard the musical ‘group’ (not sure if that works, ’cause it’s mainly two people) Secret Garden? They’ve got some weird ones, but some of their’s are gorgeous. It’s a Norwegian composer and pianist (Rolf Loveland) and an Irish violinist (Fion…something or other 😛 Sherry).
@warrioroftherealm You didn’t tag me. I feel so left out. Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before? Check out the Mind of a Writer Thread. Crazy Awesomeness. And madness. Insanity.
I just wrote my second song, “I wrote this thread’ And all I can say is don’t read it to yourself like a poem because songs have different meters and don’t rhyme cross with loss either. You’d be about the 300,000, person to do so when it comes to songs about Jesus dying. What’s the genre of song? Like up-beat, mournful, encouraging?
ENFP - "One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane."
@WarrioroftheRealm hm… my favorite genre of music is probably traditional Celtic/Scottish/Nordic, though it’s really hard to find genuinely beautiful arrangements of traditional tunes.
And… I don’t have a favorite band. I just dig through stuff and find things I like the sound of. 😛@warrioroftherealm Ah, you shouldn’t ask me that question. Any time I’m in my room, or I have my computer out, I’m listening to music.
@anne-of-lothlorien I don’t think that the Warrior’s new… He’s been here for longer than I have.
Here’s me keeping it as simple as possible–
My favorite genres are Worship and Epic. So sorry, Warrior, but I’m not a country person.
I love Chris Tomlin’s new album Never Lose Sight, particularly the song ‘Jesus’. I’m not kidding; you all have to listen to this one. I also like Phil Wickham, Passion and Sovereign Grace Music.☀ ☀ ☀ ENFP ☀ ☀ ☀
I haven’t seen you around until now. Funny how our paths haven’t crossed yet, since I’ve been here for at least half a year or more…
The song I’m writing is going to be an upbeat, guitar driven song (in the southern rock/blues/country style).
Jackson E. Graham
http://jacksonegraham.wixsite.com/jackson-e-graham
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