Question:
Hey-
Me and my band are trying to write our first song. And we have come to a problem. We created an intro and a verse that are completely unique and belong to us, and it's pretty cool. But our problem is the courus. See, they want to use the chours from a tab I found on this site of Pillar's 'Bring Me Down', and I don't want to do this for a couple of reasons. First off, its not ours. Its some guys tab. Now, 'Bring Me Down" is meant do be played in
Drop-C (CGCFAD) tuning, and our song is in Drop-D (DADGBE). Now, they say it sounds nothing like Pillars version, but I think it sounds just like it, only not as low. The rythym is the same, too. So its kind of like stealing from two diffrent people, and it dosent feel right, especially since we are a 'Christian' band. Another reason I don't want to do this is because it's not original. Songwriting is supposed to come out of creativity, not slightly modifying what someone else did. And the third reason is that I don't think it fits well with the song. It just doesn't seem to flow with everything else. Now, we are all pretty much on a begginer level of musicanship, and are pretty clueless on how to write songs (i.e. we dont know how to write in certain keys, ect.) I was just wondering if any of you expirianced songwriters could give me a hand. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and double thanks if you can help.
-Alex
Answer:
Writing in a single key is pretty much in the playing, you have to remember which notes are flatted, or, on the other side, which notes are sharped, and keep that in mind. You can use the same musical sensibilities of the Pillar, but I wouldn't recommend just stealing it. Keeping the rhythm from the Pillar song is okay, but I wouldn't keep the riff.
Answer:
Hey me n my band is starting to right song... since now u already started sumthin now all u hav is to build on it... im not very good at song writing too, and that is y im studying music theory cuz it has some cool stuff on how notes go together, i highly recomend it unless u just have that really special talent of playing by ear and song writing out of the blue, but music theory helps so much, trust me dude, but lol i am confused 60% of the time and on the 40% sum1 prolly taught me b4 or i am familiar with, so independence is hard so u n ur band can go learn together also seek help of older and more experienced musicians cuz i hav like 3 guys really wanting me to learn and they are all good musicians and they told me it really helps a lot, so i trust em cuz i look up to them. So pls try it... for starters... either buy a book or like find a site that teaches it for free. Well GL and God Bless, who noes maybe in the future our bands can tour together and hav ppl come to Christ through our Music.
UR BROTHER IN CHRIST,
Michael
Answer:
oh yah i also dealt with not wanting to copy others ppl's music n try to be as original as possible... but i failed lately cuz the song i try to made up sounds like 2 songs combined to even though im tryin not to, but dont give up, lol my sis is like 1 try and wala a nice piano line or even songs, if ur wondering she's our drummer but a very talented lyricist not to mention good at makin up stuff, we will like sound like evanescence, or barlow gurl(sounds da same) if she learns how to combine her piano skillz with her awesome lyrics... well peace
Answer:
Just try to find something that inspires you. Pillar, Staple, and Killswitch Engage are 3 bands that really inspire me personally, and you can tell from the music I write. I don't blatantly take riffs from them, but like I said, if you listen to what I play, it's fairly evident that I take strong influences from them. I listen to their music for a while, then just start playing what I'm feeling. I can't really explain it because it's something that comes from within. But just listen around until you find something that strikes your fancy far beyond the others, and hopefully that can give you some ideas.