guitar

for just about every song i’ve written, the process has been the same.
i usually write the entire song on either my acoustic guitar or piano.
by entire song, i mean: lyrics, melody, key, chord progression(s), tempo.
then i give some thought to the full band arrangement and record a demo - programmed drums, live bass, keys, etc…

for this song, i decided to change the process up a bit.
i took it to the band much earlier in the process.

my thinking was that the input of other musicians would naturally produce a different outcome for each individual part and therefore the whole arrangement of the song.
then, as a result, the melody and lyrics would end up different as well.

so, here’s what i had going in….

**one line of the lyric: “we’ve caught a glimpse of your kingdom and we want more”
**a tempo: 144 bpm
**the rhythm for that one line: where each syllable falls in time with the music.

that’s it.

here’s what i didn’t have:
**key
**melody for the one line
**chord progression

joe, dan and chris did a great job of just jamming for awhile until we came up with a “riff” that seemed to work for a musical hook at that tempo.
we chose the key of E just for starters.
we played with that riff for awhile.
to me it started sounding like a verse.
so, we then decided to try to come up with a chorus progression and feel that would drive a little harder.

at that point, i decided to try to come up with a melody for the one line of lyric.
turns out we were in a bad key.
we couldn’t pitch the melody in the right range to match the intensity of the lyric and the music.
so we found a new key - key of B.
found a workable melody for that line and just sang blah blah blah for the rest of the chorus.

we worked on transitions between the verse and chorus.
decided that we needed a two-line ramp up to the chorus.
chose a chord progression that felt like it set up the chorus well.

transition back from chorus to verse, we decided to use the riff again.

we all agreed that it was coming together. felt good.
but we needed a bridge.
dan and joe threw out the idea of holding on each chord longer for the bridge - to help the dynamics change.
great idea.
they batted a few ideas back and forth.
meanwhile, i stumbled on a counter melody line that changed twice for each chord underneath (if that makes sense).
chris picked up on it on electric guitar.
we ended up with a nice bridge that starts out “down” and builds nicely over three repeats, leading back to a big final chorus.

now, i just have to write the parts that actually make it a corporate worship song - the lyrics and the melody.
but i have much more of a direction for that now, having experienced how the song feels with a full band already.

“here’s how you hold it.”

“is this right?”

“hold on, i need to adjust the action.”

“that B string just won’t stay in tune!”

“baby, we have to work on your rock face.”

I went to an open mic tonight in support of my friend, Brian. He’s just finished his first year of college and is home for the summer as of this week. Brian led the high school worship band as a junior and senior in high school at the church where I serve as worship pastor. I’ve tried to be encouraging and supportive of him, although I always wished I had more time to spend with him and build into him when he was here.

Anyway, turns out there were a couple of other young guys on the bill tonight that are in some way connected with Crosspointe - they play in cover bands with some of the musicians in our junior high band. So I decided to stay awhile and catch some of their sets, too.

Here are some of my observations and thoughts from tonight.

1. I remembered what it was like to be that age and discovering the joy of music. These guys just love to play - discovering old songs, writing new songs, whatever. An open mic night with no one there except family and a few friends, but that’s cool. They just love to play! I want to have that kind of fun with music again….

2. 60’s and 70’s seems to be the musical era of choice for junior high students. Tonight I heard songs from The Beatles, George Harrison, The Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and more. Is this phenomenon common to the whole country? Not surprisingly, the original songs that the guys played tonight sounded as if they were definitely influenced by these artists as well. Very interesting.

3. I realized that I’m growing up. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy listening to live music whenever, wherever. But at the end of the day, I was not there tonight for me, but instead I was there to support the younguns. At 32, I’m starting to recognize the need to build into the musicians of tomorrow. (Wow I sound old.) And I’m not just doing it out of obligation, but I actually enjoy it. I think of John Ferguson, my friend who was most responsible for putting me on the track to where I am today as a musician and worship leader. I see now that it was no accident that he built into me, but that he was intentional about it. And I’m very grateful. And I’m happy that it’s my turn to do the same.

I love God. I love music. I love musicians. I’m glad God created music.

I had a great time last night at our second monthly songwriter’s community. Thanks for organizing and hosting, Nate. Again, a small group. But, I have to say that selfishly they both have been smashing successes as far as I’m concerned.

I decided that I’m going to use the open mic as a deadline to have something new every month. This is going to be my plan of discipline to keep writing and being creative. So I sang my latest song “Chasing the Daylight” this time. I received some fairly good feedback on the song. Now I need to get it recorded…

….oh, and I heard a rough mix of “Waiting” that Nate Fancher is producing for me. He’s done some really great stuff to fill out the arrangement of the song. It has some cool Nate Fancher-ness to it. Can’t wait to be able to post it and give it to the world (or at least my mom).

that’s it for now….

. . .for the past few years. But recently, finding myself in a dry spell, I’ve taken some of that pressure off. Lately I’m just trying to write whatever comes out. I’m having fun and it’s helping me work through feelings, frustrations, fears, etc. In fact, it strikes me that this must be what David felt like. No holds barred. Lettin’ ‘er rip, if you will.

Here’s a bit that I wrote today. Maybe I can post a link once it’s recorded. . .

Chasing the Daylight (thanks Erwin!)

Wasting the daylight
Hiding from your fears
Abandoning your dreams
Wasting the daylight

Oh, you used to be alive
Oh, you can come alive again

Let’s chase the daylight
Staring down our fears
Embracing our dreams
Chasing the daylight

Oh, I used to be alive
Oh, I want to come alive again
Oh, I used to be alive
Oh, I want to come alive again

Abundant life
What’s the meaning?
Abundant life
Is there some for me?

Oh, I used to be alive
Oh, I want to come alive again
Oh, I used to be alive
Oh, I want to come alive again

As a songwriter, I’m currently finding inspiration in experimenting with different guitar tunings. I find that it gets me out of familiar patterns - both chordally and melodically. Half the time, I’m not even immediately sure EXACTLY what chord I’m playing. It kind of forces me to turn my left brain off and go with the right side for awhile…

Here’s the tuning I’m really digging right now: C G D G B D (low to high)

Any other songwriters care to share ways that you are inspired to get out of familiar patterns?