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Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a bunch of people on this list
that write surf songs. How do you go about doing it? Do you start with a
chord progression and all the chord changes or does it start with a melody
line and build off that? Do you take into consideration all of the
instrumental parts simultaneously when making up parts or do you do one
instruments part and then do the others? I'm just interesting in knowing
how different people go about writing songs and what types of songs they
write. Anybody know anything about how some famous classics were written?
-Thor
_________________________________________________________________
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For me, it works best to start with a rhythm base, and work up a melody line
from there. As the tune develops, the rhythm may be expanded, and breaks or
dynamic changes inserted to accentuate the presence or absence of the
different contributing instruments. Pretty amusing to listen back to some
of my concept tapes, compared to the finished song!
Best regards, Dana Vincent
----- Original Message -----
From: One Four Six Oh
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 10:54 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Song Writing
Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a bunch of people on this list
that write surf songs. How do you go about doing it? Do you start with a
chord progression and all the chord changes or does it start with a melody
line and build off that? Do you take into consideration all of the
instrumental parts simultaneously when making up parts or do you do one
instruments part and then do the others? I'm just interesting in knowing
how different people go about writing songs and what types of songs they
write. Anybody know anything about how some famous classics were written?
-Thor
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> For me, it works best to start with a rhythm base, and work up a
melody line
> from there. As the tune develops, the rhythm may be expanded, and
breaks or
> dynamic changes inserted to accentuate the presence or absence of
the
> different contributing instruments. Pretty amusing to listen back
to some
> of my concept tapes, compared to the finished song!
>
> Best regards, Dana Vincent
>
>
I do just the opposite. Usually I'll work on the melody of a song
first. I find the chord progression comes out of that. Being in a 3
piece, each part is crucial to creating a full sound. Often the
guitar lines are written to include double stops, and chords, while
the bass line acts as a rudimentary sort of counterpoint, not just
doubling the melody, or outlining the chord progression's roots. This
is how I generally write, but sometimes the chord progression comes
first, or a bass line, or even a drum beat. Sometimes the thing will
just pop in my head (not often enough, though). Also, some songs
practically write themselves, while others can take months to take
shape (I'm stuck on one of those right now...grrr...). It is
important to keep writing, and rewriting, and not be afraid to leave
an idea alone for a while if it's not working.
Mike/USK
Urban Surf Kings
www.geocities.com/surfkings
> I do just the opposite. Usually I'll work on the melody of a song
> first. I find the chord progression comes out of that.
Yeah, that's basically what I do first then it all falls into place.
I've only began writing songs two years ago and at that point I was
playing for 4 years. I'm still trying to come with something
original, most of my stuff is derived from something else. My latest
composition which I call "1966" is based off the same progression as
The Bobby Fuller Four's "Our Favorite Martian". I'm going to keep
pluggin' away at it, find a band, and maybe record a CD or two
someday.
Chad Cote
6 string surfer.
Hi..this is an extremely interesting question for me as well. Please keep
the responses coming on this one!
Thanks,
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: One Four Six Oh [mailto:]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:55 AM
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Song Writing
>
>
> Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a bunch of people
> on this list
> that write surf songs. How do you go about doing it? Do you
> start with a
> chord progression and all the chord changes or does it start with
> a melody
> line and build off that? Do you take into consideration all of the
> instrumental parts simultaneously when making up parts or do you do one
> instruments part and then do the others? I'm just interesting in knowing
> how different people go about writing songs and what types of songs they
> write. Anybody know anything about how some famous classics were written?
>
> -Thor
>
>
>
Wow! I love this topic!
When I am going to write a song, be it surf or
anything, I get an idea of what kind of song I want to
write (fast/slow, happy/sad . . . no that all songs
aspects of songs fall into 2 categories, but I find it
helps me come up with a more complete album, demo, EP
if the songs all convey a different feeling). Then I
listen to a bunch of music that conveys that sounds
like what I'd like to write. When I'm writing a surf
song, however, I DON'T LISTEN TO SURF MUSIC! For me
this is extremely important, because I don't want my
finished product to sound like anything thats already
been done. The way I see it, I'm a surf guitarist. I
play a jazzmaster through a reverb unit and an old
fender amp . . . the sound will be a surf sound
regardless of where I get the melodies (usually they
come partly from listening to music that inspires me
and partly from . . . out of thin air?). I wish there
were some way of explaining it without comparing
myself to people who are far more talented then
myself, but the Beatles, specifically John Lennon, use
to say that the best songs came from someplace
unknown. He woke up and they were there. Most of the
time I jam with my band and just keep messing around
'til I come up with something I can really get into.
Then I think of how to alter it to make more parts. I
don't know if this is helpful, but I usually can't
write a very good song when I just sit down and think
"I'm going to write a good song." Instead, they creep
up on me and surprise me. When I'm "in the zone" I
just roll with it til the songs done. My best advice
to anyone who wants to be a good song-writer is write
songs often. The more songs I have to draw from the
better my songs will be (just play the ones you still
like and leave the others on the cutting room floor),
not to mention the benefits of gaining more writing
experience. Trust yourself . . . you will write good
songs. Don't get frustrated. If guitar writing seems
like a chore, take a break.
Damon Devilsurf
--- One Four Six Oh <> wrote:
> Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a
> bunch of people on this list
> that write surf songs. How do you go about doing
> it? Do you start with a
> chord progression and all the chord changes or does
> it start with a melody
> line and build off that? Do you take into
> consideration all of the
> instrumental parts simultaneously when making up
> parts or do you do one
> instruments part and then do the others? I'm just
> interesting in knowing
> how different people go about writing songs and what
> types of songs they
> write. Anybody know anything about how some famous
> classics were written?
>
> -Thor
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print
> your photos:
>
>
>
__________________________________________________
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I pretty much agree with Damon on this topic. I also like what Elton John once
said about songwriting which was something like, if it takes him more than a 1/2
hour to write a song, it ain't a good song.
For me their are somedays when the ideas just flow and so I record the ideas as
they come. Then I listen back to the recordings in a few days, weeks or even
months later. Many of the ideas are too trite but there's always one or two that
are worth developing.
Marty
> Wow! I love this topic!
>
> When I am going to write a song, be it surf or
> anything, I get an idea of what kind of song I want to
> write (fast/slow, happy/sad . . . no that all songs
> aspects of songs fall into 2 categories, but I find it
> helps me come up with a more complete album, demo, EP
> if the songs all convey a different feeling). Then I
> listen to a bunch of music that conveys that sounds
> like what I'd like to write. When I'm writing a surf
> song, however, I DON'T LISTEN TO SURF MUSIC! For me
> this is extremely important, because I don't want my
> finished product to sound like anything thats already
> been done. The way I see it, I'm a surf guitarist. I
> play a jazzmaster through a reverb unit and an old
> fender amp . . . the sound will be a surf sound
> regardless of where I get the melodies (usually they
> come partly from listening to music that inspires me
> and partly from . . . out of thin air?). I wish there
> were some way of explaining it without comparing
> myself to people who are far more talented then
> myself, but the Beatles, specifically John Lennon, use
> to say that the best songs came from someplace
> unknown. He woke up and they were there. Most of the
> time I jam with my band and just keep messing around
> 'til I come up with something I can really get into.
> Then I think of how to alter it to make more parts. I
> don't know if this is helpful, but I usually can't
> write a very good song when I just sit down and think
> "I'm going to write a good song." Instead, they creep
> up on me and surprise me. When I'm "in the zone" I
> just roll with it til the songs done. My best advice
> to anyone who wants to be a good song-writer is write
> songs often. The more songs I have to draw from the
> better my songs will be (just play the ones you still
> like and leave the others on the cutting room floor),
> not to mention the benefits of gaining more writing
> experience. Trust yourself . . . you will write good
> songs. Don't get frustrated. If guitar writing seems
> like a chore, take a break.
>
> Damon Devilsurf
>
> --- One Four Six Oh <> wrote:
> > Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a
> > bunch of people on this list
> > that write surf songs. How do you go about doing
> > it? Do you start with a
> > chord progression and all the chord changes or does
> > it start with a melody
> > line and build off that? Do you take into
> > consideration all of the
> > instrumental parts simultaneously when making up
> > parts or do you do one
> > instruments part and then do the others? I'm just
> > interesting in knowing
> > how different people go about writing songs and what
> > types of songs they
> > write. Anybody know anything about how some famous
> > classics were written?
> >
> > -Thor
> >
> >
> >
> _________________________________________________________________
> > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print
> > your photos:
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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I figure I'll share too. I do it all sorts of ways.
Sometimes it'll start with a cool chord progression
and I'll build a lead off of that or sometimes I'll
have a cool melody line and mold everything to that.
Since my band is a trio I'm constantly keeping in mind
what the bass will be doing and how it'll fit in and
how it'll be keeping things interesting. I always
stay away from riff based I IV V (or variations of
that) progression songs. I really like minor trinity
stuff (I don't know much or anything about theory, but
I think that's what it's called). I like to use a
good mix between major and minor chords, but I don't
like it to come out sounding overtly happy. What I
really hate is going "Ok, this is how it's going to
go" and finalizing how a song is going to go because I
always feel that it has the potential to be better.
-Thor
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> Hi..this is an extremely interesting question for me
> as well. Please keep
> the responses coming on this one!
> Thanks,
> BN
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: One Four Six Oh
> [mailto:]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:55 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Song Writing
> >
> >
> > Hello, I've got a question. I assume there's a
> bunch of people
> > on this list
> > that write surf songs. How do you go about doing
> it? Do you
> > start with a
> > chord progression and all the chord changes or
> does it start with
> > a melody
> > line and build off that? Do you take into
> consideration all of the
> > instrumental parts simultaneously when making up
> parts or do you do one
> > instruments part and then do the others? I'm just
> interesting in knowing
> > how different people go about writing songs and
> what types of songs they
> > write. Anybody know anything about how some
> famous classics were written?
> >
> > -Thor
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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