Old 10-24-2011, 07:47 PM   #41
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Default cornpone

Ozbald. Loved your ever moving strong chord strumming, and the sassy attitudes in the lyrics. Very toe-tapping. Do you do any ballads or torch songs?
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Old 10-25-2011, 07:31 AM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msore View Post
Do you do any ballads or torch songs?
Hmmm, I guess not. Probably never tried. I just tend to go with whatever ideas are flowing at the moment. And usually, even when I'm trying to be dead friggin serious, my smart-assedness comes shining right on through anyway.

So what is your approach to composition?

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Old 10-26-2011, 11:38 AM   #43
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Default How Can We Be Religious

Ozbald. I compose out of the details and debates of life.

For example. My latest song came from a discussion/debate I had about how you CANNOT know the world unless you see the BAD stuff in the world. Obviously I put out some of this attitude here on the Reaper forum, but it was also going on in my family. The world we thrive in is so full of positive and negative and they are so intertwined, it just CALLED out for a song.

Of course, there are themes that I keep going on about. My wife just told me about a poem I wrote that there have been a number of references recently by me that talk about father mountains, or grandfather stones, or voices from rocks, etc.

Writing not only helps you express, not only helps to define, but also to refine and perfect all that stuff going in circles in the brain.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10748035

lyrics:

How Can We Be Religious


The walker walked along the river
slipping into the muddy bank
who but god is to blame
who but god is to thank?

The seeker who seeks only
the gold of his mythology
will quickly and fatally be laid
in a tomb of heavy cognition.

Corruption around our children
manure in our databases
how can we be religious
and not see the world as it is?

The walker walked along the river
slipping into the muddy bank
who but god is to blame
who but god is to thank?

How can we worship the best
and not move in another direction
from the one we stuck ourselves in
avoiding introspection?

God said at the foundations
of the world it requires evil
and suffering to know the good
to know anything we owe the devil.

The walker walked along the river
slipping into the muddy bank
who but god is to blame
who but god is to thank?

=============

[verse]
C /// F /// Am11 /// C#9/ G7 /
C6 /// D7/// F13 /// Eb9 / D9 /
F9 /// E9 /// Eb13 ///

[chorus]
G7 /// Dm7 /// Am7 /// C7 / Gm7 /
C6 // D7 // C#9 / G7 / ////
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Old 10-29-2011, 05:50 PM   #44
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Default Saw Her Again

Here is one done (written, composed, arranged, recorded, everything) on Thursday, Fri, Saturday. Some will feel it is too slow, but it may be too fast. Actually another faster version with rock feel is being developed but I like this one.

Comments are welcomed.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10787321

===========

Saw Her Again


One night
I fell almost in love
with a woman going off
to Ireland.

It was a matter
of heavy drinking and talk
something was in the backnforth
but what?

Saw her again did I see her again
Saw her again never saw her again.

Face to face
over glasses of whoknowswhat
wanting to be more
than students.

In the morning
I awoke unable to speak
I acted like I could
be a man.

Saw her again did I see her again
Saw her again never saw her again.

At a time
in my life when I made
something out of not having nothing
and who cared?

The other side
of the world sea-beaten
with the beauty of pirates
and ballads.

Saw her again did I see her again
Saw her again never saw her again.

A gruff need
in her voice and my wonder lasted
a year although I never
saw her again.

One night
recently that shakey feeling
came like grapes heavy and ready
to be crushed.
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Old 11-01-2011, 09:13 PM   #45
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Default Debts of Generosity and Guile

An instrumental:

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10827680
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Old 11-08-2011, 02:53 PM   #46
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Default Downhill From Downtown

A jazzy instrumental piece in three parts with horns and guitars.

In place of drums, what I did here (not wanting distraction from the harmonies from any intrusive "beat") was create a track with EZDrummer on it. I copied my MIDI basslines (one for each part A, B and C) onto this drum track, selected all the MIDI notes and made them short, and then turned the volume level down. So I get percussion that follows the bass (quarternote) rhythm, but no drum beat.

Comments are welcomed.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10914701
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Old 11-12-2011, 09:06 AM   #47
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Default Getting Up Early

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10964419

That is my new jazzy arrangement. No words. Yet.

Comments are welcome.
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Old 11-16-2011, 07:49 AM   #48
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Default Goddam Greasy Machines

This one is more funky, less guitar, conflicting chugging rhythms, and exploratory sax.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11011435
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Old 11-18-2011, 04:16 PM   #49
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Default Beyond Breaking

Here is another instrumental. Slow. Harmonic.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11043469
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Old 11-21-2011, 08:52 PM   #50
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Default Transversals

Transversals. This one is about data. A big bite. Too big. But don't we like bites too big?

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11086882
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Old 11-28-2011, 02:56 PM   #51
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Default jazzy instrumental

Je n'aime pas rien

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11166612

comments and advice welcomed.
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Old 11-29-2011, 11:01 AM   #52
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Default Call It What You Will

Another jazzy one, with contrast between fast and slow parts. Again, my interest is in constructing a collage, not in displaying any great solos. Thanks for listening, and for any advice.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11176689
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Old 11-29-2011, 06:53 PM   #53
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Default Call It What You Will

always love a song where i just don't know what's gonna happen next. i was neutral at the beginning, but was hooked when the "brassy" sounds came in. from there, it was quite a journey. got a Zappa/Beefheart kinda feel.
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Old 11-30-2011, 11:14 AM   #54
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Default power and harmony

THanks. I wish I could approach the Zappa/Beefheart flavor, but in my memory that stuff was more about funk, about impact. They did changes for the sake of shaking you up, and emphasized those changes with powerful rhythm and horn sections. My own estimation is that I don't do as much "funk" and "power" as I would like. Maybe that is a stage in the future. For now, I just LOVE harmony. Gracias for checkin in.
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Old 11-30-2011, 11:17 AM   #55
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...mind you, just the "feel," not "sounds like."
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Old 11-30-2011, 11:26 AM   #56
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Default not just?

Sammy, what do you mean there? I'm dense and need a few more words on that. thanks.
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Old 11-30-2011, 11:29 AM   #57
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Default Singin the Snow Down

Here is yesterday's song. This has somewhat the same approach to harmony - lots of changes that are non-traditional, more chromatic. But in this one the voicings are simpler (more bluesy). And there is a lot less rhythmic pulse.

I suspect people would say this is NOT like Zappa. But I may be wrong. Zappa and I both get a kick out of chords.

Singin the Snow Down. Written the other day (about an hour). Recorded yesterday afternoon (about 3.5 hours). Short, relaxed and not well-behaved.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11185584
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Old 11-30-2011, 11:56 AM   #58
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Snow Down: LOVE the chords and guitar in that one.

as for my earlier statement: i meant there are elements that bring those artist to mind, but it doesn't sound like those particular artist. It sounds like YOU within that genre.
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Old 11-30-2011, 10:04 PM   #59
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Default thanks

I first heard Zappa on FM radio KCSB in 1968. Beefheart didn't get the same airplay, I think. Not the splash of adrenalin and wonder that I got from Hendrix or Cream, but Frank's band was certainly putting out the message that there was a lot more to listen to in the world than rocknroll.

So I did.
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Old 12-06-2011, 08:41 PM   #60
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Default Very Big Little Things

This song (piece) was inspired by my thinking about how cool babies are, especially my youngest grandson, and how he brings out the best in his mother. It is short, but still has development. It is snappy, but still has complexity.

[NOTE: This link is to a sped-up version of the song.]

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11281414
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Old 12-07-2011, 08:00 AM   #61
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says "invalid link"
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Old 12-07-2011, 12:09 PM   #62
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Default notation

Try again.
Here is a written representation of Very Big Little Things.

[Thnkslot sammydix!]
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Very Big Little Things small ms.jpg (43.2 KB, 187 views)
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Old 12-07-2011, 01:23 PM   #63
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Holy $#!T. what's that?
uh, isn't that called "notation," or something?
didn't know that it still existed. haha!

put those 9th chords to good use, but my fav of the song is the keys.
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Old 12-07-2011, 01:37 PM   #64
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Default ninths are nice sixths are sexy

thanks.

I have looked over a few recent pieces and suspect that I have a habit (maybe a good one) of creating an overall back-and-forth tension between I and V by using 6th chords for I and dom9 chords for the V. This lets the 6 of the Major chord be the SAME as the 9th of the dominant chord, and then the bass can use THAT note how it wants - either as passing note or pedal note.

[sidenote: reviewing on paper what patterns you have been creating in songs - by examining the paper manuscripts with notes and chords written down - is ANOTHER good reason for doing standard notation. Hearing is king, but seeing helps too.
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Old 12-07-2011, 02:16 PM   #65
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thanks.

I have looked over a few recent pieces and suspect that I have a habit (maybe a good one) of creating an overall back-and-forth tension between I and V by using 6th chords for I and dom9 chords for the V. This lets the 6 of the Major chord be the SAME as the 9th of the dominant chord, and then the bass can use THAT note how it wants - either as passing note or pedal note.
huh? say wha?

but seriously, i understand all the jargon, but not in the prev context.
also, i see you going beyond the "happy" majors and "sad" minors and threw in some cool new personalities. 6ths are indeed sexy and i think 9ths are "pleading" in the sense of "aw, c'mon, please, pretty please?" gotta love abstract thinkers. to bad i don't know you in person.
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Old 12-07-2011, 02:28 PM   #66
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Default knowing

Sammy, if you're listenin to my shit here, you know something about me.
later.
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Old 12-10-2011, 11:23 AM   #67
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Default Villains All

This song is about politicians. No lyrics. Yet.

As you listen, consider some of the conflict and echoing of voices back and forth (and mistakes) as reflecting politics.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11318099

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Old 12-10-2011, 01:05 PM   #68
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always appreciate your keys man--particularly the organ in this one. this is one of my favs from you so far. very beefy sound. I could hear some Gentle Giant type convoluted vocals is this (as in Knots, if you're familiar). again, not "sounds like." i just can hear that type vocal.
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Old 12-10-2011, 02:05 PM   #69
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Default Sound like Henry

Sound much like Henry Threadgill to me.

I want to participate pm me.

Very well done!

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Old 12-10-2011, 03:31 PM   #70
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Just checked out Singing the Snow Down - I love the mood of that one.
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Old 12-10-2011, 08:12 PM   #71
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sammy, frenk, ozbald. yes yes yes, and thanks thanks thanks.
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Old 12-21-2011, 08:54 PM   #72
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Default Got Legs

Here is one struggled over and then declared done. A raucus piece, with goings-back-n-forth between organ and guitar, but with sax and piano stuff added for color. It is like a Jackson Pollack painting but with four VanGogh-ish chairs added in a row across the splattered canvas.


http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11466052
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Old 12-23-2011, 11:13 PM   #73
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Default Trying to do

Today's song, "Trying To Do", is didactic but in a fun way. It celebrates being different.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11492993


Little boy is in the office
in trouble again somehow
cannot learn to not do
what the teachers don't allow.

Little girl with imagination
filling up and flowing free
trying to do what's natural
from the top of every tree.

[B]
Knock down the troublemakers
trying to do anything
singing like the meadowlark
roaming like the buffalo.

Which kind of humans
will first go extinct
those watching television
or those trying to think?

[A]

Goddam artist in another world
painting from a palette of whys and hows
trying to do what cannot be done like
turning weapons into plows.

Creative people don't work
unless they're broken somehow
they keep trying to do
what mama don't allow.

=====================

[A]
Bb / Bb13 / Eb13 ///
A6 /// Db9 ///
Bb / Bb13 / Eb13 ///
Bb / Bb13 / Eb13 ///
A6 /// Gb9 / C7 /
Bb13 / A13 / D /// G7 Gdim7 Gbm7 F7

[B]
F9 /// Bbm7->Bm7-> Cm7 Db9 /
Gbm7b5 /// Ab7 / G7 /
D9 /// D9 Eb9 E9 / D7 /// F#7 / F7 /
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Old 12-24-2011, 08:32 AM   #74
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the lyrics sound like my biography...
don't think i ever heard you sing! cool sax, what did you use? it sounded like a second emphasizing voice. the guitar at "creative people" was a treat; could have heard more of that. couldn't resist playing the chords on my acoustic when i saw them there, interesting combo of progressions.
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Old 12-24-2011, 11:30 AM   #75
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Default some arranging facts

Thanks sammy. The sax is DVS Saxophone vsti, by Martin Best, which I love. Of course, a true sax line would not have the chords that appear in the sax track, but that is one of the beauties of MIDI and VST.

I tried to stick to the melody, but couldn't resist some harmony. Note the "lazy" use of the SAME harmony lines/comping appearing at different places on piano and sax. As I input the guitar-written music into MIDI, it started out rather stodgy, straight. My jazz side wanted to fuxss around with it but my lyrical side said Don't let the accompaniment get in the way. Adding some off-rhythm stuff, applying some humanize to some parts, and doing some non-steady things with EZDrummer gave it more life as I went along.

Long live the misbehavers!
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Old 01-01-2012, 08:23 PM   #76
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Default The Sound of Ambiguity

Here is a new instrumental I did. With a jazzy verse alternating with a groove-oriented section. Comments welcome.


http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11592195
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Old 01-02-2012, 07:04 AM   #77
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i hear some very cool progressions in this one. Ambiguity is easily one of my favorites from you so far. the guitars shine in this one and you can take your pick of favorite sections. there's a piano part ~1:17 that's brief, but it loved it, shows up again ~1:55. whole song sounds inspired.
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Old 01-02-2012, 12:27 PM   #78
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Default some repeating, some not.

Thanks. My brother (a Stones fan and big doper) asked me if I used dice in making up songs. No dice, but I do take chances. Glad this one gets praise from you. merci.
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:43 PM   #79
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Default Left and Followed

Here is a new song that is so deeply personal and so deeply musical that few will tolerate it. I figure if most people are afraid of a piece of music, there must be something there, eh?

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11628119

Comments welcome.

===========


Left and Followed


Alone and wondering
thinking or feeling
[damage valued
over easy]
going and then finding out
like cars on the road without tires
like tourist traps trapping only the locals
out of here offers no future.

No culture like the present
no looking over the walls
left and
followed.

Left and followed
found and neglected
[all mine all yours
scattered behind]
make no mistake about it
what was here is not here
ook backwards a few years to when we were
all loaded up without baggage.

No culture like the present
no looking over the walls
left and
followed.

Knocked on doors nightly
looking for fun
[did you find any
worthwhile?]
knocked on windows for thrills
still broke in spite of opportunity
we would not have it any other way
locked in to the outdoors ain't we?

No culture like the present
no looking over the walls
left and
followed.
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Old 01-04-2012, 09:37 PM   #80
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Default Getting In Trouble

Here is another one that turned out quicker than I expected. Wrote it on guitar on Dec 29, laid out the basic melodies and harmonies yesterday, and then laid down guitar lines and did the whole arrangement today. I like it. Hope you all do. And holy camoley it has the same speed and time signature throughout the whole thing!

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11634943
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