|  | copyright, Brian Kelley
Songwriting: Rough music as it is being written and developed | |
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Writing music is the first step. For many that is enough. For me, I want to usually work it out with a band, to draw upon the creative juices of others and to hear it a bit closer to what I hear in my head but cannot produce myself, because I can only sing, play guitar and create percussion (and even this not all at once - and the live part of it all is not to be underestimated.)
This is a rehearsal with my German band [Steffi Weiss - keys/vocals; Petra Wolfsperger - recorder; Christian Mees - bass] (we even created some German lyrics for the song specifically this.)
As is usual this was recorded on the Palm Tungsten which records mono and does a very poor job of dealing with clipping and audio that gets too "hot". That is part of the roughness of what works.
The raw material provides insight into discussions, general direction and more that you will need to discover for yourself and to which you are warmly welcomed.
I should note that this was the first and only time we got together on this tune. It was performed 3 days later.
The original post on this song is RoughMix episode 108 - http://ruffmix.com/entry/2008-02-22T03_05_53-08_00 where I shared two versions of what I did in the original writing of the tune.
This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation!
ENJOY!
You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains.
RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s) |
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Sometimes the best thing you can do is to simply sit down and play without a plan, without any goals, and see what happens. As in most cases this got recorded on my Palm Tungsten, which is almost always with me - which makes it a good tool for capturing spontaneity.
I had a listen to this clip afterwards and heard that I had a few elements that could be of use:
* some tapping
* some harmonics
* some rhythm change-ups
Most importantly, to keep it rough I was not afraid of making mistakes just because I was recording it. I believe it is precisely this that allows for discovery of something new, something fresh and unique
That's what I did here in RoughMix episode 125, which I am calling "Acoustic Airs".
For those of you really into the roughness I am also sharing the original Palm based wav file online:
Acoustic Airs.wav: http://tinyurl.com/AcousticAirs
This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation!
ENJOY!
You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains.
RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s) |
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nlnnet posted a photo:
The cast can be found at RuffMix.com - the cast about how music is made  |
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This time around I am sharing a tune with two "drafts". Here I played around with the theme long enough to have some unique things spring forth just by virtue of staying at it long enough. Listen carefully and you will hear my daughter chime in with some background vocals.
For those of you really into the roughness I am also sharing the original Palm based wav files online:
First "capture": http://www.mediafire.com/?yisfmqofzef
Second "capture": http://www.mediafire.com/?gouqotcme8j
This episode is sponsored by http://elephant-town.com - add your own cover version to the Uke sensation!
You can also save 10% on domain names at http://GoDaddy.com by using the code "blu6". It is a great place to buy AND manage your domains.
RuffMix is a member of the blubrry community, that's http://blubrry.com (without the "e" s) |
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RoughMix 123 - Press 1 (the songwriting cast about how music is made)
Sounds are all around us. I have slowly come to the conclusion that all of them are potential tools for inspiration, as this episode of RoughMix shows.
Welcome to RoughMix 123 - Press 1.
As the title implies, this episode was inspired by a recording I made while trying to call a credit card company. It was the automated voice that annoys us all so very much. I decided to try and use it as an inspirational tool and this cast is the result.
The important thing is not what I did (the music is truthfully pretty lame) but this is the Rough Mix and therefore I am sharing with you the raw data of the songwriting process in the hopes that it will whet your songwriting appetite.
Your inspiration may create something quite different - who cares! Your music should be yours - let loose!
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Here some housekeeping:
I can be contacted a number of ways. You can:
* visit RuffMix.com and leave a comment
* send an email or voicemail to nlnnet@gmail.com
* twitter me at: nlnnet
* Skype Me at briankelley
There is also a bonus for those who listen to the end - a tune Brian wrote for his daughter of http://Elephant-Town.com fame back when she was very little. This is the third verse. |
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Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/unleashingmephotography/2316833560/sizes/o/
Two rough "tunes"
* In your Hands
* 3rd fret start - it sounds like I here had a lick which was central to what became experimentation after that - always returning to the basic theme and then branching off from it again. I also included licks from other songs in it 2:22 for example, and others
Over time you create a style and a body of work. This is a resource than you can plow again using it as a fertilizer for new projects - often improving and refining what you have already done. When I create something new it is impossible for me to not know my past.
Sometimes it makes sense to try extra hard to do something unique, but why not try at least sometimes to embrace your songwriting past and incorporate it into something intentionally? |
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Photo CC License - http://flickr.com/photos/alaala/163091182/
This episode has the meek Uke serving as an inspiration to its 6 stringed bigger brother.
Enjoy the cast - as always, feedback is most welcome in whatever format you choose.
Visit my Twitter account - http://twitter.com/nlnnet |
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RoughMix 120 - Dancin Singing (Sorry Yoko)
Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/andrewbaron/71618124/sizes/m/ - by Andrew Baron, CC Licence
Just to show you how rough you can get this episode has its place. I am sharing with you all of the rough, which includes an embarressing "Yoko Ono" like voice, which is followed by what that inspired. (Sorry Yoko!)
Oddly enough, the second could not have happened without the first.
And so the tip this time - do not be afraid of making a fool of yourself (it is after all for you.) If you let your thoughts freely flow you may end up being surprised by what follows.
The original file as recorded on the Palm can be downloaded here for those of you who really want the details:
Original WAV file: http://www.mediafire.com/?unmjdonii1j
As I write this episode my audicity software is going crazy and doing nothing that it should. I have had to revert to an earlier version of the software, which meant that all of what I recorded was useless. I needed to mix down all of what I had to an mp3 file and then use this as the new base - sorry for any loss of quality - rougher still!
If you like this podcast send us some love! We want to hear from you! Email: ruffmix@gmail.com |
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Not much to say this time - this is an episode that should speak for itself as it takes a riff and works with it.
You can also access me and my random thoughts at: http://twitter.com/nlnnet
And do not forget that if you choose a new domain to save 10% using our Godaddy.com discount code "blu6". (Please, please! ;-)
Enjoy the episode and share feedback via email, comments or voicemail. |
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Take a ride with me into the distant past when my hair was black and my back was strong enough to schlepp around electric pianos.
118 has a look into what is possible when you do not even have "real" instruments.
The most important part of songwriting is not the tools at hand, but the tools in your head.
You can also access me and my random thoughts at: http://twitter.com/nlnnet
And do not forget that if you choose a new domain to save 10% using our Godaddy.com discount code "blu6". (Please, please! ;-)
Enjoy the episode and share feedback via email, comments or voicemail. |
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Some times it feels good just to hit things - added bonus if that is a guitar that results in sounds you like.
That was in any case the attempt represented in this episode of RoughMix which I am calling slap therapy. Listen in on the clip, recorded on the Palm Tungsten and you hear why I chose this as a title.
My tip this time around is to let things run awhile. Do not always be in a hurry to "make" something and don't worry about polish or beauty. Raw emotion, and unvarnished energy and the simple joy of not have any rules is sometimes a real pleasure.
It also has the added benefit of often causing something more refined to spring from this little exercise. |
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RoughMix 116 - As started in episode 113, "Love Is" is an on demand tune.
This episode presents the live version performed with a band, also done rough (find out how by listening in.)
Contact us at ruffmix@gmail.com, or even better by visiting http://RuffMix.com and leaving a message there on this episode.
The lyrics and chords are available to anyone by making a request when you save a note (your bonus for giving feedback.) The photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/316195320/sizes/s/ Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/ |
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I share an experiment as I record randomly on the Palm Tungsten - called Rising Waters
Special greetings to folks in Bangalore, Guangzhou, Gdansk, Skipton, San Antonio and others.
Subscribe to the feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix Save 10% on GoDaddy purchases with the code "blu6" Enjoy! |
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The photo in its original can be seen here (CC license) http://flickr.com/photos/webbysworld/44408276/
In this episode of RoughMix I share two clips as indicated in the title in the hopes that it inspires above all all who may listen to record whatever you do to capture ideas. Only when you have a system will you not fprget things you create.
Leave feedback at roughmix@gmail.com
Subscribe to the feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix
Save 10% on GoDaddy purchases with the code "blu6"
Enjoy! |
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RoughMix 113 - Love Is
This tune was written "on demand". Find out more about how this was done in this cast.
This cast has the bit recorded for the band to rehearse, as well as the stuff that flowed from my head with all that was created being done on the fly. Follow the progress and see how it may help your songwriting.
Contact us at roughmix@gmail.com, or even better by visiting http://RuffMix.com and leaving a message there on this episode.
The lyrics and chords are available to anyone by making a request when you save a note (your bonus for giving feedback.)
The photo can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/316195320/sizes/s/
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorboat4107/ |
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RoughMix 112 - 1 Plus 1
This episode has two pieces coming together to make something greater - 1 Plus 1.
It is entirely Palm Tungsten recorded.
It also pays a special greeting to listeners in Hawaii,Texas, Brazil, Argentina, and SE England.
Post messages by visiting http://RuffMix.com
Save 10% on GoodDaddy domain names with the code "blu6" |
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RoughMix 111 - Badum
I record lots of stuff on my Palm Tungsten, as I mostly always have it with me. I record far more than I share with you all, simply because I do not have time to do it all.
In all honesty I do not even follow my own advice about recording everything, but I do get pretty close, and this helps, I believe to give me material that I can use to create material. My biggest challenge is in fact in keeping track of all the stuff that I create in a manner that is easily filed. (I am by the way eager for listener feedback about this and other issues. I know that I have hundreds of listeners, but no one really replies. Since this is true if YOU reply you are very likely to get your reply shared with the hundreds of other listeners.)
One other note before getting into this episode's material - I am thinking about creating episodes of truly rough material with no comments and nothing other than raw Palm Tungsten recordings. I have the material to do this, but I do not want to just dump material on you. I DO however want to share the process of the songwriting, and maybe this is a way to do it.
Let me know what you think by doing the following:
* send a voicemail by visiting RuffMix.com and using the tools there to do this
* send an email to ruffmix@gmail.com
* visit http://RuffMix.com and post a comment on the episode
* call me and leave a voicemail at the phone number +49 7631 183381
And now, welcome to the episode I am calling "Badum", because this is what I called the audio track when I recorded it.
I want to send special greetings to visitors from San Antonio and Houston, Texas, Montreal, Canada, and Miami Florida and southwest of Ljubliana - please keep coming back! |
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Forcing a specific chord change is the impetus to create something new in episode 110 of RoughMix.
This episode is an instrumental piece which had a large focus on a melody line which was inspired by the chord changes - have a listen!
This cast can be subscribed to at http://feeds.feedburner.com/RoughMix
You can also grab it from i-tunes.
Drop us a note. We would love to plug you on a future episode of RoughMix! |
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RoughMix 109 - Bring Me Band
In the last episode I shared the roughmix of "Bring Me Back" as I created it on the fly. This time around I show you what is sometimes the next step - sharing the song with a band for the first time.
This is a good way to polish what you do and get feedback that can only help improve your song.
This was recorded mono on my Palm Tungsten, for another band that would also need to perform it. The chatter, although in German will not hurt the understanding of the process itself.
It is a tune written specifically for a church confirmation to take place over 4 church services. The speaker is incorporating the song into the sermon itself, so it is a truly cooperative venture.
It is also a first for me to have written a song that will so quickly be performed by others without my participation.
Enjoy!
My Twitter: http://twiter.com/nlnnet
The words to the song are here for those who might like to play it themselves: https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=ajk5qsfxbr5c_520nx8sbt32&hl |
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