In defence of theory

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tone

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« Reply #15 on: January 18, 2017, 02:06:30 PM »
Looking at the chord progression, the first thing that came to mind was a Rufus Wainwright-y kind of thing, in the vein of his song Manhattan Skyline... The chords have a certain feel to them that suggests a very particular kind of vibe, but it's not one I would ever gravitate toward. I do like the Bb7 to E7 though. Might have to fiddle about with that sometime.
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GuyBarry

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« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2017, 04:18:14 PM »
Looking at the chord progression, the first thing that came to mind was a Rufus Wainwright-y kind of thing, in the vein of his song Manhattan Skyline...

Didn't know the song so I googled it - do you mean Memphis Skyline?

Very interesting - absolutely nothing like what I've got in mind!


CaliaMoko

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« Reply #17 on: January 18, 2017, 05:30:30 PM »
The chord progression looks really interesting, and I like the chords in it--the ones I can play, that is. I was trying to work through them this morning, and I hurt my arm, so I had to quit!  :P  Obviously, I'm not practicing enough, if it's that easy to hurt my arm....

GuyBarry

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« Reply #18 on: January 18, 2017, 05:41:19 PM »
The chord progression looks really interesting, and I like the chords in it--the ones I can play, that is. I was trying to work through them this morning, and I hurt my arm, so I had to quit!  :P  Obviously, I'm not practicing enough, if it's that easy to hurt my arm....

You hurt your arm trying to play my chords?  I'm terribly sorry, I didn't realize they were that dangerous.  I'll post a health warning next time  ;)

CaliaMoko

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« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2017, 06:05:10 PM »
 ;D

I'll add some exercises to my workout to deal with the problem.

tone

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« Reply #20 on: January 18, 2017, 10:04:23 PM »
Didn't know the song so I googled it - do you mean Memphis Skyline?

Very interesting - absolutely nothing like what I've got in mind!
Yes that's the one! Memory's obviously taking a hit in my old age :D Did you like the song?
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GuyBarry

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« Reply #21 on: January 19, 2017, 07:59:08 AM »
To be honest, not really my cup of tea.  My song's a really uptempo number so it was the complete opposite of his!

I'm hoping to finish off the lyrics today so that I can run through it at our jam session tonight.  I'll see if I can do a recording so that you've an idea of what it sounds like.  It's called "I Never Expected You".

diademgrove

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« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2017, 11:32:45 AM »
Good thread, but... I want to try an experiment.  Here's the chord sequence I originally posted.

F6   | Db6 C9 | F6 Ebmaj7 | D9  |
Gm7 C9 | F6 Dm7 | Db6   | Gm7 C9 |
F6   | Db6 C9 | F6 Ebmaj7 | D9  G9 |
C9   | F6 Dm7 | G7   | C9 F7 |
Bb7   | F9   | Bb7   | F9   |
Bb7 E7 | Am7 D7 | G7   | C9 F7 |
Bb7   | F9   | Bb7   | F9   |
Bb7 E7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C9  | F6   |

I haven't told you anything about the melody or lyrics that I'm imagining with it.  If you were given that chord sequence and asked to write a song around it, what would you come up with?

I took up your challenge and here's my melody. The backing isn't brilliant and it doesn't swing, sorry.

https://soundcloud.com/diademgrove/guy-barrys-blues/s-LbFkj

If you don't have any objection I'd like to post the track in the collaborration section to see if someone can come up with any words.

I enjoyed trying to create a melody so thank you for putting up the chord sequence and asking what we could come with.

Keith

GuyBarry

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« Reply #23 on: January 24, 2017, 04:52:34 PM »

I took up your challenge and here's my melody. The backing isn't brilliant and it doesn't swing, sorry.

https://soundcloud.com/diademgrove/guy-barrys-blues/s-LbFkj

Oh, absolutely lovely!  It's so completely different from my tune, and yet I can sort of "hear" my song in a weird ghostly way through it.

Quote
If you don't have any objection I'd like to post the track in the collaborration section to see if someone can come up with any words.

By all means do!  I'll try to get my song recorded as soon as possible so you can hear what I was thinking of.  (I'm performing it on Thursday so maybe I can arrange a recording then.)

Quote
I enjoyed trying to create a melody so thank you for putting up the chord sequence and asking what we could come with.

Thanks for taking the time to create the melody!  Maybe the forum should try more things like this.

« Last Edit: January 24, 2017, 04:54:24 PM by GuyBarry »

diademgrove

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« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2017, 08:45:54 PM »
I'm glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun writing it. Thanks for letting me put it up on the collaboration section. It'll be most probably be tomorrow, football's on the radio.

I'm looking forward to hearing your song.

Thanks again for inviting me to write a melody to your chords. It'll be good to see some more collaboration like this on the site.

Keith 

ScottLevi

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« Reply #25 on: January 24, 2017, 10:00:13 PM »

I took up your challenge and here's my melody. The backing isn't brilliant and it doesn't swing, sorry.

https://soundcloud.com/diademgrove/guy-barrys-blues/s-LbFkj

Oh, absolutely lovely!  It's so completely different from my tune, and yet I can sort of "hear" my song in a weird ghostly way through it.

Quote
If you don't have any objection I'd like to post the track in the collaborration section to see if someone can come up with any words.

By all means do!  I'll try to get my song recorded as soon as possible so you can hear what I was thinking of.  (I'm performing it on Thursday so maybe I can arrange a recording then.)

Quote
I enjoyed trying to create a melody so thank you for putting up the chord sequence and asking what we could come with.

Thanks for taking the time to create the melody!  Maybe the forum should try more things like this.

Fantastic stuff! :)
I do enjoy these kind of less structured/forced collaboration and agree the forum should be a place where more of this stuff happens. I've tried to encourage this kind of activity with the collab league but am not quite hitting the mark yet. Any suggestions to on how we can help encourage this sort of stuff I'll be willing to put some of my effort behind it if y'all think I can bring some value.

All the best,
Scott.

GuyBarry

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« Reply #26 on: January 26, 2017, 04:40:55 PM »
Just thought I'd let you know that I've just been rehearsing "I Never Expected You" (for which those chords were written) in preparation for a big event tonight.  It'll all be recorded, so when it's done I'll ask for a sound file of the song and post it here for comparison.  (Or I might submit it tp the review forums - haven't decided yet.)

Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra

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« Reply #27 on: January 26, 2017, 06:38:37 PM »
Knocked this up from Guy's progression.
I suppose I could have dressed it up more prettily but.....how much time am I willing to spend on this!

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Martinswede

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« Reply #28 on: January 26, 2017, 07:03:27 PM »
Hi GuyBarry!

It will be fun to hear the tune in its intended way.
To be honest your chord chart gave me a headache.
I just can't stand jazz chords there's too much tension
in them and at the same time an uptempo melody.
That is in now way a criticism to your song and
I might even enjoy it. I do like Django R. .

Back to the subject. I think a too elaborate chord
progression can inhibit the interpreters flow of the
melody. Your fist chords F6 to Db6 ( in the key of F)
we have three notes moving and the note F standing still. (Right?)
All of these give possible implications of how the melody
could, not should, go. But it also makes some
notes, D for example, all good in the key of F, but
which would give Db6b9 (sorry for the ugly chord)
when changing to Db6.

What I'm trying to say is that jazz harmony works in it's
own universe. The F6 to Db6 is a I6 to iv7/3( fourth chord with
a minor seventh and the third as a bass note). A sort of cadence
going to C9 the dominant. (Interesting how the D dips to Db and
is then raised up again(!)). A chord structure that with its
added notes to the root chords both opens and closes doors.
Jazz is both ultra traditional, with note by note following genre
masters improvised solos, all the way to the very avant-garde.
Pop/western/country works on another plane. Other rules.
Often theoretically easier but musically just as complex at some
times. I guess its obvious by now I like country singers like Gillian Welch
more than Benny Goodman.

I'm glad you've found theory helpful (and not an obstacle) :) when composing.
The myth of the harmful theoretical and schooled and the awesome natural
talent is still live and kicking. Something tells me that's not gonna change
after all it has been around a few thousand years. That true talent can not be
taught. But all around us we see the contrary. It's all about will and determination
if you want to learn. If it comes easy to you, well happy you.



diademgrove

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« Reply #29 on: January 27, 2017, 11:20:42 AM »
Knocked this up from Guy's progression.
I suppose I could have dressed it up more prettily but.....how much time am I willing to spend on this!

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Reminded me of Scott Joplin and silent films. Very impressive.