3 Concepts That Made Me A Better Songwriter - Composition and Songwriting Advice and Philosophies
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
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Over 15 years of writing music, I've developed and borrowed a few philosophies on composing that have helped make my music more enjoyable and less frustrating. I find these principles to be more helpful, in sum, than music theory itself.
This is way outside of my normal kind of video and I was very apprehensive about posting it. I'm sure many will disagree with my opinions here but I don't see any harm in sharing what has helped me get to this point. Maybe one day I'll outgrow all these opinions and find they're flawed but for now I still consider them to be among several guiding tenets to songwriting, composing, art...
Here's the link to part of David Lynch's interview where he explains his puzzle analogy. • Video
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/ signals_music
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www.signalsmusicstudio.com
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:54 Importance of Music Theory
02:25 Improving Upon Your Writing
04:20 Hearing Over Writing
06:04 Wrapping Up
![How To Arrange Chords into BEAUTIFUL 4-PART HARMONIES [Music Theory - Voice Leading]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UkatcvIuF4U/mqdefault.jpg)
![How To Arrange Chords into BEAUTIFUL 4-PART HARMONIES [Music Theory - Voice Leading]](/img/tr.png)
![Writing Progressions with Borrowed Chords: Songwriting Lesson [MUSIC THEORY - MODAL INTERCHANGE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7IdttvJSedg/mqdefault.jpg)
This video's a bit different from my other stuff, hope ya don't mind. Next up is how to craft a killer metal solo ala Kirk Hammet, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, etc. SHOULD BE FUN!!!!
You, are AMAZING
Excited!
I'm Looking forward to that.
SHRED
to
I can only go so long without spazzing out on some 16th triplet pentatonic patterns. Long overdue!
this guy’s like the bob ross of music teachers!!
happy little chords
@@SignalsMusicStudio Love it!
Jolee Bindo
I know, right? He seems like a fantastic guy to hang out and have some beers with.
There are no wrong notes... Just happy accidentals!
I said this exact same about another teacher a few months back, and someone commented and told me about David Walliman. THAT guy is a great comparison to Ross lol I strongly suggest you guys check him out.
Woah, thank you SO much for the shout out Jake! I 100% agree with the part about not being disheartened by initial ideas that suck. Even after 30+ years I still struggle to accept that my first ideas are so terrible. I have to keep on reminding myself that the bits in my music I end up being most happy with almost always come from several sucky ideas that have been mixed together or overlapped. As you suggest, it's a lot to do with ego, and this image we have of the geniuses who just spew out perfect music straight onto the page. But this is where your point about ego is so important. And I think you're right, being a discoverer of already existing music is a great way to think about it - that's one reason I've loved making CZcams videos because it activates my inner-explorer a whole lot more!
By the way, your image of a room where all the possible music already exists reminds of an amazing story by Borges, I wonder if you know it, called The Library of Babel, which depicts an entire universe in the form of a library whose books contain all possible variations of the letters of the alphabet. So alongside lots of complete gibberish, your entire life story is also in there somewhere, as is a version of it with just a tiny change, and so on and so on. It's such a freaky concept, but weirdly inspiring at the same time! Anyway, thanks again and keep up the great work!
Awesome that we're on the same page when it comes to some of these ideas. The Library of Babel is actually what I was thinking of when I was discussing the infinite mp3s, I believe I learned about the concept through Vsauce and through Adam Neely (of course!). There is actually an online Library of Babel where you can find the entire script of this video somewhere libraryofbabel.info/
It's one of my favourite stories, but I'd never thought about it before in relation to music, so thanks for that!
This is an incredible comment. Reinforcing the notion to keep on keepin' on.
I always remember how impressed i was when i heard the first attempt of Lennon to write She said she said, its a bad home recording, and the melody is not even there yet, the lyrics are lame....but he kept going
Sometimes the ideas that seem to close themselves off the soonest will become the best songs if you push through to make them work. The solution will be ingenious. Sometimes it's counterpoint that discovers a use for something and suggests a next section that abruptly enters a different train of thought.
If it’s possible you should start a series like “let’s write” but for specific genres
Absolutely yes
Yeasss!
He would deliver that very well. I'd be very interested in something like that.
great idea
You have the perfect Radio voice.
That's better than having a perfect radio face.
@@suburbanindie LOL
Best thing about this channel is: you see video, you feel yes you can do it(because he taught it in such a simple manner)
Then, you try and fail.
You come back again amd watch same video because there are so many details and examples.
You keep practicing the thing (scale/mode/chords/etc..) subject wise and you feel amazing about yourself! Lot of love to this man ♥ Every new thing I learn from here and apply feels like a new dragon ball collected and added to the arsenal
Dude I made a video around the same idea of what's going around what you're playing that makes or breaks it, in a way
link please
Bro 0 3 5 bro
bro play something else bro
why are you self promoting you sell out, unsubscribed mister adobe
There's a forth concept. Try Different Genres. It really helps to have much better ideas. I have focused on genres Ambient, Atmospheric (Black) Metal and Shoegazing, but I also tried to compose video game OSTs (it was my job for months and I learned a lot!) and tried to write and arrange orchestral pieces. When you do this, you really learn how to combine characteristics of different genres and it helped me a lot in writing "Symphonic Metal" or "Gothic Rock" pieces.
Is this Muhammadreza from microwiki?
In regard to writing stuff that sucks and hearing which ideas are decent, here’s a fascinating thing I noticed. I have a habit of recording riffs on my phone, and later (days, weeks, months) I go through them and mark ideas that sound decent with !, !!, and !!! And I remember the time when I counted them: 44 recordings marked as “good” and 220 demos in total. The ratio was precisely 80/20. Pareto rocks. So, just write stuff kids, keep everything that you brain and fingers do, and develop ear to detect what sounds cool.
Agreed. Out of the nearly 1000 unfinished projects I have on my PC, i'd say about 20% got turned into SOMETHING complete. Out of that, about only 20% is actually good. Lots of digging thru the dirt to find the gold :D
everywhere I go, you are there
Yeah I do the EXACT same thing
just to add, even some of the "crap" that I've recorded, I still find something valuable in. I'd say 90% of what I initially make is crap, but when you take that crummy chord progression or riff and modify/refine it, you can get something really interesting and original. so, like y'all have said, keep recording everything! just my $0.02
:)
Another good reason to record everything, is that stuff sometimes just sounds bad because you've been working on it for a while. Every riff will sound boring and bad if you've listened to it for however many minutes on repeat. Tuck the recording away, forget about it for a few days, then listen to it again fresh.
Tip 2 is so important because it's such an easy trap to fall into. I always thought I sucked at writing riffs when I was playing by myself. Then a while ago I got back into guitar lessons and my teacher had me record a riff into the DAW, doubled the guitars, played some bass under it, put some drum samples under it... and damn, it blew me away.
Turns out, if you're doodling on your guitar at home by yourself, you won't sound as powerful as a full band... who'd have guessed. 😝
Fantasy author r.a. Salvatore is similar
He said something like "you create the setting and the characters and the story writes itself"
Great ideas/concepts, here is another quote about finding the art within: “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”― Michelangelo
I feel the same way about the 3rd point you made, about finding music that already exists as opposed to creating it.
You think EXACTLY like me! I’m an artist as well as musician, and know the feeling of discovering inspiration, then hoping you’re skilled enough to transcribe it. Theory has always been of interest to me but also only to enhance this connection and widen possibilities of creative expression... great vids, by the way, love your style of teaching!
"Composers don't write good music. They hear good music."
Wise words, good sir
Dude ... you’re videos are waking up a lot of thoughts/ideas/concepts even feeling I’ve forgotten or lost over the years ..... thank you really man .. thank you
I like to reference the english language when I talk about concepts about the little theory I know between friends. What your video describes essentially says is "you can know the alphabet, the consonants and the vowels, and be able to leave a well thought out comment, but writing music is poetry, and that poetry already exists for you to find. Knowing the consonants and vowels just help you see it better". I like it.
You are the best. There maybe other people that do this, but out of all of them you do the best.
I agree with that. I've seen a lot of different channels that teach music, but this one is the one that has taught me the most.
Josh Fredman it’s just the way he explains it, it just works every time. He won’t hold back from telling you what you need to know. He does very well at answering any question one could have, even before it’s asked.
David Bruce is great, watched his video on microrhythms days ago and it's still on my mind. And obviously you're great too, always happy to see a new upload and it's cool to see you branching out into new topics.
Great job! Any chance of a video on Borrowed Chords, please?
I've been working my way up to this. Can't teach modal mixture if we don't know our modes! Now that I've done all the (usable) modes, expect some borrowed chord stuff within the coming weeks
Signals?! I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! Ahem... Sorry about that.
Yeah. You're right about that. I guess I'm struggling with the big picture of music theory and want to see all of the pieces before I start putting them together. Thanks for the great video too.
You have a pleasant tonal quality to your voice, excellent communication skills, and interesting topics to present. It is like you're taking us along with you on a personal journey of exploration and discovery as you unravel the mysteries of music.
Completely agree with the 'discovery' process and also really enjoy the value of your channel. Great work all around man. Good delivery and energy too :) Big ups
Your philosophy on "discovering" songs as opposed to "writing" songs is very akin to Michelangelo's quote "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." I've always liked that quote and really like the idea of approaching the creative process from that standpoint.
Also, I like to think of writing for creative pleasure as writing music, but commissioned work as manufacturing music.
Love this Jake, I totally agree with you. I’m running to my piano, I’m stoked ....... thanks for the 747 full of inspiration.
Awesomeness, period. 🥰
You're second point on "context' really spoke to me. I write a pretty fair amount and am often left wondering if a part of a song or song is good/bad, etc. If I go back and take a look at how I've contextualized the song (words, rhythm, music, style) that offers a way "through" the process that doesn't get all hung up on any part. Really good advice. Thank you so much!
I really like your channel, the topics you choose and how you articulate. Its easy, especially as I learn more, to forget to explore and get caught up in the minute details instead.
That’s why I‘m a music theoretician and a composer
I love your channel. Thanks for your time putting all this together. You have helped me so much!thanks
Your channel has helped me so much to develop my concepts of music theory and, most importantly, to apply them to my ideas. I just can't thank you enough. If my financial situation becomes more consistent and stable this year, I'll definetely become a patreon. You sure deserve it. Your work is both pragmatic and inspiring. I'm also a big fan of David Lynch and Stephen King, so I went crazy when you mentioned them 🤣
Hey, anything coming from this channel is awesome! Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You've helped me wrap my head around concepts that always felt out of reach. Kudos for making music more approachable.
You've put into words what I've thought all along. Thank you for this, I think A LOT of young musicians can learn so much from this simple video. It's given me confidence about my approach to songwriting.
I watched one of davidbruce's videos and immediately subscribed, thanks!
This is an awesome vid. Thanks man! Keep up the good work!
Hey Jake, I am following your channel videos and I consider they are very very useful, I like a lot the way you explain and the way you use music theory to make real music, thanks so much Jake!
I’m sitting on a “boring” two chord song right now that I’m doing a lot with melodically. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I need to add more to the progression but your second point made me feel much better about it. Thanks!
Often the most simple parts can become the base for the most incredible melodies. Gives you more room to play around
Man, you're so special. Always find a way to teach something new or show it in a new light! Love your content! Peace!
You got it dude. The two chord example is great. Another one is daughter by Pearl Jam. I always tell my jamming buddy that it doesn’t matter how complicated the song is. The song is it’s own thing.
Great video. I've been playing with the concept that every song I'm ever going to "realise" already exists and my goal is to produce the best version of those songs that my ability at any given time will allow. Writing becomes curiosity, discovery and learning, which stops me beating myself up for not being good enough, knowledgeable enough and all the other shit we tell ourselves when we try to trample our own creativity.
This is so awesome that you mention your influential youtubers. Love the quality of your lessons.
Jake, you are the guitar/music teacher I've always wanted!!
Always interesting content, your channel is a very important tool for a musician.
Bravo and congratulations Jake
I've learned way more than my 13 years of playing guitar in the last two weeks on your channel. You totally changed my point of view and even my life as a hobby musician. Thanks a lot!
Enjoy this kind of videos. Dave Bruce is great too. Keep those kind of vids coming. I dig them!
youre such a gr8 music teacher Jake... keep em videos comin!!!
Really great talk. Totally my experience with Art in general. Going to check out the interviews
I really like the "You dont write music, you discover it" angle too. I personally think that whatever you pull from the aether is still going to be filtered through... well, you. For... some evidence (as much as you can have proof of metaphysical ideas) think about how many songs that sound completely different have the same riffs. Two minutes to midnight and Swords and Tequila really sound nothing alike, but their riffs are (almost) identical.
This is definitely the real thing about creating good music, and very well explained. Congratulations !
Yes!!! Exactly!! Love your videos man, you've been a big help!
So glad to see videos by someone who is excellent with theory, but sees that it is a tool for a purpose... making music!
Thank you for your videos!
Love your channel! Thanks for another great video!
Love your channel bro. It's helping me a lot. I use the analogy of songwriting is like cooking. It's just a steak or a bunch of noodles. It's how you cook and flavor the steak and what you add to the noodles that makes it a great dish. How you know that you made a great dish is that people enjoy it. I do enjoy your channel.
This is hands-down one of the best guitar theory channel out there. It's not the usual "hey bro, check out these pentatonic licks *shred intensifies*". You actually go into genuine musical concepts. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for all your hard work ... you rock Jake 😎
when you started playing the guitar it reminded me of the Hawaiian Slack Key Style of playing. I'm originally from Hawaii so that got me jazzed.
The third idea of me just "stumbling" upon music that already exists really resonates with me. The stuff I liked best fro my work is the best. The feeling is so strong that I often get the fear that I'm just copying a song I kinda forgot I have already heard.
As nice as the initial discovery feels, that's also why I have tons of ideas and not one finished song yet :(. Exactly that moment when I get greedy and try to "grab" it and pull it fully into the light of day through willpower and hard work it slips away. Then I'm left with a really catchy riff or a tense intro or some other fragment. But no song :(. I'm curious as to how the right balance between letting it come to me and being focused enough to finish it will feel.
Some really great/liberating ideas/perspectives in this video ... Cheers! Be well.
!!!! learning to get my eye better at catching the context. Appreciate it
A really thoughtful contribution. Thanks!
This is exactly what is talked about by Cixin Liu in the last story of his book super nova era. It’s a very enlightening thought experiment. Love the channel keep up the hard work!!
Omg how do you predict every single question I have and turn em into videos..... Thank you so much..
Gave me a lot to think about. Very insightful content.
That last tip about the digital space of an mp3 being fully computable is quite insightful. It is far more discovery than creation and I never thought of it this way.
I always compose a riff that to me isn’t good enough or it’s just bad so I discovered that taking a break, look to the sky and think, helped me a lot, I’m not saying that just by doing that I’m a master, no no, but when I come back and grab my guitar, everything changes and it’s then when I feel the music trough my riff.
Only a simple history. Thanks for your great videos.
awesome! I also take inspiration from those David Lynch interviews.
Been doing net theory off and on for years yours are the only ones i take notes on, perhaps pitch axis is on the horizon
This is my favorite thing on the internet. Thank you, Jake!
Amazing video man, keep going!!!
Thanks for your videos. I really enjoy them!
fantastic, very inspirational, love your channel
5:14 The "Indiana Bachnes" part got me XD
Dude! Most excellent! You’ve tapped into the real deal here! Explore!
Wow. What an amazing video! So glad I found this tonight.
What you say at the 5 minute mark about discovering music rather than writing it is really excellent. Thanks for the vid, keep up the great work
Good to see you use your theory and get to the point which is writting songs
The context thing was literally everything I needed to hear. :)
Your channel is quite a gem, really helpful, thank you.
I enjoyed the video. It gave me some good ideas to consider when composing.
You deserve more subs 👌 thanks for the advice man
Very well said!!! love your videos!!
Bro. I believe i have found my new go to channel. Thanks man.
Do a video on key signatures, appliance of scales and borrowing chords. I love your videos. But i would like to see them in a most practical approach and to use them when composing and writting songs
I absolutely love your mentality: it's not about what you write, it's about what you do with what you write.
Shit ... That’s a really good video . You said some things that i probably needed to hear . I tend to think about music as something magical and i think about it in very abstract ways sometimes . Some of the concepts you mentioned just simply clicked . Maybe i don’t have to make it into anything special ,maybe when i stop trying to do that then i will find that something special in it . I especially like the idea of thinking in terms of exploring rather than inventing . That was really eye opening ,Thank you :)
What a wonderful channel!!!!! Many thanks
Thank you for all the knowledge
always inspiring! keep it up!
David Lynch also had really great analogy "fishing for ideas"... very inspiring artist.
i remember wishing that i wrote 'what i got' too, way back in the 90s
Jake you have made learning an instrument, and for me its guitar, an adventure rather than a boring procession of by rote sameness. Legend. All the best
Love the new look on composing :) I learned something
Nice Sublime drop. Sublime were a great band, not my usual fare, but great all the same. Eric Wilson is an amazing bassist and Brad was genius with his lyrics and composition. Bud really augmented the whole thing with his drums. It is certainly true that what surrounds the simplicity is the key to its greatness. I like some of the old tracks like Romeo, Saw Red and New Realisation best - off 'Second-hand Smoke', which are all very simple at the core. I was less keen on the straight reggae tracks and preferred the punky and more energetic ones. Either way, Sublime are a band for the sunshine and we don't get much of that where I live, but one of my mates was obsessed with them back in the day so they were certainly a significant part of my teens! RIP Bradley....
I like your lessons well done
Can you do some on understanding and using unusual open tunings in song writing ?
I am following David Bruces vlog as well. He is good!
Hell yeah man we need more people rapping Dave he's the king
3:10 a good example of this idea is the song time to pretend by mgmt, it uses basically these same chords, just changing in the pre chorus
I greatly appreciate tubers that take the time to, "spill the beans on their knowledge about what they are brilliant at" -> . Thank you!
thank you for the inspiration!
I recently came up with a brilliant, dark synth driven song from screwing around with the bass line from John Cale's version of heart break hotel. From that I found a synth preset that was great at building tension from just three notes, then built the drum loop (heavy on the kicks) from my sampler. Then used a vocal loop of a female vocalist singing in a foreign language, then applied nine tracks of synth (lots bass & effects) & I ended up with what sounds like something This Mortal Coil would have done for a theme song of a horror film set in space! It's so far removed from Heartbreak Hotel I keep mulling over how it came about in my head so I can do it again. So far no luck. I feel like I'm pressuring myself to come up with another song that good right away. It might take awhile.
it's thanks to your advice that someone like me can go back to old projects and completely revive them into something enjoyable by our current taste's standards