Musicians Talk

[zen5887]

So I know theres a few of you around so lets talk.

A few things to talk about to get the ball rolling

What do you think of Modes? Any ones you like to use the most? I use Phygian a fair bit.

Which scale/mode has a natural 3rd with a minor 6th and 7th? I found this the other day and think it sounds pretty cool

How do you like to write songs?

Discuss!!

 

[jezz8me]

I usualy put my fingers to the bass and let feel take me the way. When i compose other instruments i usualy take a pretty standard, my bassline is in A so the song must be in A. I never realy understood why we need modes and cannot just use another scale but i am not that experienced.

 

[Galletea]

I like the Aeolian, but minor modes are always a winner for me.
Writing wise, I tend to start with a tune I've sung to myself and then work on it from there, so I tend to do more improv then actuall composing.
I just got a new keyboard now though, so I'm hoping to start doing more with my computer.

 

[curlycrouton]

Aeolian mode (I think that's the correct spelling), although, again, I love minor modes.
I like to whack in some random chords that I think will sound good, and improvise to them. Eventually, when I come across some pure gold, I'll write it down.

As you've probably guessed, I'm a guitarist, but I also do this with the vocal parts as well. I write words and then try and fit the song around it, or sometimes the other way round.

However my true passion lies with creating weird, avant-garde artsy electro-rock-folk whateveryoucallit music. Just weird music basically. I've created many a conventional rock tune in my time, don't get me wrong, but it's the weird stuff that really captures my imagination. Things like Radiohead's "Fitter Happier".

I once wrote a song with some sad, melancholic chords playing on acoustic in the background (I forget exactly which ones), with samples from Martin Luthers King's "I Have a Dream" speech and some Medieval monks singing in Latin (you know what I mean) playing over the top. It's one of my best works, I think, and also more avant garde than my other work.

 

[Baby Tea]

I usualy put my fingers to the bass and let feel take me the way.

This. I guess you couldn't really call me a 'full fledged' musician because I bought my bass and amp to help let out some creativity when I was living in northern Alberta. All I do is pick around on it, try out some tabs, make up my own simple bass lines, etc. But I really enjoy it, and play for my church's praise team (Christian Praise music is crazy easy on bass).

 

[Galletea]

I once wrote a song with some sad, melancholic chords playing on acoustic in the background (I forget exactly which ones), with samples from Martin Luthers King's "I Have a Dream" speech and some Medieval monks singing in Latin (you know what I mean) playing over the top. It's one of my best works, I think, and also more avant garde than my other work.

I'm intrigued, this sounds awesome. And I believe you mean Gregorian chant , which is always good.

 

[Jamanticus]

I don't play anything but the cello (and piano, and my lips for whistling), but my very favorite mode of all time is the Dorian mode.......Incredibly reminiscent of minor music of the British Isles, and really haunting when it comes to melodies.....

...Too bad there's so little music of said Isles for the cello.....

 

[Lukeje]

I like the Aeolian, but minor modes are always a winner for me.
Writing wise, I tend to start with a tune I've sung to myself and then work on it from there, so I tend to do more improv then actuall composing.
I just got a new keyboard now though, so I'm hoping to start doing more with my computer.

The Dorian beats the Aeolian hands down! Though during solos I usually use the mixolydian for fast runs.

 

[Not Good]

I'm rather new to songwriting, as such I pretty much stay within altered Blues.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

I do not play an instrument but I am a great vocalist. Especially when covering Beatles songs.

 

[TheGhostOfSin]

I'm a Guitarist.
Scales are evil.
Modes even more so.
Songwriting is hard.

But one thing I have to say is that playing the riff from Daytripper never gets old.

 

[Jobz]

I'm a bassist and I'm clueless about modes and scales

I've never had formal training, I just picked up the school bass one day in the music room and started fiddling with it. Now I tend to play by ear or if I can't figure it out myself, look up tabs (Assuming I'm trying to play someone else's song).

When it comes to song writing I just experiment until I find something that sounds good and try to build on it. Unless I'm playing with others, in which case I tend to let them start and then just follow.

 

[jim_doki]

oh god, modes

i'm currently re learning them so i can write some better shit. I feel the urge to play again since i have my new amp (vox AC30!) and i feel that i gott write some good stuff

i like the mixolydian mode personally

 

[GenHellspawn]

What if you're a musician, but your instrument is FL Studio?

 

[curlycrouton]

But one thing I have to say is that playing the riff from Daytripper never gets old.

Best riff ever.

 

[roblikestoskate]

What Would Bowie Do

 

[TheGhostOfSin]

What Would Bowie Do

Get old and disappear?

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

What Would Bowie Do

Get old and disappear?

he hasn't done either

 

[Asymptote Angel]

I'm not a big user of modes, if only because I have to write basslines to go under people who don't know jack about music theory (ah, rock, why must you be so irreverent?). I do use the mixolydian mode from time to time when I just compose things for myself though.

As for writing songs, I always start by going up and down all the major and minor scales. This serves a twofold purpose:
1. It gets me warmed up.
2. It lets me hear all the tones I can make. While they're all going into my ears, I might find something I like.

I also like to "bassify" catchy guitar riffs. Often I'll stray from the sonic pattern of the riff, but end up with something that sounds even cooler. I ended up doing this with some stuff from Metallica's latest album.

The other thing I like to do is pick a tonic, then play a third (usually a minor) and fifth above and below it. I'll take these five notes and play them in a random order at a gradually increasing tempo. This will often give me a sound pattern that sounds cool, or almost right. If it's almost right, then I'll explore beyond thirds and fifths.

Simple almost to the point of crudeness, but I've found great stuff doing this.

 

[jezz8me]

What Would Bowie Do

Get old and disappear?

WWJD is more what you should be asking. Not jesus though. John as in Lenon.