Song Writer
Writing and arranging songs
Videos showing some song writing and arranging techniques. Through the years others have shared their knowledge with me. If I find something interesting or useful I want to share it.
These are ideas I use in Captain Billy’s Whiz Bang songs, which is my full band project. The songs cover a range of styles in the indie-rock vein. Click the button for links to the songs on streaming and video services.
Musical Ides
Lament Line
The power of a descending line
An instrumental line with descending notes is powerful, especially if it is chromatic. Todd shows how he uses this tool in the CBWB song New Thing.
Bluesy Turnaround
Unique way to transition in a blues song
Blues songs can be pretty cookie-cutter, which isn’t a band thing. But I found a fun way to move between the 1 and 4 chords. This works because I keep a common note in all the chords for the turnaround. We used this in our song Lonely Road.
Pedal Tones
Using pedal tone for our christmas song
A pedal tone is when chords move around but the bass holds the same note. This is a fun way to make a section of a song. We used this in our Christmas song Silent Night.
Descending Line
Descending melody line in one chord
For the chorus of our Christmas song, Silent Night, I use a succession of 7th chords combined with suspended chords to create a descending line. It sounds complicated but lots of songs do this and it sounds pretty.
Song Arranging Ideas
Unresolved Tension
Holding a chord over a moving bass line
In the song One Minute to Go the chorus has a moving bass line. But the rhythm guitar part holds a single suspended 2nd chord. By not resolving the chord it gives the chorus a tension that matches the feel of the lyrics.
Unsychronized Motion
Stacking rhythms to build tension
In the chorus of One Minute to Go the bass line establishes a driving rhythm. The lead guitar plays a counter rhythm that moves at a different time. The result is simultaneously pleasing and unsettling.