Here are some exact examples of what you can do to set a
song together.
You can get inspired by a number of methods
such as:
1. A chord progression
2. A cool riff
3. A lead melody
One of the things you require to do is generate a part that
compliments your original idea such as adding a melody to
a chord progression or adding up a chord progression to a
melody.
Say you have a chord progression you truly like.
To make your musical painting, you have to know theoretically
what key you're in. If you're weak on modal theory, but
familiar with a scale or neck pattern that sounds fine against your
chord progression, employ what you know to create a melody over
it.
The easiest way to accomplish this is to find a multitrack recorder and
record your chord progression on one track. Play it over and
over a lot of times.
When you play it back, work out your melody on another track.
As you're working on a melody line, try to take note for cool
harmony among your melody and chord progression. If only
one exacting note sounds totally great against one of the
chords, go with it and start building around that great
relationship.
Now, if you're notes are all correct but you can't seem to
come up with something you like, it may be time to inject a
new technique to spice things up a bit.
Let's say you recognize the chords and you know the notes. Try
looking at the notes in a whole new way such as:
1. Arpeggios. (The notes of the chords)
2. Skipping strings for wider note intervals.
3. Right hand tapping.
4. Whammy bar effects.
5. Pinching harmonics...
One of the biggest problems is not being able to decide for
if something was good or not. If you have this trouble
too, get someone else's opinion. If possible someone who can
suggest helpful insight.
If you can't find someone to critique your tune, you MUST
decide for yourself and move on...otherwise you'll never get
your tune finished.
About the author:
Yuri Ivanov - Guitar instructor and music writer. Co-writer and webmaster at Guitar Lessons Online
