OFFICE HOURS 120 | Melody Writing, Ranting, How to Start Writing Music
Added 2023-05-13 15:00:02 +0000 UTCNew here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.
Hi Everyone,
You missed this one! Ask a question on the next Patreon Office Hours post or drop a question on the Office Hours community forum thread.
I'll do my best to answer your questions in the next Office Hours and give examples of how you develop skills related to your question.
This week was very interesting! I ranted a lot about a few thing I'm very passionate about. I hope it helps a few people.
Question 1 was from Wayne, who asked about Melody Writing which is great because I'm working on a course for that exact topic.
Question 2 from Richard REALLY got me going! He asked if it was important to know how to play all the major and minor scales without having to think about it. My answer was a big long "it depends" that hopefully resonates with everyone wondering what to do right now.
Question 3 from Daniel was an update about a gig last weekend and a question about how to start writing music. Step 1: accept that you're not starting by writing whole songs and 2: get involved with Community Challenges.
Question 4 antcav had a question about how to practice getting into 8th and 16th notes in solos. I mentioned a philosophical concept called "Logical Positivism" which I probably didn't describe accurately, but I think it worked in my analogy!
Question 5 Jeff asked if there is basic interval to maintain between the bass and guitar - a general range for each instrument in a tune
Question 6 I accidentally switched to iPad instead of computer screen while reading Phils question : Is it important to know every basic guitar shape in every position?
Question 7 b b asked my opinion on the best digital amps
Question 8 b b asked my preferred type of reverb - plate, room, hall, spring, other?
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Other helpful links:
• Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
• Searchable Lesson Archive
• How to Join the Community Forum
• Scott's Jam Tracks
• SPJ Live YouTube Channel
• Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
Thank you for answering this Scott, I have given you a few awkward questions before so apologies for that! :) Appreciate your thoughts as always, as you say I just need to focus on the things that are good for me and not try to build the entire house!
Richard Stapleton
2023-05-19 08:07:29 +0000 UTCThats a little tune I wrote called "If I Had known"
Scott Paul Johnson
2023-05-18 18:23:17 +0000 UTCWhat you are playing That’s a good example.
Phil howes
2023-05-18 18:22:45 +0000 UTCThanks
Phil howes
2023-05-18 18:21:32 +0000 UTCFinger picking master! I wish.
Phil howes
2023-05-18 18:15:17 +0000 UTCHave a good day everyone !
Daniel Torres
2023-05-18 18:01:55 +0000 UTCIs it a good idea to know each basic chord in 5 different positions to achieve different voicing. Is that enough, too many or not important. If a good idea then A to G, A# to G# and the same with flats and then 7ths - I think you get my drift.
Phil howes
2023-05-18 17:52:05 +0000 UTCI think his worry is trying to build the roof before any foundations - I share his dilemma
Phil howes
2023-05-18 17:16:46 +0000 UTCHey Scott! Two things: I wanted to update you on my performance playing Dreams and Valerie. A few things went wrong like a string getting caught in a fret halfway through one of the songs and other mess ups but I feel good about the whole experience because of your advice so thanks for that. I haven’t played in so long and I was really worked up about performing again too so I had some anxiety. But I feel like every time I perform that will get better and better. I’m gonna try performing more now. We want to start doing original songs, but I have no idea where to begin. Can you walk me and the rest of us through making a simple song with everything a good song requires? I just want to be able to have a flow of things so that I’m not stuck wondering where to begin. And also, how can I add lyrics to a instrumental song that I already have?
Daniel Torres
2023-05-18 17:10:23 +0000 UTCHey Scott, Once again I'm going to miss you live but shall catch up tomorrow. I'm going all the way back to your first few lessons regarding major/minor scales for my question. I understand the scales quite well and I can build other scales from them like dorian, mixo, etc. I can harmonise them and then noodle on my guitar from there. That's obviously very useful, and would not be possible without that basic understanding of major and minor scales. But my issue is that even after about four years of playing guitar and diving in to increasingly more complex theory, I still can't actually "play" the major/minor scale in all positions without thinking about it, because I only ever play those shapes when I am specifically practicing them. If I play chords, it's based off of other shapes I already know. If I solo, I'm playing the pentatonic scale which seems so much more versatile than the full scale. I'm concerned that I am trying to run before I can walk and am missing out on something crucial to being a better guitarist. Could you explain the benefits of being able to play the major/minor scale shapes please, or is just having a knowledge of them enough? Thank you for your help!
Richard Stapleton
2023-05-18 12:45:00 +0000 UTCHi Scott, Just finished the Melody Making video. Great stuff and very timely for me. I've been wanting to start attempting to create some music to help advance my understanding of music and muscianship, ( I don't think that is actually a word, but it should be :) I've been working on a chord progression in the Key of D Major with the first progression of D - Em - F#m - G in open chord voicing, then the second time played as D - Em - F#m -G but playing the Em and F#m in the Dm shape on the 3rd, 4th and 5th frets, (Em), and 5th, 6th and 7th frets, (F#m) with the D string played open as a drone note. My question was going to be how to start finding a melody to go along with this, so perfect time for me to follow along with the new course. Thanks.
Wayne Barlow
2023-05-15 22:31:15 +0000 UTCHey all - I decided to make one master Office Hours post on the community forum - it's pinned to the top of the forum and it's always available for you to post a question
Scott Paul Johnson
2023-05-15 21:14:59 +0000 UTC
