Another demo! There really isn’t much of a story to this song.
Chorus
The chorus just came out one day. I don’t know where its rhythm came from. I did purposefully use some double-stops and inversions though.
Motown 1's
Verse
I had some trouble coming up with a verse. I had an idea laying around that I got from some Motown song where I start a chord progression on a major chord and then move to the minor of that same chord, but I was having trouble making that work.
Eventually I got some inspiration from a song that pointed to arpeggiation … and after inverting the major/minor chords in the progression that starts the verse (F Major to F minor, inverted to place the third in the bass position), the verse you hear here was born.
The Demo
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Found your link on craigslist, this instrumental version is nicely written, and recorded. Great hook.
Thanks! Glad you like it. I should have some vocals on it in the not too distant future.
I too found your link on Craigslist. The instrumental is well done and I look forward to hearing the completed song.
so what are you doin with your demos? you got a singer?
The ten (or so) “best” demos will make up the next Inside The Black album. I decided to share the whole demo process and see what happens. We should have some vocals on these soon. Although I might post all of the instrumental versions before posting anything with vocals, just because that mirrors the writing process for this album.
Really nice chord progression, and the inversion does a lot to take it out of the predictable. I was looking for a third section, though, and thought you might be going there around the 2:30 mark – a bridge – maybe (call me a dinosaur) even a solo, but it just looped back around to the same chords. Take that for what it’s worth; I just felt like this deserves a little more development structurally. There’s tons of room for cool melodic ideas in the verses, and I’d really like to hear it with vocals. What do you think it’s “about?”
Anyway, nice work (also found you on craigslist).
I did originally think to write a third part, but had so much trouble with the verse that I just brought it into rehearsal as it is now, and went to a breakdown for that third verse around 2:30. Maybe I’ll revisit the idea of another part. I’ll probably avoid a solo on this song though.
We should have some vocals for these songs soon. I tend to leave the themes and lyrics to the singer, so we’ll both find out what it’s about later. Haha.
computer drums?
Yep. EZ Drummer. I talk about how I produced the demos in an earlier post.
http://insidetheblack.com/wordpress/2010/03/10/demo-production-notes-part-i-of-iii-daw-and-drums/
It sounds good.
Opinion:
- I’d shorten it to 3′20″
- maybe too much “on guitar” whole time, I do it myself, I’m a guitar player
- vocals will make or break it of course
need a drummer?
Well recorded. I like the chorus most of all. The stereo image of the guitar tracks are great. I can sing many styles. I can lend a hand if needed.
Interesting, just goes to show how influence works…would the Motown song My World Is Empty Without You ????
It was “I Hear A Symphony,” which moves from D/F# to Dm/F during the verse. I couldn’t remember what song it was when I typed this up, but I looked it up!
Nice work overall – I like the chord voicings & confident attacks & phrasing during the chorded sections, but the picked sections feel tentative; not sure if you just weren’t so confident about those, or what, but all else suonds pretty good – has some potential depending on how you flesh the full arrangement out.