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Making of a Song - Deconstructing the Creative Process

Richard Lundmark
IntermediateAny styleChords Song tutorial7 lessons26m

Greeting guitar slingers! In this tutorial we will analyze a song of mine, still in the making. The reason for choosing such a song, is to be able to more easily explain a bit about the creative process in which the song develops. This tutorial will be helpful both for those of you that have complex harmonies in your songs, but might have trouble finding that elusive sweet melody. It can also benefit those of you that are at the moment working with basic chords only, and wish to gain an insight in to how to develop and expand your harmonic and melodic compositions. Go ahead and move on to the next video to hear the demonstration.

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7 Lessons

  1. 1 1:21 Lesson · 1m Making of a Song - Introduction Greeting guitar slingers! In this tutorial we will analyze a song of mine, still in the making. The reason for choosing such a song, is to be able to more easily explain a bit about the creative process in...
  2. 2 1:55 Lesson · 2m Making of a Song - Demonstration Here is the current draft of the main melody of the tune. This will give you an idea of how far from its basic origins it has developed, and perhaps a glimpse of what's to come for this little tune. As this is...
  3. 3 5:36 Lesson · 6m Making of a Song - Part 1 Ok, so here we begin with the basic chords upon which I built my melody. The key to any strong melody (at least in my experience) is to be able to sing it. If you work out a melody that you aren't able to... Tab
  4. 4 3:58 Lesson · 4m Making of a Song - Part 2 In this part I explain how I took the chords up to a higher position, in order to get a little more of that "john mayer" sound I was going for. Much of it is the same chords (some even the same voicings)... Tab
  5. 5 7:13 Lesson · 7m Making of a Song - Part 3 Here I explain more about the bridge part of the tune, and show the melody, and how the chords for this came to be. It differs quite a bit from the verse, since it is arpeggiated in a more traditional manner... Tab
  6. 6 3:55 Lesson · 4m Making of a Song - Part 4 So, now we have covered all the parts leading up to what the song has grown into so far. The only thing remaining now is to check out what we have so far, and maybe try out a run over the backing track. So...
  7. 7 1:57 Backing track · 2m Making of a Song - Backing Track And finally, here's the exact backing track I'm using to play over. As I mentioned, it's just a rough "sketch" so far, but perhaps enough for you to get a feel for where it's heading. =) See you next time!

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