Incorporating your own style into a piece of music begins with knowing the tune in it's simplest form.1. Consider the Source
Are you learning from sheet music? By ear? Somebody showed you how they play it?
Maybe you have played the song for many years, with many people, in many styles?
2. A Starting Point - The Edit Decision
You may have the ability to pull this tune off with a range of styles, instruments
and levels of intensity. It is very important to MAKE A DECISION.
Remember, this can be a tentative decision that could quite possibly evolve into
something completely different.
3. Practice Makes Perfect - Confidence and Creativity
Once you have learned the tune, translated it into it's simplest form of chords
and assigned format for style and instrumentation, you are ready to rehearse it.
While you are practicing, you will gain a better sense of direction and form
answers for the following questions:
a. When does the verse become monotonous?
b. When does the entire tune become monotonous? Time to decide on a bridge.
c. How can I add a riff, phrase, motif, or lick that is not originally in the tune?
d. What style should the bridge be in? A complete break or a smooth transition?
e. How Should I begin and end the tune?
A tune will often begin with the last few lines of a verse or chorus.
This is a popular Hymn format. Rock tunes often have an introduction that
is great attention getter, but has nothing to do with the song.
Those attention getters often become more widely recognized that the song itself (ala. Van Halen, Led Zep, Guns N Roses, etc...)
4. Do you have the means to record your instrumentation?
Computer, 4/8 Track, Tape Recorder? Your investment in the recording facility
should reflect your expectations of the success of the tune. If you want your
exact recording to be bought by an ad agency for use in Dr. Pepper commercial,
then you will need to schedule time in a high quality recording studio and make
sure that all of your musicians are top notch with excellent career references.
If you are going to share it with a few friends, you can usually buy some software
for you home computer and a microphone at Wal-Mart to get a descent recording.
Be sure and listen Chris' tunes on this page. The songs will evolve through several styles within one arrangement.
HAPPY ARRANGING!
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