Embedded Files
August 2016
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 21, No. 8
Next Meeting Sunday August 7th 5:00pm
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at the
Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east end of
Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us.
Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we
do. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. For more information, visit our
website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at https://myspace.com/21075001
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions. 5:30 to
6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques.
Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10 or more
lyric sheets. If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members
scoring, then we will have them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to
write constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
Fresh Starts
By Jeff Mason
My creativity runs in fits and starts. I get going and I’m productive for a while.
Then I lose my way. Sometimes it’s the hustle and bustle of my life that causes me to lose my
way. Often it’s me. Procrastination is an enemy. It’s similar to exercise. I start off with
the best of intentions and then somehow I or life conspire to dim my focus. I wake up and
realize it’s time to knuckle down and get in shape. Creativity and exercise are useful
allies, for me. One pushing the other. It’s time to write those morning papers and unlock the
creative blocks.
A guitar player, I used to jam with, once asserted that playing Beatle’s songs were
the equivalent of going to music school. I came across an article about their songwriting and
arrangements. I think there are some valuable tips in it.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/17/10-point-guide-to-becoming-the-next-beatles
Tip number one: “Grab the listener’s attention within five seconds.” The first song you might
study is “A Hard Day’s Night.” It begins with a jarring chord. It has been a much discussed
chord with many theories as to what it is. Most musicians be they amateurs or seasoned
professionals have played it wrong. In a 2001 interview, George Harrison confirmed it was an
Fadd 9 chord. But not exactly. Also contributing to Harrison’s 12 string electric guitar
chord was Lennon’s 6 string acoustic guitar playing the same chord. Simultaneously, Paul
McCartney is playing a D note on his bass and producer George Martin is playing 5 notes on a
Steinway grand piano with the sustain pedal held down. Imagine the twelve string guitar’s
overtones and the piano overtones allowing for more harmonics. It is impossible to reproduce
that iconic and distinctive sound on a single guitar. Yet it worked. You may read an in-depth
article at https://www.beatlesbible.com/features/hard-days-night-chord/
From the first article, “Many of the Beatle’s songs start with the musical equivalent
of an alarm clock.” Other songs you may study are John’s anguished shout at the beginning of
“Help” or the guitar riff at the start of “I Feel Fine.”
I like Tip number 7: "Use screams to inject some wildness into your music. They
introduce passion and feeling that will excite the listener.” Noted examples are the screams
before the guitar solos of “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” Or the intros of
“Money” and “Revolution.” I can’t remember the last time I let out a good scream. It’s
probably therapeutic and good for you. Especially in these dangerous times that we live in.
Ah yes, a primal scream at the moon. Something else I’ve lost along with my youth.
I’ve written before about Ralph Murphy’s unique approach to hit songwriting. He’s
always worth revisiting and his lectures are easily found on YouTube.You may find most of his
astute views from his book “Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting” neatly laid out at the following
web site:
http://www.songwriting.net/blog/topic/ralph-murphy Pay special attention to his laws
regarding pronouns, knowing your audience and who’s listening to your song and at what time
of day. Someone chastised me about formula songwriting. If you want a hit study the hits.If
you don’t that’s cool too. Music is all mathematics anyway.
Finally I’d like to leave you with some statistics collected by Billboard. “If you
can write a 4 minute song in C Major, in 4/4 time with 120 beats per measure, call it “Love
Time Baby Yeah” and then get Mariah Carey to sing it, you’ve got yourself a hit!” That’s it,
the ultimate formula! You can see where it came from at “Anatomy of a Hit Song” Good luck on
that adventure! https://infogr.am/anatomy-of-a-hit-song
Happy hunting and I’ll see you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389. You
are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the interests of the
professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more information. You may
reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
August 6th 2016 Sleeping Moon Songwriter's Event, 7 to 10pm
The Jane Gang at 7pm (Sheryl Paige, Stephanie Barker, SusieCool, Asli Goncer and Dell Smith)
Followed by a Songwriter's Round with Tristan Smith, Fred Cantor and Ari Rose.
Sleeping Moon is at 495 N. Semoran Blvd Suite 1, Winter Park, Fl
Thanks to Mark for helping us out with this. They have great food at very reasonable prices.
The Songwriters will have CD's available. For details, and performers websites check out:
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/susiecoolgigs/sleeping-moon-08-06-16
Matthew and Rebecca Campbell (Mellify)
Have a new CD available at BandCamp
Also for anyone interested, Central Florida Folk hosts a song circle at the Sleeping Moon on
the last Wednesday of each month. 7 to 10pm. All are welcome. It is acoustic. They have a
facebook page too.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle/139385302761066?fref=ts
On the third Wednesdays of each month we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar
Group in the Community room of the winter Park Library. 460 E. New England Ave.-- Winter
Park, FL 32789. 6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome, but we do try to play our fingerstyle
songs and not use picks. There is more info on the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in
the ISG members page.
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques, please send the
mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG MySpace
page. https://myspace.com/21075001
July 2016 No Critique results:
New members always welcome!
© 2016 ISG
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