26 Topic by beestie

(4 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I have yet to play this right through so I hope it works ok.

The Nightmare Never Ends

[C]She wears dark sunglasses on a cloudy day so people can not see
[F]The black eye from last night when he didn't like his dinner
[Em]When did things start going wrong this is not how it used to be,
[F]She used to feel important, she used to be a winner
[C]Now she trembles when he comes home, she always gets the blame
[G]The kids all run and hide when he starts screaming her name

[F]She's just too scared to leave him as [Em]he's threatened her before,
[F]She's lost count of the times the [F]police have come to call
[C]The bruises that she has said have [F]been due to a fall
[G]Things seem to be getting worse, [F]she wonders how it will end
[G]She's all alone, it's been a while since he's [F]driven off her friends

[C]It's not just his fists that cut her, [G]his words can hurt as well
[F]Slowly things are getting worse, [G]this house' her private hell
[Em]If only she could find the strength to [G]simply walk away
[F]The sun would finally shine for her on this [C]bleak and hopeless day

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27 Reply by beestie

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Great song but then I'm a sucker for songs that tell a story.

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28 Reply by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Strummerboy Bill wrote:
beestie wrote:

The only reason the Cmag7 is in there is because it is an easy slide on the bottom A string on a ukulele between C and C7. It can be taken out all together and everything still works fine. If you want to transpose it,that is fine by me.

Well, I find myself either transposing or capoing a lot of cover tunes, but since yours is such a specialized instrument, I'd want to be careful messing with the chords too much, in fear of harming the tune's melody and charm.

MUSICATED PHRASE: "Don't Harm The Charm"

Thanks, beestie! smile

Bill

EDITED TO ADD: Comments left on your Sound Cloud page! smile

Feel free to modify my songs to suit your voice and instrument. I'm just happy to have people thinking they are worth the effort.
Peatle and Easybeat have both sent me highly modified covers of a song. I can't think of a greater compliment that they thought it was worth their time playing and thinking about it.

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29 Reply by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Tried something a bit different on this one. I backed off on the strumming. Unfortunately it highlights my not so flash voice.
https://soundcloud.com/sak-26/average-joe-1mp3

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30 Reply by beestie

(5 replies, posted in Songwriting)

easybeat wrote:

Beestie

Pat yaself on the back,ya lyrics are always excellent
Strum pattern / tempo/ chords aren`t  the answer.
U need to ask others for honest comments.
Reading your latest, i could hear how u were going to do it by the meter of the lyrics.
I think the problem is in your head,just need to change your thinking, not a lot though.

Peatle is right  FEEL is very important!Uke players go on about strum, where feel is neglected.

I suspect your right about the ukulele playing. Ukulele is usually driven by beat and so most ukulele players concentrate on the strum pattern far more than guitar players. You hardly ever hear guitar players talk about strum patterns but uke players like me tend to focus on them. It is hard to break the lessons that I have been taught from day one, when I started on the ukulele. Thanks for the comments, there is no reason why a ukulele can't be played differently.

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31 Reply by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

The only reason the Cmag7 is in there is because it is an easy slide on the bottom A string on a ukulele between C and C7. It can be taken out all together and everything still works fine. If you want to transpose it,that is fine by me.

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32 Reply by beestie

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

There are some interesting points in your post. I've come to the conclusion that  I would rather look back and regret things I have done than look back and wondered what life would be like if I had done thing differently. I played it safe for the first 50 years and worried about what other people thought and always did the sensible and safe things. I gave up worrying about my wife's smoking. I've come to realize that it is my problem, not hers. She's not worried and arguing with her just make us both unhappy. She knows it's bad for her. she just doesn't care.

The dad of my stepdaughter managed to kill himself going outside for a smoke after a triple bypass. They wouldn't let him smoke inside the hospital, so he headed outside and had a heart attack. His family tried to blame the hospital but when it comes down to it, he was a grown man and old enough to make his own mistakes. Here you can't sue the hospital at all.

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33 Topic by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Thanks to Mazzy for some of the changes in the lyrics and also ideas on chords. I took some of hers and some of mine and mixed it up a bit.

Just an Average Joe
I’ve  been [C]around for [Cmag7] over [C7] fifty  years, [F] with no real claim to fame
[D] Not that many eyes light up at the [D7] mention of my [G]name
[C] I’ve not climbed any mountains or [F] swum across the sea
[G] I’m not really very sporty, but I still like being [G7] me
Chorus:
[C] I guess I’m [Cmag7]only [C7]average, as [A7] normal as can be
[D7] Usually I’m happy, ’cause  [G7] I still like being me

[C] No-one would call me special, [F] normal describes me best
[D] If you’re looking for perfection, [G]  I’m sure I’d fail the [G7]test
I [C] can’t be called good looking and my [C7] hair is going grey
[F] But I’m happy in my skin as I go from day to [G7] day

Chorus:
[C] Girls don’t swoon as I pass by. [D7] Great lover, I am not   
[G] My wife is also average, [G7] but I still think she’s hot
[C] Most say my [Cmag7] life is [C7] boring as I [F] go from day to day
[G] The world will keep on turning, [G7] when I pass away
Instrumental: [C] [F] [D] [G]
[C] Though I am nobody’s hero, [F] I’ll help out if I can,
[G7] I’m certainly not perfect, [G] I’m just an average man
[C] I’m happy with my life so far, [D7] perfect it sure is not
[F] We all just do the best we can, and [C] play the cards we got.

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34 Topic by beestie

(5 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I have just written the lyrics for my next song and I'm trying to put the chords to it at the moment. After listening to a few of my songs I'm beginning to notice a pattern and they are starting to sound all the same. Generally my problem is the pattern of my lyrics are very similar and my chord changes tend to be in the same places in each song. I think it is because I am writing them as poems and then adding the chords later. I have tried changing from 4/4 to 3/4 and that helps a bit  but just wondering if anyone has any tips. 

Generally I write in the key of C and then transpose into a different key later. I have tried adding more chords but that just makes it sound "Fussy" and id not really my style.

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35 Reply by beestie

(21 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Strummerboy Bill wrote:

Forgot to tell you, mazzy, that from an intermediate player's view, that song looks really hard to play. You're changing chords in mid-word at one place. Soo.... that leads to the question: How long have you been playing?

Thanks

Bill

Mazzy is a very good player. We have a few ukulele groups here and at one ( Cafe Ukulele) we purposefully tend to throw in some harder songs to push people. We then laugh at our mistakes while we try to nail the song.  The general attitude is "if you aren't struggling, your not learning". We all tend to do our own thing and no one leads the group. There is nothing more satisfying than realizing you just played through a song that used to give you trouble and didn't even think about it.

Most ukulele groups stick to the easy songs and that's fine but keeping the mix between easy and hard right is a bit more challenging.

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36 Reply by beestie

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

It's stupid. We are willing to talk about a cold or even cancer but dementia or depression are seen as taboo. They will stay that way unless we get out there and talk about it. The New Zealand Government is running a programme to bring it more into the open with adds on TV and a website. John Kerwin is a famous and very successful rugby player and is quite open about his depression and, while I'm not a huge rugby fan, I have a huge amount of respect for someone who puts themselves out there.

There is a big push here to show mental illness as something not to be scared of. If the statistics in the second add are right it is a problem for 1 person in 5. That puts it up there with cancer.

Have a look at this http://www.depression.org.nz/?gclid=CP7 … vQodQ1sCyg

This advert is slightly older, but the replacement advert is not available on youtube yet. I realize most of the people mentioned will be unknown to you but all of them are very special people for a lot of Kiwis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQk8a3-QYKU

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37 Reply by beestie

(4 replies, posted in Songwriting)

The mic was a bit too close to the ukulele so I hope you can make out the words
https://soundcloud.com/sak-26/the-beggermp3

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38 Reply by beestie

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I went and saw my doctor a few months ago and got some pills for my depression. He told me all about the side effects like dry mouth and all sorts of other minor things. He completely failed to mention that it would muck up my sex drive completely and also I would feel like I was walking 5 feet behind myself. I run heavy machinery so this was just plain dangerous.  When I checked on the net they were listed as common side effects. I went back and he changed me to a different drug but that one made me feel like I was about to pass out every time I got out of a chair or stood up quickly. Again he failed to mention that it was a side effect. In the end I gave up and flushed the lot. The treatment was worse than the illness. Waking up at two in the morning most nights and thinking about things you can't fix is just the pits. I seem to wake up every two hours most nights but two in the morning is guaranteed .

I can always tell how my depression is going by monitoring my ukulele practice. When it is really bad I don't pick up the uke much. Writing songs, exercise and forcing myself to practice ukulele seems to help but I really have to be hard on myself almost force myself to do it when things are bad.

Used to play WOW as well but gave up as I decided that I needed to focus on my playing music and levelling five 85th level toons up to 90 was going to take too much time and I would be finished just in time for the next expansion to come out.

Feel free to vent. It seems to help me when I do it. Too many people treat depression as a dirty word and a label. Always remember you are not alone. It is amazing how many people will come out of the closet and tell you of their similar experiences. By mentioning it first you help make it ok for them to share as well.

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39 Topic by beestie

(4 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I am not overly happy with the ending of this. It really needs another verse about how much these guys annoy me. Up until a few years ago we never saw people begging on the street but in the last ten or so years it has become more common. I quite like buskers but begging is just annoying as New Zealand has a fairly strong welfare system and a lot of them are just after money for booze and drugs. The stupid thing is that if you want to busk in Wellington you need a licence (that costs money and has conditions about where and when you can perform) but beggers can just sit there and make every ones life a misery. I have heard that some people begging can make $300 - $400 per day, when you consider they are probably getting the dole as well.......words fail me. 


The Begger
[C] He sits alone outside the shop, [G] and people look away
[G7] Asking everyone for cash as they go [C]about their day
[C] Most ignore his plaintive cry, They just [G] frown and walk on by
[G7] Others stop,  a coin will drop, [C]  letting out a sigh
Chorus
[Em] Spare change, spare change , spare change   is [Am]what you hear him croak
[Em] Sorry mate, no cash from me[Am]  ‘cause I’m just far too broke


[C] The suits all look quite angry as they [G] go strolling by
[G7] They take it as an insult, when they [C] hear his mournful cry
[C] They wish he would just go away,[Am]  a blight on their busy day
[G7] If only he would  go away,[C]  he’s spoiling a sunny  day



Chorus:

[C] The young girls walk cross the road, [G] they don’t want to get near
[G7] They look away and walk on by[C]  trembling in fear
[C] He sits there next to his empty cap, [Am]a blight upon your day
[C] Everybody wants him gone, [ Em]but he will always stay

Chorus:

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40 Reply by beestie

(21 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I had the good fortune to hear you play this live last Sunday. Love they way you use the chords. The Key suits you voice really well. Good to see you on chordae.

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41 Reply by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

The trouble in UK and US is you are getting people who aren't true refugees. People coming into a country so they can make more money or have an easier life is not the same as someone running from a situation where staying might get them killed.

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42 Reply by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

We are quite lucky here in New Zealand, being so far away from the problem, but there are times when I think countries like us should step up to the plate and do our fair share. Not likely to happen while New Zealand is being run by a bunch of bean counters.

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43 Topic by beestie

(8 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Written after hearing that another 200 people died just yesterday after another refugee boat sinking. This song took on a life of its own. You may notice that the words are different in the recorded version. It started out with a chorus, but I took it out and just added an instrumental in various places. Mainly when I needed a break to get my breath back. The  original chorus is the two lines after the instrumental.

This is a problem that we need all countries to get together and come up with some kind of coordinated plan. It might not be popular, and I'm buggered if I know how we fix it but it's about time we all started to work together to come up with some new ideas. What we have now is not working. Maybe we need to start a fund to pay countries to take people.

https://soundcloud.com/sak-26/the-refugeemp3

The Refugee
[G] On the run from all that hate, not  [C7]  even welcome by her state
[F] Not even the country where she was born, [pause for two beats] [G]   war torn
[ F] Not wanted anywhere it seems, all  [G] those past shattered dreams
[G] She can’t call any country home, not  [C7]welcome where ever she roams
[F] Her kids are crying at her side, [G] wondering if their dad’s alive
[G]  [C7] [F] [C]
[Em] All she wants is a fresh start, [G] a country that will show some heart
[C7] All she wants is a fresh start, [F] a country that will show some [G] heart

[G] But no one wants her here or there, [C7] she isn’t welcome anywhere
[F] In a shanty town she’ll live, dependant on what people[G]  give
[Em]And that’s not much you can be sure, [G] her kids are always wanting more
[C7] No country will step up to the plate,[F]  no shelter from all that [G] hate

[G] Desperate times, spawn desperate measures,[C7]  so she parts with all her treasures
[F] The boat is old in bad repair, devoid of all its fishing [G] gear
[Em] Not built to handle open seas, [C7] not nearly waters rough as these
[F] No toilet, and there’s not much food, she huddles with her weary [G]  brood

[G] Heading to the promised land, [C7] hoping for the best,  [F] landing will put them [tap]  to the [G]  test.
[Em}]The lands ahead but so’s the rocks,  this [C7]is a dangerous shore
[F] After all she’s been though, can she handle[G]  more.
[G] Safe on beach, at least for now, [C]she huddles in the sand
[F] Even here she’s not wanted in this wary  [G] land

[Em]Will anybody try to help, to [C7] keep her family whole
[F] Or will we just all turn away, a blot upon [G]  soul

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44 Topic by beestie

(1 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Brian (Easybeat) and I were mucking around with my ukulele using it as a tuneable drum by tapping a pencil on the strings. It gives quiet a nice sound so this is really just a test https://soundcloud.com/sak-26/rainmp3

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45 Reply by beestie

(6 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I'm playing a S1 Martin Soprano Ukulele. (badly) I usually use My Australian Maton concert but we had a power cut last night so I decided to do some recording and had left the Maton at work. The Maton is a bit louder and more mellow.

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46 Reply by beestie

(6 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Here is the link. I tried to play it fast but kept tripping over my tongue, so this is how it ended up after over 20 attempts.
https://soundcloud.com/sak-26/the-oxygen-thiefmp3

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47 Topic by beestie

(6 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I wrote this after talking to a girl who fighting for custody of her daughter. She is busy working hard trying to save enough to pay her lawyer, while the New Zealand government pays a lawyer on her ex's behalf to fight her for custody. She had to leave a high paying job in Australia and a brand new house to fight for her daughter.  He has 4 kids to 3 different woman. Both he and the "lady" he lives with don't have a job and he has never held down a job for over 6 months.  The government is happy to pay him a benefit to look after the kid  (including a house paid for by the state),  while my friend would be willing to look after her for free. The song is a mixture of several people I have been unfortunate to meet over the years. An Oxygen thief is some one who's sole contribution to the world is to use up some of its oxygen. Sorry if I sound bitter and twisted but I have met too many of these people who's aim in life is to make life harder for the rest of us.

The Oxygen Thief
(Play fast)

[C] All he wants to do is drink, that’s how he has his fun
And [G] when he’s drunk, he wants to fight, he’ll fight most anyone
When [F] he’s not drunk, he’s smoking dope, half the day he’s high
[G] It is his fault he’s got no job, he doesn’t even try.
[C] He hasn’t worked in twenty years and I don’t think he could
[F] He’s got no ambition to do anything good


Chorus:
[G] He lives to [C] drink and [G] smoke and [G]  fight, he’s on [C] the piss [G] most every [C] night
[G] He lives to [C] drink and [G] smoke and [G]  fight, he’s on [C] the piss [G] most every [C] night

[C] The ambulance staff all know him, they’ve been so many times
[G] The police are often there, he’s done so many crimes.
[F] Hospital’s a second home, they all know him by name
[C] He drive’s the nurses up the wall with all his silly games
Chorus:

[C] He’s got three kid’s  with different mums, who’ve sent Him on his way
[F] The government looks after them, he will never pay
[G] Child support is just a dream, the mum’ will never collect
[C] The government just pays the lot including all the rent
Chorus :

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48 Reply by beestie

(3 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Pete has been very supportive with me as well and has a bit of a following on soundcloud. He posts a lot and Wellington is lucky in having 5 of us that all know and support each other. It makes writing a lot easier when you get your feedback face to face.

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49 Reply by beestie

(9 replies, posted in Songwriting)

TIGLJK wrote:

Nice one -  Your Morepork and Jan's Tui should get together ! smile 

Both great pieces --

just exemplifies how chordie broadens our cultural horizons -  I never had heard of either before... now I am better off for it.  smile

I must admit Jan's (Jandle) Tui did work as a lot of a inspiration for both Morepork and Waihine. Brian (Easybeat) commented to me that I shouldn't be put off about repeating lines, so that was the catalyst for the chorus.

New Zealand's birds are easy to write about as we have a few really unusual ones. We have a mountain parrot that is a real character called the Kea, it is well known for destroying peoples cars and stealing things. iIt is even been accused to attacking and killing sheep. We also have a flightless parrot called the Kakapo. If you want a laugh watch this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY

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50 Reply by beestie

(9 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I guess I should have pointed out that a morepork is a native owl here in New Zealand. I live within 100 yards of Rimutaka Forest Park and one calls most evenings. To western ears it does sound a bit like it is saying "more pork". I think the Maori name for it "Ruru" is a bit more accurate concerning its' call.  ( Maori often name things using their sound or look as part of the name). It is quiet a relaxing sound and I love laying in bed listening to it on a cold night. This is quite a small owl but its' call is very loud and can be heard from quite a distance away.

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