901 Reply by James McCormick

(3 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Thanks for the cheering up, johncross21!  Lovely song on a wonderful topic.

We are lucky to have some magnificent trees near our home.  Grand old oaks and cottonwoods.  Cedars that are gnarled and wise.  There's a catalpa that is a monster and some magnolias that are treasures and bloom magnificently.  Lots of sweet gum and bodock and cypress too.

A medium-sized oak died a couple of years ago and I have enjoyed watching the insects and lichens slowly digest the wood and bark.  It fell over the other day and I will let it slowly continue to provide food and shelter for all the little critters who are feasting on it - sort of like a garden in reverse.

Anyway - guess you can tell that I'm also a tree lover.  Great song, thanks.  James

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902 Reply by James McCormick

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

Gentlemen, there are lots of political websites hosting forums concerning politics.  I realize this Chat Corner is 'wide open' to any topic, but this thread has stymied into bickering between just two users . . .

I am debating whether to close the thread.
Any opinions on this option are welcome.  James

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

903 Reply by James McCormick

(21 replies, posted in About Chordie)

Feeling misunderstood is probably a healthy stage in adolescence since that is when we start to grow into our individuality.  Sometimes the kids who require the most patience also have the greatest potential.

Like Roger, I wish Will all the best and would welcome his return to this  forum.

Nadine2, I can only begin to imagine what homeschooling is like.  My kids have been lucky to have some very gifted teachers at our local public schools.  They have also had some real stinkers - but by and large our local school system is excellent.

Nonetheless, there are still some families here who opt for homeschooling - mostly for fundamentalist religious reasons.  In those cases, the homeschooling seems more like a form of mind control than a educational experience.

Go to forum: About Chordie

904 Reply by James McCormick

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Thanks, johncross21 - The 12-bar blues is a fun skeleton to hang some flesh on.  Maybe not the most original song form, but since I live in Mississippi I enjoy carrying on the traditional form in my own peculiar manner.

Arkady, thanks for 'getting it' - I used to work as a carpenter doing repairs and renovations.  I have lots of first-hand knowledge of how houses and buidings are transitory things that are constantly returning to the earth and crumbling in slow motion.  The recent, tragic collapse of the highway bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis got me thinking about this whole topic.

Go to forum: Songwriting

905 Reply by James McCormick

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Thanks, daddycool!  Hey, I tried to email you a couple of times, but it keeps bouncing back.  Even tried replying to one you sent me, but it still didn't go through.  Is the email address you have on your chordie registration corrrect?  James

Go to forum: Songwriting

906 Reply by James McCormick

(6 replies, posted in About Chordie)

Hi tech man001 & welcome to chordie.  As you are browsing songs and artists you can choose the types of selections that are presented.  In the upper right there is a button to pick "all" or "Chords Only" or "Tabs Only".  This can help narrow the choices (although the filter does not function flawlessly).

Chordie is a search engine that finds, formats, and presents material that is on the web.  All material you find in chordie's index is the result of somebody somewhere taking the time and effort to figure it out and offer their version to the world.  See the FAQs on the 'Resources' page for more info on this.

Some artists are 'tabbed' more than 'chorded' by their fans.  If all you are finding are tabs, then that is simply the method prefered by the people who are inspired to noodle out the music for that artist particular and put it on the web.  Depending on the tab, you can often 'get' the chords with some  diligence.

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907 Reply by James McCormick

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

Hi pefenheitenaught - Like badeye, I'm an early riser.  Gotta get my sleep and then I'm up early getting my day started.  Love the quiet early morning and hearing the day come alive.  James

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

908 Reply by James McCormick

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

Hi sage121 and welcome to chordie's forum.  Never a dull moment here since we have participants from all around the planet.  I know what you mean about spending lots of time on chordie since it is a boundless resource.  James

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

909 Topic by James McCormick

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Another blues ditty:

Infrastructure BluesJames McCormick, August 13, 2007


[G]Everything is crumbling, [G]rusting, rotting away


[G]Pipes and roads and bridges [G7]steadily decay.


[C]Nothing is forever [C]that's a guarantee


The [G]only thing that's constant is [G]cosmic entropy.


When [D7]galaxies collide the [C7]elements renew


[G]That is why I'm singing the infrastructure [D7]blues.


. . . .


[G]Scientists say it started with a [G]bang that was large


[G]Fundamentalists insist there's a [G7]deity in charge.


[C]Tooth fairy loonies say it's [C]all some kind of spell


[G]Optimists keep smiling [G]deep in their wishing well.



But the [D7]civil engineers say the [C7]piper's pay is due


So [G]join me now in singing the infrastructure [D7]blues.


. . . .


[G]Ashes go to ashes, [G]dust goes into dust


[G]Concrete goes to gravel, [G7]iron goes to rust.


[C]Dinosaurs go to fossils, [C]empires go to ruin


Don't [G]matter who you are, or [G]who your lawyers suing.


Our [D7]house of cards is burning, that [C7]news is nothing new


[G]That is why I'm singing the [D7]infrastructure [G]blues.



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910 Reply by James McCormick

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

"Ripple"  by Grateful Dead

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911 Reply by James McCormick

(1 replies, posted in Song requests)

Here you are, sir.  Would you like some fries with that?
http://bettylou.zzruss.com/devilwomanrichard.htm

This bettylou.zzrus.com has lots of stuff.  It is one person's labor of love and is well worth a look - lots of stuff you might not locate anywhere else.  James

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912 Reply by James McCormick

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

My recording of 'Box of Tools' is now on my MySpace Music page.
Please give it a listen!
  http://www.myspace.com/r200james

Go to forum: Songwriting

913 Reply by James McCormick

(31 replies, posted in Songwriting)

I hope this will the first of many collaborative efforts.  Roger, Old Doll, and I will no doubt learn alot as we bring this song to life.  Hopefully, it will pave the way for more group efforts involving more chordie participants.

It's stuff like this that make chordie such a neat place!  James

Go to forum: Songwriting

914 Topic by James McCormick

(4 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Our daughter will soon be going off to a college over 500 miles away.
I'm sure the scene described in this song is occuring in many homes right about now.

Pack for College BluesJames McCormick, August 12, 2007


12-bar blues


The [G]less you bring the better, take [G]only what you need


[G]Too much stuff will complicate, [G7]that's a guarantee


[C]Keep it light and simple, just [C]stuff you'll actually use


[G]Leave the rest all behind, you've [G]gotta pick and choose


Do you [D7]really need 63 [C7]pairs of shoes girl?


You're [G]headed off to college, it's not the end of the [D7]world.


You'll be [G]living in a dorm, there's [G]not a lot of space


You won't [G]have an entire house to leave your [G7]junk around the place


You'll have to [C]do your own laundry be-[C]fore it starts to stink


You [G]won't be able to leave your stuff [G]in the bathroom sink



Do you [D7]really need 26 bottles of [C7]stuff for your hair girl?


You're [G]headed off to college, it's not the end of the [D7]world.


[G]Mom and dad will miss you, and [G]little brother too


Your [G]hound dog will be wondering just [G7]where you've gone off to


Your [C]friends are scattering out [C]all across the land


To [G]universities far and wide [G]just like they have planned


You'll [D7]always be your daddy's [C7]precious little girl


You're [C]headed off to college, it's [D7]not the end of the [G]world



Go to forum: Songwriting

915 Reply by James McCormick

(2 replies, posted in Song requests)

Hi dfrnz and welcome to chordie!  Check the artist listings here under Pachelbel, Johann.   There are multiple arrangements listed there.  Don't know if the one you seek is there, but it's worth a browse through the choices.  James

Go to forum: Song requests

916 Reply by James McCormick

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

Here is a tasty little musical treat - hope you find it delicious:

Butter is BetterJames McCormick, August 12, 2007


Don't [C]try to give no margarine u-[F]pon my sacred toast


That [G]modern abomination I [F]do detest the [C]most


Tis [C]tasteless ugly chemical goo, [F]manufactured glop


Some [G7]say it's just like butter but [G]honestly it's [C]not


[C7]Cuz . . . .



[F]Butter is better on [C]everything


[F]Butter so fragrant so [C]sweet


[F]Butter is better on [C]anything


[F]Butter it [G7]really can't be [C]beat



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917 Reply by James McCormick

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

Hi Jef - That is a wonderful idea to expand into French!  I am perfectly monolingual, but I can see there is probably a need for what you suggest.  I am merely a volunteer who helps with moderating the forum (all chordie moderators are volunteers).  I will contact you privately about what to do.

Regarding the strange characters when editing - that is due to different protocols or some such - not being a techno whiz that is all I know.  The only immediate solution is to not use accents - certainly not ideal, but a temporary work-around.  Ultimately some programming changes need to be made somewhere deep in the bowels of chordies coding.

Look for my private email.  Glad you have found chordie and want to expand our world domination!  James

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918 Reply by James McCormick

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

Toast is OK, but for real chewy bliss I enjoy a toasted bagel with a little butter and too much cream cheese.  Ideally the butter and cream cheese are room temperature since they taste and smell better that way.  Complete the tableau with a big mug of black coffee with chicory, some orange juice (also room temp) and the New York Times crossword puzzle and pencil.  Great way to start the day.

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919 Reply by James McCormick

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

That sounds extrememely painful - I shall make a mental note not to fall onto any fires.
I know a professional musician who was so worried about hurting his hands that he won't shake hands or do anything that is even remotely physical - weird but true.  James

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920 Reply by James McCormick

(8 replies, posted in Electric)

I chose to use B as the root in my analysis since it simply 'related' in 'regular' ways to more notes than anything else.  Here is a nifty little chord analysis tool:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_building_grid

Go to forum: Electric

921 Reply by James McCormick

(8 replies, posted in Electric)

Holy Toledo Batman!  I really fouled it all up!
Yikes - good thing I wasn't calculating re-entry trajectories for space capsules . . . this is not rocket science, but I should have been more careful.

OK, so let's see what the right notes all add up to, shall we?
The B, D, F# make a minor triad (1, b3, 5).
The A# relates to the B as the 7th.
The E relates to the B as the 4th (this note seems to be the odd bit).

So, maybe it is a Bm7 4?
Good golly, now I'm confused . . . .

The B, E, F# could also be seen as a sus4 (1, 4, 5).
The A# relates to the B as the 7th.
The D relates to the B as the b3.
So maybe it's a B7sus4 b3?

If this is also completely off, I'll just sulk a bit.  James

Go to forum: Electric

922 Topic by James McCormick

(2 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Here is a 3-chord twang & howl:

Wheels and TimeJames McCormick, August 11, 2007


The [D]moment is so vivid a favorite memo-[G]ry


You [D]looked into the future, I wasn't in the [A]scene


[D]Knew it was forever when we were waving [G]bye


[D]Wheels and time make new [A]chapters in our [D]lives


[G]Wheels and time, rolling every [D]day . . . .


[G]Wheels and time, roll the past a-[A]way . . . .


Your [D]life is adventure, epic quest for [G]fame


[D]Mine is much more typical boring and mun-[A]dane


While [D]I am running errands tending to the [G]chores


[D]You are living on the edge where [A]none have gone be-[D]fore


[G]Wheels and time, rolling by so [D]fast . . . .


[G]Wheels and time, echos from the [A]past . . . .



[D]Everything is better since you zoomed a-[G]way


[D]Make the most of my life in my own small [A]way


[D]Hope you find your fortune, I hope you do sur-[G]vive


[D]Wheels and time make new [A]chapters in our [D]lives


[G]Wheels and time, rolling steadi-[D]ly . . . .


[G]Wheels and time, bring opportuni-[A]ty . . . .


The [D]moment is so vivid a favorite memo-[G]ry


You [D]looked into the future, I wasn't in the [A]scene


[D]Knew it was forever when we were waving [G]bye


[D]Wheels and time make new [A]chapters in our [D]lives



Go to forum: Songwriting

923 Reply by James McCormick

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

Hi Lover80y and welcome to chordie!

The corrections you describe can easily be made by any registered chordie user.  First, move the song into your songbook.  Then, simply click on 'correct song' at the bottom of the song's page.  This will open up an editing screen where you can make the necessary changes and also eliminate any extra stuff.  Hit the 'save' button (between the the edit panes).

If you want, you can also update the 'public' listing in chordie's index with your corrected version.  It is easiest simply to copy your whole corrected song, zap the entire old version, and then paste in your whole corrected song.

Sounds complicated, but isn't really.  Being able to edit and correct songs is a very cool chordie feature.  James

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924 Reply by James McCormick

(3 replies, posted in Song requests)

Check out Misc. TV or Misc. Television (under M in Artist) in chordie's index.  The various 'Misc.' categories have lots of interesting stuff.  There are 3 versions of King of the Hill theme song listed there.  James

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925 Reply by James McCormick

(4 replies, posted in Songwriting)

You paint a crystal clear picture here - really very very nice.
I can smell the ocean and feel the sand.

Read a book once by Thomas Stevens, "Around the World on a Bicycle".  In the 1880's he started in San Francisco and kept heading east until he arrived back home a few years later.  Went around the world on a pennyfarthing bike (the old high wheeler kind).  He was the first person to make it all the way around the world on a bike.

His travels brought him across many borders that ceased to exist and through villages and cultures that are long gone.  The so-called 'Great War' radically re-drew the political and cultural maps across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Steven's descriptions of the people and places are fascinating - your song evokes that same fascination with how things have changed yet stayed the same.  James

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