Greetings fellow troubadors (and troubadettes)! "Just One of Those Days" posted in a new thread on the Songwriting forum. 'Tis a wee sweet waltz. As always any comments (good, bad, so-so) are welcome.
1,502 2007-03-03 12:47:48
Re: "Just One of Those Days" (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Thanks, Jeff - Glad you liked it. I am quite fond of simple waltz tunes - some of the old 'cowboy waltz' songs are my favorites for their simple elegance.
I will probably continue working on "Just One of Those Days" since I am not quite satisfied with the second verse. But that's part of the fun of songwriting - there are always more ideas to play with.
1,503 2007-03-03 04:06:49
Topic: "Just One of Those Days" (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Here is a short & sweet little 3-chord waltz. After a couple of long & bitter songs, I'm trying to curb my tongue and resist the temptation to write a novel.
Just One of Those Daysby, James McCormick, March 2, 2007
3/4 time, a bittersweet waltz
It's been [G]one of those days, [C]things just went wrong
It's all [G]comin' apart at the [D]seams . . .
It's been [G]one of those days, at the [C]tip of the prong
I [G]feel like [D]I'm being [G]reamed
. . .
I'm [C]not superstitious, I'm a rational [G]man
I'm [G]not a conspiracy [D]nut . . .
But it [C]seems to me that there [G]must be a plan
To [D]get me [C]right in the [G]butt
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [G]been just one of those [D]days . . .
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [D]been just [C]one of those [G]days
If you [G]never do try then you [C]won't ever fail
And you [G]also will never suc-[D]ceed
The [G]best victories are [C]not effortless
And [G]that is life's [D]one guaran-[G]tee
. . .
A [C]lesser man might want to give [G]up
Try to [G]hide away from it [D]all . . .
But a [C]lesser man is [G]not what I am
I've [D]got the [C]brains and the [G]balls
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [G]been just one of those [D]days . . .
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [D]been just [C]one of those [G]days
To-[G]morrow I'll get up and get [C]on with my life
It's [G]truly the best thing to [D]do . . .
There's [G]no use in dwelling on [C]things that are past
Each [G]dawn brings a [D]chance all a-[G]new
. . .
I'll [C]put on my smile, I'll show my best [G]face
I'll [G]maintain my digni-[D]ty . . .
[C]Circumstances may not be i-[G]deal
But I'll [D]be the [C]best I can [G]be
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [G]been just one of those [D]days . . .
[C]One of those days, [G]One of those days
It's [D]been just [C]one of those [G]days
1,504 2007-03-03 04:02:23
Re: Advice for publishing songs (3 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Hello davidwnorman - I wish I knew exactly what to tell you. Some folks engage the services of an agent to get their stuff heard by recording artists. Some folks make demos and send them anywhere and everywhere. There is no perfect solution.
I can recommend the following book because it has some chapters on creating a demo and shopping it around (as well as tons of other topics). It also has a chapter on agents and publishers.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Songwriting-Dummies-Jim-Peterik/dp/0764554042/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2716704-8423265?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1172894162&sr=8-1" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Songwriting-Dummi … rik/dp/076 4554042/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2716704-8423265?ie=UTF8&s=bo oks&qid=1172894162&sr=8-1</a>
The authors of this book are all successful songwriters (meaning they make real money doing it) as well as experienced performers. Used copies were available on Amazon the last time I checked. You local libray may also have a copy.
Hope this helps, James
1,505 2007-03-02 02:38:13
Re: "Sex and Greed" (3 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I knew it was a long song, but had no idea it was 7 1/2 minutes! It's got alot of words - maybe too many, but I had fun cobbling it together and I think it conveys the idea well.
Perhaps I'll revisit this lyric some day and see if I can't distill it down to a shorter form. Or, perhaps I'll revisit it and triple the size (plenty more 'sex & greed' ore to mine)!
At any rate, I'm already off working on other ideas and this one is as done as it will get for the time being.
1,506 2007-03-02 02:26:32
Re: My Second Song (4 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Hello jets60 - Very nice song Jeff - sweet and oh-so-true! I also have a daughter. She will going off to college in a few short months and I can identify with your lyric's sentiment. Like you, I am proud of her strength and independence but I also miss the days when we would hold hands and go for an adventure walk around the block.
I would like to see the chords placed within your words - could you take a minute and read the "Post Formatted Songs" thread at the top of Songwriter's Forum? Putting a song into the neccessary ChorpPro format is simple. Then, when it is posted in the forum it will look all pretty and proper.
Look forward to seeing more of your creations on the forum.
1,507 2007-03-01 16:27:50
Re: Songwriters Circle (81 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Greeting Songwriter's Circle! "Sex and Greed" just posted to a new thread. Please give it a try and then reply / lately the forum has only been Roger & I! James
1,508 2007-03-01 16:22:59
Topic: "Sex and Greed" (3 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Here is my latest folkie rant. It's a little ditty about everything - it is my 'unified field theory' regarding human behavior!
[SONG]
{t:Sex and Greed}
{st:by, James McCormick, March 1, 2007}
[C]Leafing through pages of an [Em]old Life Magazine
I [F]see the ads and articles from [G]decades long unseen
[C]People, products, places, [Em]stories from the past
[F]Pages dry and brittle, [Dm]colors fading [G7]fast
. . . .
I [F]see the styles and fashions the [Em]big long fancy cars
[Dm]User testimonials, en-[G7]dorsements from the stars
[F]The world is really not so different [Em]now compared to then
[Dm]People are the same today as they [G7]were way back when . .
{soc}
[C]Sex and greed still motivate, [G]sex and greed still sell
[F]Sex and greed are timeless as [G]far as I can tell
[C]Sex and greed appeals both to the [G]young and long of tooth
[F]Savvy entrepenuers have [G]always known that truth . . .
. . . .
[F]Some folks lust for power, [C]dominance and wealth
[G]Some folks lust for magic pills to [F]give them perfect [G]health
[F]Some folks only goal in life is [C]just to vent their spleen
[G]Some folks get their jollies just [F]staring at a [C]screen
{eoc}
[G]I was [C]reading up on all of [Em]Billy Shakespeare's plays
Just [F]trying to impress a girl and [G]hopefully get laid
Those [C]people sure did talk weird and they [Em]kept so busy, too
With [F]sex and greed causing all those [Dm]nasty family [G7]feuds
. . . .
A [F]night out at the opera, [Em]stories told in song
[Dm]Divas warbling arias for [G7]an adoring throng
[F]Costumes, sets, tuxedos can-[Em]not obscure the fact
They're [Dm]just old tales of sex and greed and [G7]morals that do lack . . .
{soc}
[C]Sex and greed can make for [G]great dramatic arts
[F]Is it any wonder that [G]thespians are such tarts?
[C]Sex and greed's called drama when it's [G]up there on the stage
[F]Behave like in real life and they'll [G]put you in a cage
. . . .
[F]Sex and greed will motivate, [C]sex and greed will sell
[G]Sex and greed's behind the arts we [F]do all love so [G]well
[F]Sex and greed are constants [C]down through history
[G]Sex and greed are interesting I'm [F]sure you will a-[C]gree
{eoc}
[G]I was [C]reading through the Scriptures [Em]chapter, book, and verse
The [F]testament of people who were [G]at their best and worst
[C]Stories of God's people in-[Em]tended to inspire
Are [F]legends all of sex and greed in [Dm]Biblical at-[G7]tire
. . . .
[F]Scientists who study [Em]life's biology
Hy-[Dm]]pothesize, experiment, and [G7]make discoveries
Be-[F]hind the finest theories there [Em]is one basic creed
That [Dm]life is just the story of [G7]simple sex and greed
{soc}
[C]Sex and greed do motivate, [G]sex and greed do sell
[F]Sex and greed apparently will [G]serve a species well
[C]Sex and greed are instincts as [G]far as I can tell
[F]Sex and greed is something we [G]humans do so well
. . . .
[F]Some folks lust for logic, scien-[C]tific clarity
[G]Some folks lust for meaning in [F]their theolo-[G]gy
[F]Some folks lust for danger, they [C]are adrenaline nuts
[F]Some folks lust for ignorance with their [G]heads way up their [C]butts
{eoc}
[G]As I con-[C]sider the whole pageant of [Em]human history
A [F]pattern does emerge, it is [G]clear for me to see
We [C]truly are a selfish and a [Em]horny little breed
[F]Driven to survive by [Dm]simple sex and [G7]greed
. . . .
[F]Some folks claim society is [Em]going down in flames
They [Dm]criticize the media and [G7]claim it is to blame
It [F]seems to me technology is [Em]all that's really changed
'Cos [Dm]sex and greed are ancient, they're [G7]nothing new and strange
{soc}
[C]Sex and greed do motivate, [G]sex and greed do thrive
[F]Sex and greed are what we do to [G]keep ourselves alive
[C]Sex and greed are wired [G]right into our genes
[F]Sex and greed are everybody's [G]favorite cuisine
. . . .
[F]Some folks lust for complications, [C]misery and pain
[G]Some folks crave publicity, their [F]prowess to pro-[G]claim
[F]Some folks lust for quiet [C]peaceful solitude
[F]I just lust for song ideas [G]that I can ex-[C]trude
{eoc}
[/SONG]
1,509 2007-03-01 13:54:28
Re: HOW DO I TUNE MY UKE ? (14 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Way back in the day before electronic tuners the cavemen used to use pitchpipes and tuning forks. Simple, effective, elegant and no batteries required. Some music stores and sites still carry these nifty little relics.
Tuning forks are really neat. Get one for the lowest note of your instrument and then tune the rest of your strings from that tone. Tuning forks are fun to play with - set it to ringing and then hold the tip of the handle to your resonating chamber - very cool.
Pitch pipes come in versions with just the tones needed for a variety of instruments. You can get one just for ukuleles.
1,510 2007-02-28 23:05:09
Re: where have the chords gone when I print? (9 replies, posted in About Chordie)
Hey zimzer - The songs print fine on my end, so I'm suspecting something is amiss with your printer or printer driver. Perhaps if you re-install the printer driver it might fix the problem?
Another obvious question - are you printing by using the 'print' button to the right of the chordie page (over by the transposing tool and other chordie utilities)?
James
1,511 2007-02-28 22:46:29
Re: "Song Writing" Song (1 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Roger, it is good to know that somebody else will be toiling daily in songwriting vinyard. And, it is a good thing that your sudden inspiration resulted in a song and not in some headline-making act of violence. Hearing new songs in your head is far better than hearing voices (I think). James
1,512 2007-02-27 21:18:16
Re: Singing and playing. (2 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Hey Hey moddish! Congratulations on getting your hands & voice working together. Learning to sing & play is like learning to ride a bicycle. All of a sudden the necessary coordination just clicks together and you are zooming down the road. Revel in your new-found skill and enjoy!
1,513 2007-02-27 12:09:03
Re: New song (not instrumental)! (1 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Altex - glad to hear that you are working on a new song. Being asked to play guitar for "a group of girls that want to sing" is a very good thing. You are correct - any experience can be a good learning experience. It will broaden your horizons and make you a better musician (even if you are not wild about their chosen music).
1,514 2007-02-27 04:17:34
Re: More Banjo support (2 replies, posted in About Chordie)
Hello sb79 - Do you know that you can adapt your settings for instruments other than guitar? Go to the 'Resources' tab on chordie's main page. At the bottom of the Resources page is a 'Change Settings/Tuning' button.
The options include 5-String Banjo, Plectrum Banjo, and Tenor Banjo (along with some other instruments). Once this setting has been selected, your page views will include chord fingering charts for your selected instrument.
Hope this helps - James
1,515 2007-02-27 02:27:13
Re: Were you down last night-2-25-07 (1 replies, posted in About Chordie)
Hello dadspants - Yes, chordie was down all this past weekend due to a major hardware failure. The Mighty Admin has promised that significant hardware upgrades will be achieved soon.
He would normally reply to a posting in this portion of the forum, but I thought I would answer your question since he and his wife have recently welcomed their second son into their home! James
1,516 2007-02-26 22:41:58
Re: Using CHORDIE to make a Uke Chord Songbook (11 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Hello jnoteast - If your stuff is printing strange, you may have bad or corrupted chordpro coding in a song. Open each song in your songbook using the edit button at the end of the song's listing. Look for things like this:
{c:a comment with no closing bracket
{sot} at start of text command with no {eot} end of text command
Other gremlins can cause problems - I don't them all, but if you post a link to your songbook or a song, I will take a look at it. James
1,517 2007-02-26 22:22:19
Re: Using CHORDIE to make a Uke Chord Songbook (11 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
Greetings Griffrank - Here is how to change your settings to uke (or other intruments):
On chordie's front page there is a tab towards the top that says 'Resources'. Click that tab.
On the Resources page, at the bottom of the list is a button labelled 'Change Settings' (or something like that).
Hit that button and you will see a little pulldown menu where you can make your instrumental selection. Then, click OK.
Hope this helps - let me know how it goes.
James
1,518 2007-02-26 22:11:01
Re: "Big Celebrity Rehab" (11 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Roger, I am honored that your chum Pete feels my song is speaking to his soul! By all means let him make a recording of this ditty. If the song touches his heart then he will give it that certain special feel (no matter what his singing voice might be like).
How do I write songs and work full time? First, I don't waste time staring at television. Also, I have gotten good at thinking about lyrics while I am doing mundane tasks. And mainly, I set aside time everyday to chip away at ideas in progress.
A very wise and accomplished visual artist once told me he only was good at his art because, "I work on it when I feel like it, and I work on it when I don't feel like it!"
I have taken that wisdom to heart - so I "do" some songwriting daily. Not every day yields results, but because I do it daily I am getting better (I hope) at finding and using ideas for songs.
1,519 2007-02-26 19:53:52
Re: Songwriters Circle (81 replies, posted in Songwriting)
It is a relief to have Chordie back on line! Just a quick note to other Songwriter's Circle participants that I posted "Big Celebrity Rehab" recently. James
1,520 2007-02-24 02:18:14
Topic: "Big Celebrity Rehab" (11 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Here is another satirical little twanger. This is dedicated to anyone who has recently divorced a no-talent loser, had a baby, and shaved their head . . . (Britney - call me!)
[SONG]
{t:Big Celebrity Rehab}
{c:by; James McCormick, February 23, 2007}
I'm [D]goin' down in spirals, yes I've [G]done some stupid stuff
I [A]guess I'm self destructive, and I [G]just can't get e-[A7]nough
But my [D]silly psycho-drama will [G]soon be at an end . . .
'Coz [A]Hollywood is on the line, an invi-[G]tation to ex-[A7]tend
{soc}
[G]Big celebrity rehab is [D]beckoning to me
[G]Spelling out my name in lights for [A]all the world to see
Just [D]send the limo over, noti-[G]fy the paparazzi
'Coz [A]Big Celebrity Rehab is [G]where I'm gonna [A7]be . . .
{eoc}
My [D]family says I'm lazy, [G]selfish and unreal
But [A]they cannot identify with [G]how I really [A7]feel
These [D]people they just don't under-[G]stand me in the least . . .
It [A]is so very hard to be a [G]sensitive ar-[A7]tiste
{soc}
[G]Big celebrity rehab is [D]beckoning to me
[G]Spelling out my name in lights for [A]all the world to see
Just [D]send the limo over, noti-[G]fy the paparazzi
'Coz [A]Big Celebrity Rehab is [G]where I need to [A7]be . . .
{eoc}
I [D]get advice all the time from [G]family and friends
[A]Tellin' me what I should do and [G]how and where and [A7]when
But [D]everything they tell me involves [G]work and discipline . . .
But [A]all I really truly need is a [G]rehab vaca-[A7]tion
{soc}
[G]Everything will cool at ce-[D]lebrity rehab
They'll [G]cater to my every need and [A]tell me I ain't bad
I [D]promise I'll do what they say [G]get myself all well
But I [A]gotta go to where they know I [G]am so spe-[A7]cial . . .
{eoc}
[D]Everyone who knows me says that [G]I am just a slob
They [A]say I need to find a life and [G]get myself a [A7]job
[D]Everyone who knows me thinks I [G]should be just like them . . .
But [A]after I'm discovered, they'll brag, "[G]Hey, I knew him [A7]when"
{soc}
[G]Big celebrity rehab is [D]just the place for me
[G]Schmoozing there with all the babes in [A]group therapy
My [D]case it is so special there [G]prob'ly is no cure . . .
But I'd [A]like to try it anyway [G]just to know for [D]sure.
{eoc}
[/SONG]
1,521 2007-02-23 14:15:42
Re: where have the chords gone when I print? (9 replies, posted in About Chordie)
OK zimzer - post a reply here that has links to the songs that are gving you this problem. I'll take a look and see what there is to see.
1,522 2007-02-23 14:05:43
Re: I NEED SIMPLER ALTERNATIVE Bm and F CHORD (45 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Hello sixstringrich - One solution may be to use chordie's nifty-keeno transposing tool (right side of a song's screen) to change a song's key. This is one way around the problem and can provide a temporary fix.
Not all songs are properly coded to allow transposing - but most are. Play around with the transposer until you move the song into a key that is in your comfort zone. Hope this helps - James
1,523 2007-02-23 13:52:47
Re: where have the chords gone when I print? (9 replies, posted in About Chordie)
Hello zimzer - Perhaps this is an obvious question, but is your printer out of color? I also use Mac OSX and have not observed this printing problem except once when my color cartridge was empty of blue. James
1,524 2007-02-23 04:29:25
Re: Bass kits - worth it or not? (2 replies, posted in Electric)
Great idea Bootlegger! Much easier than putting a whole kit together. I'll be in touch when I get around to doing this. James
1,525 2007-02-23 04:18:00
Topic: 'Edit Song' little coding bug (1 replies, posted in About Chordie)
I have noticed that on several songs that I have edited that an annoying little bug occurs - not always, but often enough to be a problem.
When the 'soc' (start of chorus) or 'sob' (start of bridge) commands are used, the chordpro converter will ignore the statement on some of certain lines of text.
For instance, in the middle of a chorus (that is supposed to be indented and italicized) the text will suddenly become plain and left-justified even though the proper formatting codes are in place.
Likewise, in the middle of a bridge (that is supposed to be indented), the text will suddenly become left-jestified - even though the proper formatting codes are in place.
I have included some links for songs where this occurs. It seems to just happen around certian lines within the layout? This is not the biggest problem in the world, but it is a curious little quirk . . .
<a href="http://www.chordie.com/editsong.php?songid=1409056" target="_blank">http://www.chordie.com/editsong.php?songid=1409056</a>
<a href="http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ultimate-guitar.com%2Fprint.phpreplaceqmarkwhat%3Dtab%26id%3D86369&songbook=source&transpose=0" target="_blank"> http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … 2Fwww.ulti mate-guitar.com%2Fprint.phpreplaceqmarkwhat%3Dtab%26id%3D863 69&songbook=source&transpose=0</a>
<a href="http://www.chordie.com/editsong.php?songid=817739" target="_blank">http://www.chordie.com/editsong.php?songid=817739</a>
<a href="http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetsome.org%2Fguitar%2Folga%2Fchordpro%2Fp%2FJohn.Prine%2FSpanishPipedream.chopro&songbook=source&transpose=0" target="_blank"> http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … 2Fgetsome. org%2Fguitar%2Folga%2Fchordpro%2Fp%2FJohn.Prine%2FSpanishPip edream.chopro&songbook=source&transpose=0</a>
<a href="http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pjandphil.utvinternet.com%2FDYLAN%2FCOFFEE.TXT&songbook=source&transpose=0" target="_blank"> http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … 2Fwww.pjan dphil.utvinternet.com%2FDYLAN%2FCOFFEE.TXT&songbook=sour ce&transpose=0</a>