• Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Song for Father

Hi all!!
I have written a song for my dad nearly 3 years ago...and it's still just a tune in my head....it has all lyrics, chorus, bridge...I hear it beautifully in my head....but I can't seem to get the right chords everytime I try to play. You see my dad was self taught, not too fancy mostly G,C,D,A,E,F you know...basic stuff....and he taught me....we used to spend hours playing together. So anything too fancy will be out of my league.

Maybe this is why I can't get it to sound right on guitar....maybe in my head is needing B's and other bar chords...any ideas??

Thanks!
Danielle

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Song for Father

Hi Danielle and welcome to chordie!

Carrying a song around in your head and heart for 3 years is wonderful!

Pick a key - looks like G would work (given the chords your mention).  Chances are the melody will basically 'work' with G, C, and D.  You may need to throw in an Em and a D7 to round things out.  If you can sing the melody in that key, the parts that need more chords will probably be suitable for the Em and D7 (unless your melody is truly unusual).

You can also look at the chord sets used in songs that are similar to your melody, and see what chords are present.  If you can find a similar-sounding song in chordie's index, chances are you can use the transposing tool to move it close to chords that you are comfortable with.

Hope this helps - you have a delicious dilemma, a song that is complete except for the chords.  If nothing else works, you can always belt it solo with no backing chords.

Hope this helps.  James

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3

Re: Song for Father

That helps....but how do i know the order to put them in....i think the problem is also that i'm not a great singer i usually sing things in a wierd key...a friend of mine tried to find the chords on the piano(she doesn't play guitar) and I think she came up with something along the lines of E's and A's...I tried that with the guitar but it still doesn't seem right...it's becoming frustrating...lol (hence the 3 years). Guess I'm also a bit of a perfectionist which isn't helping.

  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3

Re: Song for Father

God! I tried it with G C D like you said with Em (D7 doesn't fit) And its nearly there!!! I can't thank you enough! Only thing I'm missing is one chord that seems like it needs to fit between Em and C....any ideas...it's about half way in between i think....I'm sooooo excited!

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Song for Father

Excellent news!
For something in between an Em and a C, try a Dm or a G7 or maybe an Am.

Those would be the most likely suspects . . .
While you're on a roll, start jotting down some words or lines or ideas for your next song!

So glad that your mystery song is finally finding itself whole!
James

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • Registered: 2007-05-02
  • Posts: 70

Re: Song for Father

Hey,
From what I'm reading, it's sounding pretty dang good! Perhaps you can post it on here?

Jikklop

The Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots haven't got the joke yet.