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Question: How can I "improve" this song!?
I always write songs, and melodies, but theres always something missing even though I put 100% heart into it!.
I think I'm doing something wrong with the chords, it just sounds too basic!! thanks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I totally agree with all of the other answers so far!.

Learn some new chords, try harmonizing with something different!. If you mostly play I - IV - V type chords, try using different chords instead!.

For instance, in the key of C, the IV chord is F and the V chord is G!. Turn the G into a G7 (G dominant 7) for a little extra flavor there!. Replace the IV with a ii, ie, F -> Dm!. So we now have a progression that's C - Dm - G7!. Anytime you jump a fourth, you can put a flatted (ie, minor) seventh on it for extra resolution, so since Dm -> G7 is a jump of a fourth (just like G7 -> C) we can put a 7th on the Dm!.

So we started with C - F - G and ended with C - Dm7 - G7!. Replace the C with an Am (or Am7!) and you've got a great minor progression, too!.

Another option is to not strum full chords, but to only play partials!. Country music uses Travis picking, where the bass root is picked, then the rest of the chord is strummed!.!.!.!. that's one example of it, ska music has a similar idea, where the downbeat is strummed while muted (the chuka sound) and the upbeat has only the top two or three strings played!. Along this same concept are arpeggios as well!.!.!. sometimes called "broken chords" since the chord isn't played all at once!.

Similar to using different chords above is using suspensions!.!.!. very often they're simple to play, and make great ornamentation!. If you've ever listened to Creed or Alter Bridge (especially their first album) a trademark of Mark Tremontis style is using the sus2 extension quite heavily, both as a stand in chord and as a hammer-on/pull-off/trill thingy!. Sus4 is the other suspension, in case you start looking through your chord charts!. Usually not used on the last chord of a progression, unless it sounds really good of course!. =)

Different voicings!. Don't play cowboy chords (open chords), try to find other ways to play your chords!.!.!.!. one option is barre chords, for instance!. Learning some jazz voicings (usually three or four notes higher up the neck) can also help you out!. Playing in an open tuning, or even changing one string can switch things up dramatically!. Dropping the top E string to D, for instance (what they call the reverse drop d) changes your chords around, and opens up different possibilities for droning chords!. You know about droning chords, right!?

Drones!. Keeping one string open while playing chords around it, over it, under it!. For instance!.!.!. play power chords on the 5th string, the A string, while keeping the 1st two strings, E and B, open!. Might look like this:

x24400 B5 + E B Bsus4
x35500 C5 + E B Cmajor7
x57700 D5 + E B Dmaj6(sus2) <-- I think that's the right name for it

etc

Creates a nice shimmery sound!. I've done similar things with chord progressions, just not using open strings!. I'll let you explore that one!.


So those are some ideas!. Without hearing your actual songs, it's hard to actually be specific, but these are some ways to get you going!. If you google "create unusual chord progressions" you should be able to dig up some more ideas that center around note and chord choices (parallel major/minor, exotic scales, voicings, etc)!.

If you ever get around to recording yourself, post the question! And/or email me, I'd love to offer you my personal critique, you can email me through my Y!A profile!.


SaulWww@QuestionHome@Com

Well sometimes simple and basic songs can sound awesome but i find that if a song doesn't sound right maybe a chord isn't in a good sequence or the strumming pattern (if its a guitar) isn't right!. Try changing some chords and messing about with different rythmns sometimes it helps alot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hm!.!.!. Well, it's very hard to tell!. It depends on the genre!. Try to take a video and post it somewhere so we can have a better idea of what advice to give you!. I would try to make it more complex (from what I've heard)!. Try adding in extra sharps and flats where they fit in well with the chords!. Try to make the chords sound a little mysterious yet beautiful!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well since I have no idea what the song sounds like or what you think it is you're doing wrong, I have no idea how to advise you!.

How about posting a link to a recording or YouTube video of something you've written so we can hear what you're talking about!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

do you have your song online!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

learn different chord inversions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com