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Smokey room

Its been a while

Took me time to arrive

I was gonna drive but

Took a few swigs of

tried to bribe my friend a  taxi ride wasn't surprise they dint oblige

I don't i feel comfortable at all i   wonder why

Conversations bounce from the walls

I am here wondering why little moments in life that make it beautiful

It the way my head works it's kind of hurtful

It's a few minute on this balcony I

The creeks open I FEEL IN MY FEET

You ask me if i'm fine

I smile cause its been awhile

U sit down vicariously are eyes meet

There dark there blue there mysterious full of YOUTH

Place your hand softy on my knee the silence

Of knowing how i feel

It beautiful it all i need

And u say to me

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Consonance

1. Easy to listen to and  smooth sounding

2. The commonly-used “perfect” intervals and major and minor thirds are all consonant

3. Good for easy to listension music with no tension commonly found in pop

Dissonance

1. sharp,jarring, unnerving or unsettling

2. Intervals such as seconds, sevenths and the tritone have a dissonant sound, as do the chords which feature them, such as jazzy seventh chords and the diminished triad.

3. Good for instrumentals as it helps build that tension.

Examples of dissonance

“Penny Lane” is a song in which Paul McCartney pulls of a masterful transition. It is the part where he sings “Then the fireman rushes in, from the pouring rain,
very strange...” There is a chord in there that is remarkably dissonant, but with a simple melody he resolves it into the chorus so subtly that we never notice.

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Although many tips on songwriting will focus on lyrics, chord progressions, and the "hook" of the chorus, few articles discuss the one thing that is so fundamental to all good music of any genre - from classical to pop, from jazz to rock.

This one thing is dissonance.

The use of dissonance in songwriting is perhaps one of the most underutilized and least understood concept among songwriters today. Yet when someone uses it exceptionally well - someone like Adele, for example - they stand out.

There are three things to know when using dissonance:

1. knowing what dissonance actually is (not what you think it is)

2. knowing how to intentionally (and artfully) create dissonance

3. knowing when to use dissonance

And if you're a beginning songwriter, this is definitely for you. Although there might be some technical sounding concepts, the actual application of these concepts is doable for any songwriter, even if you're just starting.

And if you're an intermediate or advanced songwriter, this is for you too. This topic will give you a fresh way of looking at techniques that you've likely been employing - either knowingly or purely by instinct - for years.
1. Understanding the True Nature of Dissonance (And Why Knowing Its Nature Matters)
For the most part, the human brain does not like dissonance. It makes people wince. The most common moment of dissonance happens when someone is singing out of tune - terribly out of tune - and people in the audience are plugging their ears.

But have you stopped to wonder why singing out of tune hurts our brains so much? It's actually very interesting. As scientists continue to study the phenomenon, we have learned that our auditory systems really do have a preference about music. Our ear's preference for consonance (i.e. pleasant-sounding harmonies) over dissonance is not just an easily dismissed cultural or psychological preference.

Let's break this down into language that anyone can understand. Some musical notes, when played together, produce a very easy pattern for the brain to pick up. They're easy because the mathematical ratio between the two notes comes close to nice, whole numbers. The perfect fifth, for example, has a simple 3:2 ratio.

A dissonant group of notes, however, has a complex ratio like, for example, 4.56879:11.889 - something very complicated. The brain has a really hard time picking up on this pattern. And as a result, it sends a signal to you that it does not like it. This signal creates tension in your sensory experience of the music.
So why does this matter?
The key word in all of this is "tension." The ability to produce tension is a powerful tool in the hands of an artist. Writers can create tension by introducing conflicts into the plot, actors can do it with facial expressions, so why can't songwriters use tension too? Tension is actually a very good thing in music. Some of the best songs ever written make very careful use of this artistic tool.
2. Knowing How to Intentionally (and Artfully) Create Dissonance
In the context of songwriting - i.e. sitting down at a piano or guitar, playing chords, and singing over them to try to find a melody - it's fairly easy to identify what notes are dissonant. You'll notice that when you strum a G chord, your voice will naturally want to sing one of the three notes that are in the chord - a G, B, or D. When you're constructing your melody, try avoiding the notes in the chord for a beat or two. For example, your melody slides up to a B as you play a G chord. For the last beat or two of that chord, move the melody to a note that is not in the chord - maybe a C or an E - and then after a moment resolve it back into a note found in the chord. This will create compelling tension.

The song "Someone Like You" by Adele is a perfect example of this. Her voice wavers from the consonant notes of the melody and flirts with dissonant notes when you least expect it. There's a reason her song makes people break down into tears in seconds. She injects little moments of tension in a way that perfectly matches the emotional climaxes of the song. When you've got harmonic tension matching emotional spikes, you've got songwriting dynamite.

Granted, not everyone can sing like Adele, but her flirtation with dissonant notes is not technically challenging. It usually involves moving a step up or down for a few moments.
3. Knowing When to Use Dissonance
In the rules of classical counterpoint, there is one guiding principle that seems to stick around even as it evolves from simple to complex uses of dissonance: don't hit dissonant notes on the strong beats of measures. The safest way to introduce a dissonant note without making people wince is to slide into it on the weak beats - beat 2 or 4, for example - and use the dissonant note as a link between two consonant notes.

There are exceptions to this, of course - such as the little appoggiatura, quick little grace notes of dissonance that can be used on a downbeat to great effect - but the weak beat rule is a helpful guideline to get you started.

To be sure, this article is a reductionist view of an expansive topic. When you study Fifth Species Counterpoint in music theory - which are the official rules that govern classical masterpieces like Bach fugues - there's a long list of what constitutes consonance and dissonance.

But the simple technique described above is sufficient for basic songwriting. And the more you play with dissonance and learn to use it tastefully in moderation, the more you'll learn how to inject tension into your melody and create compelling emotional power with your songs.

Did you find this interesting? Contact us for more helpful tips on how to write a song.

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3 Tips On How to Use Dissonance Effectively in Your Songwriting

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Although many tips on songwriting will focus on lyrics, chord progressions, and the "hook" of the chorus, few articles discuss the one thing that is so fundamental to all good music of any genre -- from classical to pop, from jazz to rock. This one thing is dissonance.

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First draft of my first song we belong here really like the lyric we belong here but feel i revise this and change the melody to a more catchy one

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We Belong here song brake down and process please click link*

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We Belong here song brake down and process please click link*

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I find this week really inspiring as I came up with idea of what vive I wanted to go with which will help me with future songs I need to start drafting songs next week with chords

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Beats and Spoken word theme with electronic synths and beats
Mane idea is to use looping and repetition  which can be useful for live performances and I feel that it is seen a lot in commercial music of today like Rex orange County and Easy Life

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1. Holly Humberstone - Vanilla
2. Arlo Parks- Eugene
3. Declan McKenna -Insobered

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Sunny Days
Belong here
It is what it is
Strangers
Time
Paranoid

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Ones love is raw

As yellow as hay a

Crafted selfishly;like a flower bud

Yet when it blooms

I see it’s bee take it’s gold

Along with its ripeness of summer air

Shy away from depth tranquil thoughts

A future.

Shattered by ones truth a  longing for closure

That humble bee flutters away by gods sigh of lifer

Oh must it be this way?

Of love that’s deep but can not play?

But just like that

I’ve lost you
The closest person

Gone so quick

Will it remain and will it frail

The pages that have no end but have a dancing shadow lines tale

Forgive me for my words so bare

I hope your heart I still lay there

As u do for mine always my love

Take care.

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Major to Minor technique and chord Inversions 

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Major to Minor technique and chord Inversions 

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This week I looked into the technique of switching to a minor version of a chord I found this helps create added tension I had a look at the commercial song Sky Fall by Adele

Am

Let the sky fall

Am/G     F

When it crumbles

F/E     D

We will stand tall

D/C         Bm7b5 Esus E

And face it all together

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Looking at Skyfall and using the technique in by writing my own chord progression also using A6 to A chord inversion to make the progression sound fuller anf more interesting

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Chord inversion help to make simple chord progression like found in most commercial music sound more interesting by moving the shape up the threat board and the 6th note really helps to chord sound smooth and jazz like which I love

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There is a debate at how more and less chords matter in a song this week I looked at song which didn't have many chords att all the

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
Rhiannan

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Pedal Point learning with commercial song reference 

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Pedal Point learning with commercial song reference 

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I hadn't heard of a pedal point till it was mentioned in a lecture so i decided to do some research I found a really good video which explains that pedal points help build up tension as the ears want it to resolve back to the first note of the scale the most common use of  pedal point  is the dominant not which is the fifth note of the scale  if in C this would be G as it want to resolve back to the first note of the scale C which is good for building up tension and releasing it but it could also be the tonic not which i learnt is the first note of the scale.
you can play both the tonic and the dominant note together to create a double pedal point
I found some examples of commercial music where this is used
Falling Asleep at the wheel by Holly Humberstone
The note C is the pedal point and is played throughout the verse create that feeling of repetitions and tension which helps resolve to the chorus as being a relief and chang the dynamic
its in the key of C so the pedal not is in this case the tonic note in the scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq1AAr-CLvw

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How Does a Pedal Point Work? - Music Theory

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This week I looked into using my chosen DAW Logic by looping sections i used from Spice where i can chhse the genre and key i want the song and bpm I have to be careful with this but this is a good way to help write tope line by creating demo and sparking ideas I used this method to have a go writing a song and cmae out with

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I love oh Wonders use of technology here where he has a sample pad making it so he can add sounds to the live performance that inspired me to purchase a sample pad myself and learn how I can use it in my performances so i can learn how to sample sounds from splace and create my own drum beat using the pads live.

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Oh Wonder - Without You (Live at The Pool, London)

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I wanted to challenge myself this week to write a happy song as I want feeling to great to see if it would help so I picked happy days tie die hoodie that inspired me to write the first line of the chorus

Happy days make up for when it rains
I put my brolly up protect me from  my own brain
and I remember there a sunny phase on its ways
I live for the sunny days

I use a lot of perfect rhymes to help the chorus flow I originally used umbrella but the syllables of blolly go better with the phrasing I thought and rolls of the tongue more

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In this Video a similar artist to me uses reverb and a loop and pans the armas to each ear to help the build up
The guitar is clear and crisp which I love.
Just uses a sm57 mic to create that live sound making it seem more raw

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Holly Humberstone - Vanilla (Stairwell Version)

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There are many rhythmic technique that I can start to delve into to incorporate into my music for example

Using different time signtaure instead of simple 4/4 I looked at using Compound signature of 3/4 and 6/8 as I feel I could play them on my guitar.I looked at song that include odd times to familerise myself what it sounded like and what it could do if I were to work with other musicians  to ask to play that rythm on there instrument but for now I experemnted with  compound  I found a particular liked 3/4  and 6/8.I found this help slow the pace down of the songs and create of a a waltz feel and dreamy autmosphere

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syncopation, dot rhythms change of time signatures change in tempo

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syncopation, dot rhythms change of time signatures change in tempo

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Ambience sound
Natural sounds like whistling and birds

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What I can do to inspire me to write

1. Create a story up

2. Picture a place that i know

3. Tap into your feelings

4. Work on old projects

5. Exercise house chores

How do I feel inspired?

1. I watch other artists that are similar to me

2. When I want to express feelings

3. When im on a walk

4. When im in the shower

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To help with chord progressions
Perfect 5th to the right
Perfect 4 to the left

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1. Love and rejection

2. Loss

3. Jealousy

4. Writing for a audience

5. Writing in the point of view of someone else

6. What do you stand for

7. Themes Identity Music

8. What's the impression of someone wants

Who would you want to go on tour with?

1. oh wonder, holly humberstone,Sam fender,Rex Orange county

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Holly Humberstone - Falling Asleep At The Wheel (Acoustic)

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Using a Daw to create loops to help create a demo of wha sound I want to go to to help write a top line

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Breakdown on how Finneas used a DAW to highlight Billies rough takes and turned them into the song 

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Breakdown on how Finneas used a DAW to highlight Billies rough takes and turned them into the song 

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He used natural laughter and clapping that weren't meant to be recorded to add a raw feel I like this as it shows to never delete ideas as you can use bitson the final song.
Hes says that starting up with the rhythmic side of things using the DAW put a different take on the song rather than starting with the songs I may use this technique in one of my songs

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Vocal production for Billie Eilish by Finneas

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Exploring Instrumental and the impact they can have

1. Lots of colour and layers

2. Truth genuine complex or simple

3. Change Instruments

4. Tell a story

5. Use the bridge to add tension

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Watching videos on how to use my sampler im finding it very difficult to figure out how to trigger loops but i will use it to hadd simple percusion to my performances

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How To Use The AKAI MPK Mini MK3 In Logic Pro Tutorial

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Really like how it s a two guy band and that it sounds good and looks cool this is something I would consider in the future when playing gigs as it something different and engaging for the audience

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Declan McKenna - 'Twice Your Size' and 'Rapture' | NME Home Sessions

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Thought it wouuld give me more options

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Working on guitar melody for you know what I know by using notes from the key and finding them on the fretboard by searching on the internet for where to notes are this will the improve my lead guitar playing i will also use more of a electric clean tone in the backing track rather than my acoustic

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I attempted to write a song using chords from the keyboard I found this helped a lot to to come up with diffent chord patterns I also attempted to learn a cover to help improve my playing

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Chord Progressions

I V vi IV
I recognize this as being quite popular in the music industry and it nice and rounded and is easy on the listeners ears.
Vi V IV V
I felt that this chord progression felt Sad but uplift doesnt  as it doesn't go make to tonic making me feel as though Im on a journey.

I IV vi  V
Two strong major moves to minor which I felt created a sense of loss  perfect in my opinion for story telling

I vi ii V
I felt this chord progression was vey Jazz inspired and good if i wanted to write in that perspecific genre

IV I6 V
Didinkty gave me the feel that I was on a journey and that it was creating a story great for folk music I feel

Secondary Dominant
IV V V6/vi vi
This one is Very powerful giving of dramatic vibes and big balland sort of approach to writing

IV iv I
This one is a minor chord change which give it a  Dramatic twist for it borrows chords from  its relative minor

i VI i v
Used in trap beats dark and good for writing melodies as it creates a  moody feel.

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Idea of song chorus

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Make new memories voice note chorus idea.m4a

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Chorus idea for im beathing but im not livin

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Bury head in the sand voice note forst draft.m4a

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Idea of hook whilst on a walk to work

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Chorus idea voice note

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Drafting of the song laydown

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Uses a electric guitar and a PADS to start a drum beat

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why am i like this - original song | Orla Gartland

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A comprehensive breakdown and explanation of your set

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Case Study of Similar commercial artist 

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Case Study of Similar commercial artist 

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Artist : Easy Life
Song : Daydreaming

Musical Techniques
Repetitive loops and phrases

On another note it could be argued that this song melody is very weak and stargarto and there is no tension and release anyway in it which could add more of an elect of suspense and feeling.

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I have been learning to play th keys I learnt a cover of Billie Eillish which got me used to playing chords and moving both hands

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1.Be able to understand how to use a sample pad
2.Be able to play simple chord on the keyboard and write a song using it
3.To develop understanding of musical Devises to be able to apply techniques to me songwriting

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Reference list

Estrella, E. (2019). Do Music Chord Frequencies Affect Human Moods? [online] LiveAbout. Available at: https://www.liveabout.com/understanding-dissonant-and-consonant-chords-2456562.

Frets, J. (2020). How To Figure Out The Key Of A Song (Plus: A Chart With All The Chords In Each Key). [online] Fretboard Anatomy. Available at: https://fretboardanatomy.com/how-to-figure-out-the-key-of-a-song/ [Accessed 26 Apr. 2021].

MacFarlane, P. (2015). Fingerpicking Technique. [online] Guitar Lesson World. Available at: https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/lessons/fingerpicking-technique/ [Accessed 26 Apr. 2021].

Mckenna, D. (2021). Brazil. [Spotify] Max Marlow. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/track/4sNG6zQBmtq7M8aeeKJRMQ?si=ce8d5af380e945e9 [Accessed 26 Apr. 2021].

How Does a Pedal Point Work? - Music Theory. (2018). YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjMO4hb7sQM [Accessed 28 May 2020].

Indie International Songwriting Network. (2015). 3 Tips On How to Use Dissonance Effectively in Your Songwriting. [online] Available at: https://indieinternational.com/how-to-write-a-song/3-tips-on-how-to-use-dissonance-effectively-in-your-songwriting/ [Accessed 30 Apr. 2021].

open.spotify.com. (n.d.). Humongous. [online] Available at: https://open.spotify.com/track/7zI1PDpYJ1yEyAINS604Zs?si=e17bf7cd7fe64500.

open.spotify.com. (n.d.). Magical Mystery Tour (Remastered). [online] Available at: https://open.spotify.com/album/2BtE7qm1qzM80p9vLSiXkj?highlight=spotify:track:1h04XMpzGzmAudoI6VHBgA.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Declan McKenna - “Twice Your Size” and “Rapture” | NME Home Sessions. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hED5l-YYIBU [Accessed 30 Apr. 2021].

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). How To Use The AKAI MPK Mini MK3 In Logic Pro Tutorial. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPRm5SMir4 [Accessed 30 Apr. 2021].

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Oh Wonder - Without You (Live at The Pool, London). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrCJ81LZ0cg [Accessed 30 Apr. 2021].

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Vocal production for Billie Eilish by Finneas. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y6aFCS8evg.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). why am i like this - original song | Orla Gartland. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1jomiD7YUM [Accessed 30 Apr. 2021].

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I learnt a lot this week! great tools to help with my songwriting I want to start learning some keys next week and I need to come up with songs a bit quicker by finding the best time to suit me

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I love the new sound trap I would defo use this software in the future!
I had some ideas of songs in my head whilst walking to work so this will help me insure idea also looking at how other artist create music will help inspire with me with my own
I also had a look a learning a song on the keyboard to start to improve the skills
Familiarising myself with the circle of fifths also helps spark some chord progressions

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Looking at technologies was investing this week im coming to grips with the drum pd however im still confused by it and it may take me longer than I though to get the hang of it.My song are coming along nicely Ive got parts for a few of them I need to start completing them now

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I really enjoy playing the keys I find it helps me to express myself more I need to remember to practice everyday though !Ive had pens of more ideas for song this week so im excited to see where they lead me

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Piano learning- I've got a rough song on the piano down and ive been this week ive been adding lead guitar lines which is a new skill for me it was interesting to use the circle of fifth and fixture of fret board to help find what notes where available to use

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[Original size] Copy of Copy of MINSTER-8

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[Original size] Copy of Copy of MINSTER-9

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[Original size] Copy of Copy of MINSTER-10

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[Original size] Copy of Copy of MINSTER-7

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2. Based on a loop of four chords  C#m, B, A, E

3. Uses drums to make built up to sections

4. Uses  a loop of oos

5. Very Stargarto Verses

6. Repetition and build up in bridge by muting strings

Could argue tha this song has too much repetition that it gets boring at times and needs more chords to givee it more depth i WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN WRITNG ME OWN SONGS