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Topic: I need your help. I am an aspiring songwriter. |
Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 22 Sep 2013 6:46 pm |
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| bump, please help me out guys. Thanks. |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 12:10 am
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Loved to listen to your songs, Joshua. You're very talented.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 1:37 am
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| Thanks. I am not a singer but the rules say I have to sing the songs for the contest. I appreciate the feedback. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 11:29 am
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***
Last edited by chris ivey on 23 Sep 2013 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 2:13 pm
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I think the point was to listen to the lyrics and the melody and make a judgement based on those points. He said up front that he wasn't a singer.
My opinion you ask? Well, I thought it was decent, but probably not a future hit. The chord structure and melody almost sounded like another song I have heard, but I couldn't place what it was, and couldn't get past that, although there have been many songs that were hits that resembled other songs. But, give it to a producer, a good established artist with top notch studio players and who knows.
Song writing is a talent I do not possess. Don't give up your dream.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 2:40 pm
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when you ask for honest feedback, that may be what you get.
Last edited by chris ivey on 23 Sep 2013 9:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 3:19 pm
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i wrote a song once and then heard it on the radio by bj thomas...some other known writing team had taken credit...never figured that out.
my songwriting career has gone downhill ever since.
Last edited by chris ivey on 23 Sep 2013 9:06 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 3:39 pm
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I can only tell you that it's best to sing the songs by yourself. With the right back up up band (easy to say, if there isn't any?), your intonation and your timing would improve. I like your voice.
Ron Davies is one of my favorite songwriters, and I think that the band did a great job on the record.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX1DVg9Anxc
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 23 Sep 2013 6:01 pm Thanks for the feedback.
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| Thanks for the input. I asked for feedback, good or bad. I need it to continue to perfect my songs. There are several on the site so if you only listened to one, please check out the others. If you do not wish to participate on the contest, you can look me up on youtube as well under my name. I have only been writing for a little while. Joachim, that song is pretty cool. My influences range from Tom Waits to Tom Petty, Willie Nelson to Bob Dylan. I don't write with a particular style in mind so be cognizant of that as you listen. For the record, I actually joined because I have been attempting to play lap steel and resonator guitar for almost a year and this is the best resource I have, it just happened to be a resource for my songwriting as well. I hope I have explained myself adequately. Thanks again guys. Keep it coming. |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 9:28 am Join a songwriter's group
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Are there any songwriting groups in your area?
If so, it might benefit you to join.
By joining a songwriting group, you can get feedback on your songs as well as look for collaboration.
Also, if you can afford to join NSAI, that might be another place to try.
You can learn a lot from them.
They will evaluate your songs, and they use to have one evening a month where you could pitch your song to a publisher.
Of course you need to get to Nashville to pitch to the publisher.
Here's a link:
http://members.nashvillesongwriters.com/news.php?viewStory=2873
Good luck!
Rick |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 24 Sep 2013 6:25 pm
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| Thanks Rick. The closest songwriting groups that I have found are 3.5 hours away in Atl. I am in south Ga, so Nashville is out of the question at the moment. I have entertained the thought of joining NSAI. Haven't come to grips with the money yet. I am not really looking to make a living as a songwriter, I just want to get a few of my songs heard and possibly covered by an up and coming artist or two. Thanks for the feedback. |
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Rick Schacter
From:
Portland, Or.
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Posted 25 Sep 2013 12:10 pm
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| Joshua Clements wrote: |
| Thanks Rick. The closest songwriting groups that I have found are 3.5 hours away in Atl. I am in south Ga, so Nashville is out of the question at the moment. I have entertained the thought of joining NSAI. Haven't come to grips with the money yet. I am not really looking to make a living as a songwriter, I just want to get a few of my songs heard and possibly covered by an up and coming artist or two. Thanks for the feedback. |
It's obviously better if you're in Nashville to take advantage of the services provided by NSAI.
However, you don't need to live in Nashville to benefit from being a member.
You can send them a cassette tape of your song and have them evaluate it.
They will give you a critique and give you advice on how to improve your song and your skill as a songwriter.
I think I remember being able to send 1 song per month.
I live in Portland, Or. and I still got something out of being a member.
On the rare occasion that I sit down to write a song, I still think about what I learned from them.
Just something to consider.
Another thing you might try:
If there are any local bands in your area that would be willing to perform your songs, that could be a good way to get your songs out there in the public.
I've heard that called "pitching sideways".
Finally, if you can't afford to join NSAI or any other songwriting group, I would highly recommend that you at least purchase some of the books that NSAI suggests. Any bit of information that you can get will help make you a better writer.
I wish you the best of luck.
Rick |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Sep 2013 6:14 pm
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| Joshua, I think your stuff sounds just as good as most of the stuff I hear on the radio these days. It's formulaic, and fits the pattern of the type of music most young people want to hear. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 28 Sep 2013 9:24 pm
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| Joshua Clements wrote: |
| I am not really looking to make a living as a songwriter, I just want to get a few of my songs heard and possibly covered by an up and coming artist or two. |
right.
you and thousands of other people who 'would' like to make a living at it. |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 10:58 am
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| Thanks Rick and Donny for the input. Chris, I don't quite get the tone of your comments, whether they are meant to be positive, negative, or annoying. Rick, I may join NSAI in the near future. That may be a big help. Thanks again guys. |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 3:34 pm
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Joshua. I would say the songs sound too disjointed and like you don't really know them very well. It is hard to really hear what the songs really say, and what they portray. I know your not a professional and only trying to get your songs out there to be heard, but they're just not a good enough production for someone to say they are good or bad.
You'll have to put it out strong and bad ass, good voice or not.
Somewhere down the line a full kick butt band would help.
I think that is what's needed to get anyone to listen
and even make a judgment. That's a harsh statement
but it is so to make you stronger. I want to make you study and practice and jam and work until you can tell folks like me to stick it.
_________________
heavily medicated for your safety |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 29 Sep 2013 3:35 pm
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they're meant to be informative. you seem a little naive to me. songwriting is a heavy duty cutthroat business. your songs seemed non-special to me and hard to follow due to your admittedly not good singing ability. you must be able to present a song in a very attractive package or most people won't listen.
hoping to get any artist to record something is a little like moving to nashville after you buy your first steel, hoping to land a job with blake shelton.
or like the lotto....it's probably not going to happen unless you are incredibly lucky.
on the other hand, you can't win if you don't play. good luck! |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 30 Sep 2013 4:00 am
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I went back to your songs and listened through them one more time again, which makes three listenings in all.
I have to say that I wouldn't play so many chords staccato, which means, imho, the overall rhythm would become more fluent and would make them easier to follow for a back up band. I would also drop a couple of chords for that matter.
I hope that Chris won't mind, when I say that he's an ok-guy.
Here's a link to an original song he played on, which is simply great:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=244625
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 30 Sep 2013 8:25 am
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This is steel guitar players forum. As a working pedal steel player I must admit I barely listen to the songs people pay me to play. Honestly it is the most grueling part of playing professionally. The last thing I would want to do is check out somebodies tunes. Anybody that tours is given stacks of CDs, download cards and generally pestered by hundreds of very nice guys that want you to check out there tunes.
Your tunes are unremarkable and poorly played. You need to work allot harder and come up with something astonishing and unique if you want to get attention in the youtube world. Or you could get out there are start playing at open mics and coffee shops and find out what works and what doesn't. In your case that will involve quit a bit of study and practice. Which actually is the fun part as far as I am concerned. If you are burning for recognition get to work and I will see you on stage someday. Begging for attention from a bunch of old cranky pedal steel players is pointless.
_________________
Bob |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 30 Sep 2013 8:39 am
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Check this out:
http://www.npr.org/event/music/226477989/hem-tiny-desk-concert?sc=fb&cc=fmp
The song writer, Dan Messe, couldn't get anything going so he started working with a producer and an old buddy. They found a singer by posting in the want ads.
He is now doing pretty well. He just got a gig as a writer for a Broadway production.
It can be done !
_________________
Bob |
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Joshua Clements
From:
Tifton, Georgia.
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Posted 30 Sep 2013 6:31 pm
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| I will work on getting a more professional recording with a better singer. That should help with the initial impression of the songs. Thanks for the input. I am also going to try the local open mic gigs too. |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 1 Oct 2013 11:38 am
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| Stumbled upon this thread but haven't had a chance to listen. Some tough comments here...but don't give up. Nobody becomes a great songwriter without working at the craft tirelessly. It's just like any endeavor. If it's something you want to pursue, shrug off the things that hurt, but take the criticism that is constructive to heart. I'm a lead guitarist/steel guitarist, and I've worked with a bunch of pals who write songs. The thing that ends up making them quit is taking criticisms too personally. People will judge your music, sometimes harshly (sometimes even if it's pretty good), but don't take it as a personal insult if they don't like it. Dust yourself off and strive to make the next song a better example, always. |
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