did you ever steel a song without noticing?

[BrettB]

Hi all,

Often it seems that I have written a great song, but after a little while I start noticing I heared the tune earlier... Untill I find out I stole it, from a known song. Did one of you guys ever had that?

btw, come to think of it: there are only 12 notes in our tone system. Aren't one day all combinations gonna be used?

interested in your opinion!

greetings

Brett

[Krystof01]

A big thing about writing your own music is that you write what you like to hear; what sounds correct.

For instance, I am coming up with a chord progression, the chord that follows in a sequence will be picked by your brain as the one that sounds pleasing. It is more than likley you will pick a chord that is used in another song because your memory says that is a correct change. Many times I have worked out a progression; then think wait a minute, change the tempo and play through it-oh thats' a beatles song, Dylan etc. It happens all the time.

I think that this day it is harder to write tunes that sound different, experimental. If you look at songs from the 50's/60's the changes and notes within a song are relativley simple, these days you have to go the hard way and really get into having a strong foundation which needs building on. I am not saying it was ever easy, just harder now. If you write a song it will more than likely that it is compared to another song-what a bastard.

Will all the combinations be used question, not really. Things/parts are always replicated in songs, add a different FX, change the tempo, sing in a differnt style which is processed with new technology etc.

[Prophet_81]

Hey, I've inadvertantly stolen parts of songs. Not, like, complete sections, but you know. What's worst of all, I steal parts of my own songs on accident!!! I've had a tendency to write in the same tempo and only in chords. I have favorite chords, but I continuously come up with new ones when I try to come up with layering parts for my current songs.

I think my biggest problem, though, is my lyrical ability. Trying to come up with not only original lyrics, but trying to make fresh vocal lines for my progressions.

I force myself all the time to try something I haven't done before. Writing with arpeggios, writing riffs, time changes, etc... Just keep pushing yourself in a direction you wouldn't normally go. Something good will definitely come out of it.

I agree with Krystof. Because of the variables in musical construction, there won't be a point when everything is written. In some cultures, there's more than twelve notes. Some cultures have eighteen... There's a lot that could happen in the future...

[memo]

That does happen to me once in a while; sometimes I come up with this riff which doesn't sound like anything else I've heard, it's nice, catchy and I like it. I use it in a song and everything is just great.

But on some other times, I come up with an another riff, I like it too but when I start listening to one of my favorite cds, I'm like: "Damn, I knew that riff sounded too familiar"

I guess it's just a trick of your brain, sometimes it produces unique sounds which are influenced by your wide range of influences. But sometimes it just copies something which sounds good to you...

[dragonworks]

Every progression I stole I was aware of and did it on purpose.

[Tucci]

I think that it is not possible to copyright a chord progression. Many popular songs have the exact same chord progressions. Does anyone know if a particular guitar riff can be legally copied?

Small sections of melodies are routinely duplicated. I am sure you have all heard songs that remind you of another song because there is maybe one bar or one chord change that it has in common with another song. I wonder if there are exact rules on how long a melody has to be before it can be copyrighted.

For instance, I believe Hey Jude begins with a minor third jump down in the melody. I don't think there is anything wrong with starting your song with those two notes - as long as your melody goes someplace different after that.

Anyone else have any ideas on this?

Tucci

[dragonworks]

Steal everything, make as much money as possible, artist integrity is no longer chic.

[Salabim]

Everyone does it, I do it, and i dont think there is any problem with it. I mean, when they sound really similar, its probably a good idea to change it, but if it sounds good, go with it.

There are many people/artist/bands who survive on similar sounding progressions. I know, im gonna get cained for even mentioning them, but Blink 182 have songs with identicle chord patterns in them, but every one of their songs seems to have a catchy tune...


Tim

[Prophet_81]

Salabim, Stealing a progression shouldn't even be considered stealing. It's not bad to write a progression that you like. I think it's bad to simply call it "stealing." I mean two people can say the same thing, just use different words. It's not important that the progression is similar, it's what you do with the progession. You should always seek to have your own spin on it, even if it is "stolen". I just don't think "stolen" is a good word for it...

[Salabim]

i guess you got a good point there...

[MrLip]

Yeah, I've done it. But it only happens when I'm pulling stuff out of my head, like writing it in my head away from the instrument. Then I'll realize when I get out my guitar or sit down at the keyboard and start playing it. I'll be picking the song out of my head and then I'll go "Oh shit".

I'll usually correct this by either changing the melody or keeping the same melody but over different chords. Sometimes it's irrecoverable and I'll have to change or throw out the whole thing. Life sucks sometimes.

If I'm writing on an instrument it doesn't really happen though because I'm able to catch myself and say, "wait this sounds like something".


But sometimes I think it's OK to have typical chord progressions. Some of the greatest songs are made up of pretty melodies over G-D-C or some simple I V IV like that. If you feel that your song's chords are too commmon/typical, try different inversions, try parallel chords (ie. Em7 in place of Gmajor), or usually you can make up for it in arrangement. If you have a guitar picking G - D - C open chords it's obvious, but if you're more creative and make a 'riff' or a pattern based on those chords you can hide the fact that they are excessively simple.

[Prophet_81]

Well said, Mr. Lip!