A change of tempo?

[badgerer]

Hi,

I'm in the midst of writing a song which should be the finale to my album (the recording I've made so far is clocking in around 7 mins). When I initially wrote it, it was about 5 minutes long and was nice and happy, but after a bad experience I added what I want to be a big, faster, louder finale to the song itself. Here's the lyrics and the basic structure:

Verse 1:

Oh I still find love in everything
Even though I've had it thrown back in my face
You look into me, and see something else
Something no one else loves but is in good health

Lie down beside me, stare into my eyes
I wanna feel your love inside of my heart
You are everything perfect to me
My life is content, no wishing for a dream

Chorus:

Never looking for a dream
Never hoping for my love to come clean
No wishing for a life so serene
I fall into a life of what I wanted

Verse 2:

Surely this must end on a sad note
I'm never able to see how life should go
Maybe I should relax, go with the flow
But would that mean the end of our love?

It's too much to risk, love for happiness
But if I'm not enjoying what I have what comes next
Please just hold me, take me by the arm
To a place with no worries, where we can come to no harm

Chorus 2:

Never looking for a dream
Never hoping for my love to come clean
No wishing for a life so serene
I fall into a life of what I wanted
How long will it go on I don't know
If my wish is granted you will haunt me
For the rest of my life, I need to know
For the rest of my life, I need to know

Verse 3:

As I feel the force begin to break
I feel like life can offer no help
To me and my useless feelings towards you

Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Solo
Chorus 2
Verse 3
Solo

Doesn't really give you a clear intention of how the song will go, comments on the lyrics are welcome too! My question is, at the moment the song is all the same speed throughout, and the angry outro at the end just seems too sloooow. How would I change tempos? There is a buildup to the anger during the end of the second chorus, could I use this to increase the tempo gradually..? The drums won't actually kick in until the 3rd verse. Your comments and thoughts please!

Thanks,

Tom

 

[badgerer]

bump

 

[zer0sig]

nothing really jumping out at me, but it all makes sense. the music/vocal performance, in my opinion, is the difference between this being a dud and being great.

btw, i'll try to consider this when i'm more sober and get back to you on the ending. i think the intent of the words is good, but the verbosity and lack of real impact of individual words (speaking sonically, not in terms of meaning) could be a hindrance.

edited because the first paragraph was only a half answer.

 

[badgerer]

nothing really jumping out at me, but it all makes sense. the music/vocal performance, in my opinion, is the difference between this being a dud and being great.

btw, i'll try to consider this when i'm more sober and get back to you on the ending. i think the intent of the words is good, but the verbosity and lack of real impact of individual words (speaking sonically, not in terms of meaning) could be a hindrance.

edited because the first paragraph was only a half answer.

Thanks for that, I should have some sort of rough recording up soon, that should help! Thanks for the comments.

 

[Cyrokk]

What is the time signature on this piece?

If you can't find a decent way to change the tempo, try a time signature change. At slow tempos, sometimes a change from 4/4 to 6/8 (while keeping the tempo at a similar clip) will change the focus of the song while maintaining the vibe of the piece.. At slow speeds you won't lose your audience because most people don't pick apart time signatures..

One of my favorite techniques is to finish a slow song in 4/4 and have an outro at 7/8, which seems to intensify the song to a dramatic pitch..

Cy

 

[badgerer]

What is the time signature on this piece?

If you can't find a decent way to change the tempo, try a time signature change. At slow tempos, sometimes a change from 4/4 to 6/8 (while keeping the tempo at a similar clip) will change the focus of the song while maintaining the vibe of the piece.. At slow speeds you won't lose your audience because most people don't pick apart time signatures..

One of my favorite techniques is to finish a slow song in 4/4 and have an outro at 7/8, which seems to intensify the song to a dramatic pitch..

Cy

Sorry, I'm not a theory person at all! Self taught at everything, and never really concentrated on that aspect. 4/4 is four beats to a bar right? That's what the song is, yes. The song is 85bpm, so I was just thinking of upping the tempo a notch at a point in the song...is that basically what you're talking about?

 

[Cyrokk]

Yes, 4/4 is four beats per bar, but it is different than a change in tempo. When you count 4/4 you are just counting 1, 2, 3, 4. If you were to double your counting in the bar (counting twice as fast), you will count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 per bar. Now, if you were to take out the last two "counts" you would be counting as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 per bar. This is called 6/8. It is has a different feel altogether than 4/4, but the tempo does not change. It's kinda hard to describe it without hearing the rhythmic pulse of the counts, but hopefully you get the idea.

Also note that this technique doesnt always work. Sometimes it just comes out sounding jagged or too intentional.. But in other instances it blends seamlessly into the main riff or theme of your song. I figured this would be something you could try if an increase in tempo doesn't give you what you're looking for.

Cy

 

[badgerer]

Yes, 4/4 is four beats per bar, but it is different than a change in tempo. When you count 4/4 you are just counting 1, 2, 3, 4. If you were to double your counting in the bar (counting twice as fast), you will count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 per bar. Now, if you were to take out the last two "counts" you would be counting as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 per bar. This is called 6/8. It is has a different feel altogether than 4/4, but the tempo does not change. It's kinda hard to describe it without hearing the rhythmic pulse of the counts, but hopefully you get the idea.

Yes...vaguely I think hehe thanks.

Also note that this technique doesnt always work. Sometimes it just comes out sounding jagged or too intentional.. But in other instances it blends seamlessly into the main riff or theme of your song. I figured this would be something you could try if an increase in tempo doesn't give you what you're looking for.

Ok cool, thanks very much for the advice!

 

[quattro_xxph]

Thats definitely a good technique. Actually for some of the songs Im composing these days I'm doing the reverse by using 4/4 as a filler for the middle part and some other time signature as the main theme.

Try this technique to add variety:

If you feel that monkeying around with the time signature is too weird or artificial sounding, try monkeying around with the percussion parts. Try playing a familiar verse this time while the drummer is hammering toms instead of snares(also in 4/4). IMO, I use this technique when I want to bring the effect that the verse Im playing is a completely different verse when in fact its the same old refrain.

EDIT: Oh and if you want to have some examples of those types of time signatures (just to hear what they feel like) try looking for Progressive Bands. Try Early Genesis. Songs like "Watcher of the Skies" if I counted correctly is in 6/8. Try also some Jazz and Classical as most rock music these days are so squarely glued on 4/4 that you wont learn anything new from them. I guess Im just enthusiatic about this subject because I have only just of late figured out how this whole thing works and believe me it opens up a lot of avenues to where you can take your songwriting.