Simple or Complex.

  • Thread starter Thread starter demensia
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demensia

demensia

www.lukemacneil.com
I'm drawn here between being a songwriter and a guitar player.
As a songwriter it seems that the more simple, catchy songs are the most memorable and successful.. But as a guitar player it rips me appart to write 3-4 chord songs. Im not really asking for advice or anything, just sort of bitching.
 
It doesn't sound like Dem is looking for theory lessons, as one who knows no theory would not be bored playing four chord songs.

If you want compositional inspiration that people actually enjoy, look at stuff like Toto or Steely Dan. Not simple stuff, to be sure but still has all the hooks to keep the simpletons bobbing their heads.
:cool:
 
I feel your pain...

haha listen to Eric Johnson, then ask yourself do you think he's torn between being a guitar player or songwriter.... Stop writting songs for these imaginary short memory people, and make the songs the way YOU think they should be made.
 
How about queens bohemian rhapsody. Quite complicated and over the top for a mega hit wonder.
 
Simplicity is in the ear of the beholder.

Melody, harmony, rhythm, rhyme... it doesn't matter as long as the mood and message are conveyed to the listener.

It's all so subjective, thank God.

Jon
 
I can't say that I've ever tried to write a song with the idea of making it complex or simple. I love the way jazz writers put stuff together and I love the challenge of trying to learn it and play it and do my best to steal bits and pieces that I can use in my own writing; not because it's complex, but because it sounds good and makes a song interesting to the ear.

Woody Guthrie said, "Any damned fool can be complicated, simplicity is what takes genius." Guthrie made a pretty big impact with his 3-chord songs. There are so many songs that seem complex when I hear them, but when I see how they're played, I'm embarassed I couldn't figure it out on my own. The bottom line for me is that complexity for the sake of complexity is ego, not songwriting.
 
Peter D said:
There are so many songs that seem complex when I hear them, but when I see how they're played, I'm embarassed I couldn't figure it out on my own.
Click to expand...

TOO TRUE.

that just about encapsulates the first five years or so of my cover playing. just thought Peter deserves some confirmation!

stone
 
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