Songwriting part 2

 This song establishes itself in the key of A minor. We see as we go along the format we’ve got. Most songs will have an introduction, verse 1, possibly verse 2 then a chorus, verse 3, and then chorus then usually the chorus is repeated.

This song, due to the length of the verses has one verse, one chorus, a second verse then a double chorus. Part of that double chorus is instrumental. We are working in the key of A minor. Once we have that initial chorus in the key of C major, being the relative major to A minor, it gives us a nice lift into the chorus, quite a common feature of song writing.

 

We have a chorus, we have a bass descending. You’ll see on the next bit of film some Sibelius files as well which show the notation I’m going to use to try and make it as simple as possible. Can also see from other camera actual notation. You could have a look and possibly have a go. The verse itself is in A minor with a descending bass line which is very popular in pop music.

 

Let me let you hear the line of chords I’m using: Going to F, suggesting the chord of C, D minor, going to the dominant of C major chord, repeating the A minor to G to F to C to D minor.  The second time suggests a new chord taking us to E, the dominant chord of A minor. So we have all this in place, we’re half way through verse 1, let’s just go over the chord sequence. Although I said the second chord suggests G, in fact when you are moving down the base you can hold preceding chord like this.  I’ve made it a bit more sophisticated than that. The second chord is a type of E minor and its first inversion, Going to F, going to the C chord with E base making that the first inversion, a D minor 7 chord, and there’s that g with a suspended force.

 

Second half of first half of verse again is suggesting downward movement, except this time, we’re suggesting B base taking this to E. Now we need to introduce second half of the verse. We need to go somewhere else, back to A minor would be rather dull, so going to introduce type of F chord, put in its first inversion and introduce major 7^th note that’s an E because that’s going to come into melody here.

 

Lets listen to that passage now with that chord sequence, the second half of verse. The Repetition then bring in a D minor which has to go to G, which as you know is the dominant of the C and we’re ready now to come in with the chorus.