I've noticed a general consistency in my songs... (need a little help)

...and I need to kinda find a way to break away from it.

For those of you who are reading this, let me explain myself a little more clearly; My band follows a concept. Certain songs are MEANT to be linked to certain songs and as of right now, I'm writing the songs with a certain western-twangy feel to them, IE. progressions like C > Am > Em7.

For 12 songs to be closely related, but altogether unique in their own sense -- to use some of the same chords many many many times in different songs -- to write in a certain themed motif -- is that bad? Is it more the notes, or more the way a song makes you feel?

I'm been pondering these things for a long time, and I'd really like the advice of experienced writers before I decide to trash my entire project.

Tommy (the who) is an album that is supposed to be like that. According to guitarist Pete Townshend, the album is supposed to be listened to from start to end, that's the only way to get a feel for it. Is that what you're going for?

BP

In a certain sense, yes. My songs are based around a story that I've written, and unless you listen to the songs and read the story, you'll never really understand the entire meaning.

For instance, I have two songs that have the same 2 bar riff in them, just the first song is moved up to frets and the second song has the riff in it longer.

I just have this fear that people will say that all of my songs sound alike, but I notice that lots of songwriters can use the same chords in almost all of their hit songs, yet you wouldn't be able to tell that they're exactly alike.

How is it done!?

I guess it could work, but it might prove repetitive if not creatively arranged. The Who used the G-F-C progression very very often, but it always seemed to fit in rather than stick out. Thematic arrangements are actually quite hard to do, but if you aim at sounding different and put in the effort, your idea should go off.

um, here's my take, i'm certainly "not experienced" (in songwriting) and my training comes from visual art, but i think it applies to music also. here's one

thing that i learned in art:

don't follow a formula.

sure the formula may last for weeks, months, years, but

when it stops working, then what do you do?

why don't you try to just see what comes out or what's on your mind

or issues you're dealing with. why don't you just let whatever's inside

come out (that's the goal right?) the process may take you a short time or a long time. it depends on your temperment and energy...

there is also the saying that you may have to write a 100 bad songs to get to the one good one. or do what i do, you have songs that you start, but never get finished, don't work, etc....

to me, you're focusing too much on the "end product" and not focusing on the process. focus on the process, and the end product will come (maybe arbitrary, but it will come). good luck.

s----

I see nothing wrong with using common chords as long as you approach them differently. Make sure you deviate your vocal melody and rhythm (ie. time signature, tempo...)

Concept albums are cool, I hope you complete it...

Sadly, even if I were to get all of the songs written, we wouldn't have enough money to make even a decent recording. Everywhere around here is $50 an hour and our friend with whom we recorded our demo just sold all of his recording things so that he could afford college.

Get new friends... ones that have recording equipment.

Also consider that different instruments, and tonalities will make a big difference on how your songs sound. After all their are only so many chords... so most all the chords changes have been used in one fashion or another. If you want your songs to sound a little different from each other consider the instrumentation you use.

Also, if you're still writing some of the songs, but you know you want to use a chord progression you've already used you could archapeggiate (sp?) the chords which would create a different sound and texture in your music.

Nobody wants to bore their audience by writing stuff so simular that there is no clear distinction between songs. The major problem with this as that eventually your fanbase is not going to be able to tell which one you are doing. Most listeners are not musicians and can not tell the difference between one chord progression and another unless they are drastically different.

At the same time you want to have a signature on your music as well. For example: I tend to write with a similiar beat pattern. Most of my stuff especially slow stuff has the strong beats on 1 and the and of 2. Most of my songs, especially slow songs follow a similier chord or melodic pattern.

Melodic patterns are what you should focus on. Make sure that every song has a distinct and unique melody signed on to it. Think of all the songs you know that are basically written from the I-IV-V-I progression.

Almost every pop song is written from this. How come many people can tell them apart. Two things help listeners distinquish. One - the melodic arrangement and the lyrics (lyrics have to be intriquing, personal, yet vague enough for interpretation). Two - PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION. Many times it's not the chords that matter. But the arrangement of all the instruments that truly make a song rememberable.

In comparison, When you hear a creed song, you know it's creed because of the remarkable resemblence from one song to another. The problem with Creed is that they are boring to listen to. Simliar chord progression, similiar melodic ideas, similiar arrangements of instruments.

When you hear Radiohead, you can tell it's Radiohead but....every song sounds different. Similiar chord or beat progressions, unique melodies, and unique production is what makes one hit stand out from another.

When it really comes down to it. It doesn't really matter. You have to do what you feel. If you are stuck in a rut and can't get away from a similiar sound it just means that you have a little bit of growing as a musician to do. In the mean time, pick up a fake book and learn some jazz standards. That will help feed some ideas your way. That's what I do and it works everytime.

Good Luck

I hope my advice helped

You might try to write a song or two that aren't for this project. Or for any project for that matter. Just some different songs.

Before you get bored, just to keep fresh, and keep the funk off.

Hell, I have a fridge full of food, but I went out to eat today.

Nice post, but I tend to find Radiohead as repetitive as Creed.