Rats. I held back on changing the melody too much...

[douglasricketts]

Rats. I held back on changing the melody too much for this rock combo Christmas song cover. Didn't even think of a key change! Oh well, will save it to re-visit next time.


The listing:
Lots of INSTRUMENTAL COVERS of PUBLIC DOMAIN CHRISTMAS SONGS in ANY GENRE are needed by an EXCLUSIVE Music Licensing Company run by longtime industry pros with a fantastic track record!

THIS COMPANY PAYS AN UPFRONT FEE! More info below.

This Company would be thrilled to find Instrumental Covers that could be heard on a playlist with the following references:

"Go Tell It On The Mountain" by Tori Kelly

"O Tannenbaum" by Nat King Cole

"Silent Night" by Michael Bublé

"What Child Is This" by Lauren Daigle

Although the references have vocals, please submit Instrumentals only for this pitch.

Please submit well-crafted Instrumental Covers of Christmas Songs in the Public Domain that sparkle with holiday warmth, timelessness, and musicality! Submissions should feature festive themes, great musicianship, solid arrangements, and holiday-flavored melodies and motifs. You're welcome to work in a wide range of styles for this request, from more lush orchestral arrangements with strings and woodwinds, to jazzy ensembles with upright bass, piano, and brushed drums, or even acoustic guitar-based Folk, Cinematic Pop interpretations, and more! Adding festive musical touches, like sleigh bells, glockenspiel, or subtle celesta, can help set the seasonal mood - just make sure your arrangement stays tasteful and well-balanced. The melody must remain instantly recognizable throughout, and the overall vibe should be warm, sync-friendly, and ready for holiday airtime!

This Company is open to hearing pieces in most of the popular/commercially viable genres, including (but not limited to): Jazz, Orchestral, Pop, EDM, Hip-Hop, R&B/Soul, Folk, Rock, etc. We recommend avoiding submitting anything in genres that don't have a lot of mainstream appeal.

Please double-check to make sure your submissions are truly in the Public Domain! In case you’re unsure, here’s a link that might help: Public Domain Christmas Song List.

Do NOT copy the referenced material in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Do not submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Era-appropriate Broadcast Quality is needed.

AI ALERT: This company can't accept or sign music that has been lyrically or melodically composed using generative AI, nor will they accept backing tracks, full instrumental tracks, or vocal performances created with AI.

This Company offers an EXCLUSIVE Buyout Deal. You get paid an upfront fee for your Compositions. The Music Library gets 100% Exclusive ownership of the Masters. Because this is an Exclusive deal, please don't submit any material for this pitch that is signed to any other library or publisher. You must own or control your Master to submit for this opportunity. Please submit as many Instrumental Covers as you'd like, online or per CD. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025. TAXI # S250820VC



My track: https://www.taxi.com/members/1xEs3OLTQV ... ock-combo-



The feedback:
Feedback for "O Christmas Tree (Rock Combo)"
S250820VC
Share Your Feedback
What I like most about this song
Nice concept for this tune/arrangement.

I think you could improve this song by
What we need to see more of is variation so the tune doesn't become too repetitive.

I returned or forwarded this song because
Changing up instrumentation, volume, key, etc are all ways that we can bring additional interest to an arrangement as it moves forward.

[VanderBoegh]

Hmmmm, it's interesting that the screener should mention a key change as a way to keep interest. I mean, sure, it can add an interesting element in a track's evolution, but the application of these when it comes to cues is pretty much universally frowned upon.

I personally always recommend that composers AVOID using key changes, and I know I'm not alone in this advice. I mean, heck, I got the advice first-hand from many library owners themselves!

The reason is quite simple.... Let's say you start your music in the key of A, but by the end of the track you've modulated it to the key of D. Now your sting ending - or final hit - will be played in D. Which is a problem, because if a TV show wanted to used the opening 10 seconds of your piece but then needed to finish the track at that point by chopping off your final stinger and placing it at the 10 second mark, the sting (in D) won't match the key of the opening 10 seconds (in A). See the problem?

So while key modulations & changes might sound interesting for the listener, they pose far too many problems for a video editor than they are worth. And what good is a TV cue if it's not able to be sliced & diced to make a good 15-20 drop? The answer to that, is, of course, "no good at all".

You can certainly do what you want to in the composition of your own music, but I'd tread very carefully with key changes.

~~Matt

[Casey H]

I agree with what MVB said. Never do a key change in a song for sync. Not sure why the screener said that. You need the variation but using methods other than changing keys.

Casey

[douglasricketts]

Thanks, Matt! I would have seen a similar listing then plodded along with a key change without any of that in mind. It makes perfect sense and is very much appreciated.

Thanks, Casey! If/when I re-work it I'll definitely avoid a key change.

[eandersonmusic]

My take is that the screener meant change the key of the song, not have a key change during the song. The listing is for covers, so one way to spice it up and add something different/make it interesting would be to put the song in a different key. May be wrong, but that was my thought.

[macomposer]

My take is that the screener meant change the key of the song, not have a key change during the song. The listing is for covers, so one way to spice it up and add something different/make it interesting would be to put the song in a different key. May be wrong, but that was my thought.

Yeah, I don't know Erik. Only nerds like us realize when something's in a different key.

However, changing the mode might have been what they meant, or like a re-harmonization??

I got nothing.
Mark

[eandersonmusic]

Yeah, I don't know Erik. Only nerds like us realize when something's in a different key.

Hahaha! You may be right!!

[douglasricketts]

I'm going to QUEEN up the guitars on the second verse when it's time for a re-submit if y'all must know. Big fat classical chords for everyone!