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Hey Everyone,

I was hoping I could get some feedback on this.
It was my understanding that for Instrumental Library music you should have a short intro and then a verse section only that developes as the track moves along. During one of David Trotter's classes at last year's Road Rally he also said this was the case.
Anyway, the critique that I just got back said there should definitely be a second melodic section ie; chorus that is set up by the verse in a traditional songwriting sense.
The tune I had returned on this basis is called "Adrenalize".
If anyone has the chance to listen to it on my Taxi page and offer any opinions I'd really appreciate it.
Looking forward to this years RR.
Thanks,
David

www.taxi.com/davidhayesmusic

S120713RI

GUITAR-DRIVEN ROCK INSTRUMENTALS for SPORTS TV in the style of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, The Who, etc., needed by a boutique Independent Music Library. THINK: Sports type placements, i.e. Highlights, Commercials, and Promos, etc. This is the company's first listings with TAXI, so please send your best! Instrumentals submitted MUST place a STRONG emphasis on guitar with full production to support it. Be sure your instrumentals are EDGY and ANTHEMIC! NO fade outs, BUTTON ENDINGS needed for this request. Great instrumental performances are essential for this listing. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine). You must own 100% of your master and composition. Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Friday, July 13, 2012. TAXI

HI David,

My opinion:

I think the A section all the way kind of song probably would have worked here too, but the main thing is, whether your song is AAAAAA or ABABABA, is that is keeps developing.

Like if 15 or 20 seconds go by and you haven't introduced something which can be a new focal point, its going to get old. That could be a different instrumental part that takes over the main riff, or could be a different melody on the same chords etc. I think you could vary things much more along the piece. You could have developed the piece by using some guitar melodies overtop of the main riff, which could have taken the place of a separate Chorus chord section, but gave a different energy and feeling.

Another thing to look at is the mix - the drums for me are kind of far back for this kind of song. And so some of the life that they bring such as the fills and such get a little lost behind the guitars.

Hope that is a helpful perspective.

Hi David,

I actually submitted two for this same listing. One was forwarded, the other I got back because I was rushing like an SOB on the melody line. (that's what I get for not posting it up prior to submitting as I'm sure somebody would have pointed that out... )

But anyway to answer your question I was always told to do an ABA(Enhanced) form when it comes to instrumental music. And if you have an intro at all (a lot of time it's best just to get straight to your melody, it depends on what the listing is for), best to make it short. So the A section introduces the melody. The B section introduces something new (a bridge basically), then you go back to the A section but (usually) you would have things that you introduced in the B section also in the last A section. I always call it A Enhanced for that reason (just my own personal term, I don't know if there's a real name for that or not). This keeps things developing though which is what you want. The two tunes were "Lessons Learned" (forwarded), and "Adrenaline" (not forwarded for the reason stated above and I wonder how many "Adrenaline"s they got... ) and can be found here:

http://www.taxi.com/rogergilpin

"Lessons Learned" ABA plus a "in your face" intro. This actually doesn't have anything enhancing the second A section but usually it would. However it probably didn't work musically to add much more to the A section at the end so I didn't.

"Adrenaline" also ABA but with more of a building up intro, then it hits the main melody line (still rushed, I haven't fixed that yet), then to the B section where the main guitar drops out for a little while but then doubles the line an octave up. Then back to the A section, but notice the second half is actually part of the B section? Doubling guitars is a good trick btw. Play the melody down low to start, then later (usually in the enhanced A section) play the same thing an octave up (or use an octaver if that kind of sound works in your piece)

And for a more straight forward example though it's more pop, on the same page listen to "When You Shine" (the drums are a little too punchy in this btw, something else I need to fix). You'll hear an electronic percussive sound enter in the B section, and stay in throughout the second A section.

Now I don't mean to say do it this way then give you a bunch of exceptions. Of course what flows well and sounds good is always the main objective. The ABA(Enhanced) has been a pretty good guideline for me though. Hope that helps fwiw. - Roger

Hey Andy and Roger,

Thanks for taking the time to listen and give your thoughts.
There's some great insight from both of you which I will try and incorporate into my writing.
Thanks again for the help.
David