Originally Posted by Roy Cooper
Originally Posted by BIG JIM MERRILEES
Roy...Do you think that musical knowledge and the ability to understand the structure of chords and melody helps or hinders a lyricist?


Sure it will help Big jim, in lots of cases, but not all. Some, myself included just do not have the apptitude for music. WE REALLY DON'T. No one seems to understand that.

Everyone keeps saying, it's easy to learn to play an instrument. Of course a musician would say that, they have the apptitude for music and maybe quite a few years behind them.

So if that is the case, do we give up writing lyrics, and be made to feel that we are half persons, or do we work on writing the best lyrics that we can. WORKING on what we can do well.

Originally Posted by BIG JIM MERRILEES

I listen to the lyricist and try to do as he asks...I will often put my own stamp on the piece and sometimes recommend changing a melody or altering some lyrics.


Sure you do Big Jim, because of your experiance.

But surly you must sometimes get lyrics with someone singing them and playing an instrument badly where you think,'Oh No'this is total crap'.

I can understand advice and helping, thats what you do. But if I call you and say, Big Jim, I am a songwriter and I have been playing the guitar for 6 months and I have a song I would like you to demo for me. Here it is.

Because I have learnt to play the guitar, does that mean you have an advantage when doing me a demo for me, because of what I give you.

Or if my twin brother gave you his lyrics and told you the style and genra he was looking for, and some singers who it thought the song would suit.
And he asked for YOU to make the melody and the demo.

And the lyrics were well done for you to work with, would he have the advatage with you.

I hope that makes sense.

God Bless Roy and Helen



I do not understand what you mean by advantage.....The advantage would be that if a lyricist has a better understanding of music theory etc then he would write better lyrics that would meter and fit music easier. That would make a demo easier and the end result would probably be a better song. If you mean can I do a better demo than you who cannot play an instrument and have no recording facilities...well of course I can.....
Can I make a demo with just lyrics?....of course providing they meter and fit a pattern.
Can I make a silk purse from a sows ear?...well no but I can make it as good as I can. Depends on the quality of the sows ear.
I have no idea where your twin brother fits into all of this but if he sent me anything I would still do the best job I could.
To help answer your questions send me some words with or without a rough melody and I will demo it for you....no charge.
You will see how I work and how I keep you informed of progress and ask you about suggested changes or any tweaks needed along the way. All I ask is a 50/50 split if it ever makes any money. I would prefer an upbeat song but can handle ballads....just been doing a lot of ballads lately and I crave for something faster to get my teeth into.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055