Learning Journal (WEEK 2 - AUM162)

DATA

1. Project 1 - 3 songs selected.

2. Started EarMaster

3. Garth Brooks

4. Researching Queen’s – Under Pressure

Reflection

1. Project 1

This project is going to be an awesome challenge in learning how to manipulate 3 songs into an original composition. This is the part that I really like about the project. Select a bass line from 1 song, drums from another song, and them add a melody from another song. Then add those 3 parts into 1 song to create an original song. I have never done this before, and to experiment with this concept of songwriting is really going to be a challenge.

The songs I picked:

1. Queen – Under Pressure (Pop/Rock)

2. ZZ Top – Gimme All Your Lovin’ (Texas Blues)

3. Big & Rich – California (Country Pop)

I picked Under Pressure by Queen for the very distinctive bass guitar presence in the song. You hear the bass riff and you know what song it is. The bass work in this song is up front and makes no qualms who knows it.

ZZ Top’s - Gimme All You Lovin, the drums are slamming the beat into submission. The drum feel is solid and you can hear the beat rock and rollin’ along.

One of my favorite country duo’s who know how to party. Big & Rich are doing a cover of a song that Tim McGraw first released – California. I love the melody and feel in this song.

The 2 versions are basically the same, but to my ears, I prefer Big & Rich’s version. Rich sings with more expression and feel throughout the song.

2. EarMaster

Started EarMaster this week and aim to action a little of it each day so I don’t hit the panic button or feel as if I’m losing control. It’s trimester 6 and l don’t want to drop the ball, so having a game plan to stick to is very important. I will use the SAE toolbox that I’m learning for my future development as an audio engineer and musician.

3. Garth Brooks

The Garth Brocks 2-part documentary series on Netflix is a great viewing for people who want to know how hard it is to crack the music industry in Nashville. Garth talks about how he was raised and the family values that were embedded into him as a child. One being respectful, and two being honest with yourself and towards others, encompassing all his life struggles along the way. He answered all the questions that were put to him and replied to them without sugar-coating anything. He wasn’t scared to share his emotions throughout the 2-part series, which is a really gutsy thing to do for anyone in the world arena. The documentary is very inspiring (and not just on the music side). It has lessons on how to be motivated to be a better person.

A short interview link below in the link section, with this King of Country.

4. Under Pressure

Under Pressure by Queen, is not a simple song to structurally transcribe into an easy song format. To show a basic structured format of Queen songs and their recording & songwriting website (website). This site gives you a walkthrough of the song, and I also found by reading the article it gave me a clearer understanding of the song structure while I was listening to it.

Website links

QUEEN SONGS RECORDING & SONGWRITTING

https://www.queensongs.info/song-analysis/songwriting-analyses/modern-era-queen/hot-space/under-pressure

Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie) chord and lyric play-along

Garth Brooks Interview - The Road I'm On (A&E Biography)

References

Hale, S. (2018, November 10). Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie) chord and lyric ... Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBZLO1FiNU4

Under Pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.queensongs.info/song-analysis/songwriting-analyses/modern-era-queen/hot-space/under-pressure

Howard, J. K. (2019, December 1). Garth Brooks Interview - The Road I'm On (A&E Biography ... Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAaQ5Ce5VbY