Graham English

Archive for February, 2007

Ear Training on Speed

Given enough time, it’s inevitable that you will figure out what you are hearing. But what about knowing what you hear in the moment? For this, you must practice speed.
You can practice speed whenever you hear a song on the radio, when you’re at your instrument, or just in your head. The key is to [...]

Video: Songwriting and Time Management

The brand new Merlin Show features Jonathan Coulton, a songwriter who gained quite a lot of popularity for his Thing a Week project. They discuss songwriting and the ubiquitous capture process. It’s a good show and the 43 Folders blog is an excellent resource for Getting Things Done. I highly recommend watching.
Update: Part 2 is [...]

Samurai Songwriting Private Beta Starts Today!

It was really hard to keep it under wraps for so long, but it is finally the right time. You are now invited to the Private Beta of Samurai Songwriting.
Click here for details: Samurai Songwriting Private Beta

Who Else Wants To Record Like The Beatles?

Recording The Beatles is a 540-page book that details all of The Beatles recordings. It’s been reviewed by Wired and looks awesome.
It’s not cheap at $100 but it looks worth it just to learn the mics, mixers, effects, and instruments they used to get those classic sounds. I’m definitely buying a copy!

2-23-07 GMAJ 69bpm

Here’s a country/pop song using some acoustic guitar instruments in Logic Pro.

2-23-07 BMAJ 100bpm

I’m still searching for a melody for this song.

Music for 2-15-07b

More LogicPro study, again focusing on the ES1, ES2 and I added the EXS24 in there.

Music for 2-15-07

Another LogicPro project, this time focusing on the ES1 and ES2.

Music for 2-13-07

I was having some fun in LogicPro as I try to learn more about how this program works.

God, Darwin clash again in Kansas

Here we go again.
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (Reuters) – For the fourth time in eight years, the Kansas Board of Education is preparing to take up the issue of evolution and what to teach — or not teach — public school students about the origins of life.
I hope they’re not planning to take The Spaghetti Monster [...]

Welcome Holons Readers

Thanks to Integral Institute for linking to me in their latest Holons Newsletter. Much appreciated.
If you found my blog through I-I, I welcome you and thank you for dropping by. You’ve caught me during some integral blogging downtime. I’m still posting but infrequently because I’m spending most of my time on a music project. It [...]

The Dixie Chicks Cleaned House at the Grammys

I’m not surprised the Dixie Chicks dominated the 49th Annual Grammys. Just take a look at the lyrics to their hit, Not Ready To Make Nice, vivified by a climbing melody and chord progression:
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that [...]

How Do I Become A Samurai Songwriter?

To be a Samurai Songwriter, you must first dedicate yourself to The Song.
As a symbolic gesture, say it out loud. “I dedicate my life to serving The Song.”
The Song is a powerful force. It changes people. It makes people laugh and cry. It opens closed hearts. It heals the broken. It calms the angry. And [...]

What Does It Mean To Be A Samurai Songwriter?

A Samurai Songwriter is one who is a servant of The Song.
The Samurai Songwriter understands the vertical and horizontal nature of his or her path. One travels horizontally on a linear path one step at a time. There is no quick and easy way to move from point A to point B. It takes as [...]

What Makes a Good Song?

First of all, we have to agree on the definition of a song. For our purposes in Samurai Songwriting, a song is an art-form and a form of communication made up of melody, harmony, rhythm, lyrics, and form — the form of which includes a title, chorus, verse, and potentially a prechorus and/or bridge.
We can [...]

Marvin Gaye – A Sexy Patriot

You’ve got to check out this slow and sexy rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by Marvin Gaye. Then read a related story over at Thomas Dolby’s blog. Marvin had it goin’ on!

Boston Trading Freedoms For Safety

An assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Bridgewater State College (MA), Dion Dennis, has a detailed and interesting analysis of the Boston/Mooninite panic attack.
Link: Fear and Loathing in the Bay State
Here’s a hilarious take on the fiasco.

Walls 2-5-07

Musing on the ego as it relates to the state of the world today. Part of my FAWM project.
Update: Completed version of When The Wall Falls Down.