Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the overall picture, I forget about the tiny details. It is those details that turn a "so-so" song into one that catches the attention of the listener. Recently, I've been on a 60's soul kick (big surprise) and I've been breaking down the songs into their instrumental parts to see what makes them tick. I have found that even a seemingly simple riff has more complexity "under the microscope". One great example is Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood". The verse at a glance, is an A chord for two measures moving to an E chord for two measures. However, if you listen closely, one finds that not only are we using an inversion of the chords, but nearly all of the strumming is muted. This creates a very "funky" syncopation that makes the rhythms interesting to the ear and move the song forward. Coupled with a solid bass and drum part, the guitar line keeps things tight but leaves enough room for the horn section's lead lines. It makes me think that even the most simplistic song can hold complexities that we may not initially realize. On that note, I return to the idea of "the little things" that can change a regular song into a hit. Perhaps this is something you haven't thought of as a songwriter. We here at Matt Burk Music Studio can open your eyes to the nuances of songwriting that others may overlook. We offer private music lessons in piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice, songwriting, and audio production. Matt Burk Music Studio: Learn, Create, Perform!
