Internet Musician | Singer/Songwriter | Steve Chatterton

On Songwriting, part 1

   » My poor classical guitar just can't hold a D-string «

This article has been permanently moved

You can find it here now:
http://www.stevechatterton.com/2008/10/10/the-art-of-song-part-1/

I figured I should separate the content on this site so that people looking to listen could find all they need right here with no distractions. In the meantime, anyone looking for my random musings on songwriting could just visit my main blog until such time as I give it its own space.

Thanks for bearing with me.

The wide, wide world of online songwriting challenges

   » Bubbles in the old backyard «

I was poking around the web the other day trying to find some reputable online songwriting challenges to participate in and thought I’d start building a list right here for future reference.

I think contests like this are cool for several reasons, some of which I’ll expand upon right now before we get to the official list.

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Latest Song Fu Results

   » Song Fu'd - Oh well, back to the drawing board «

I concede nothing! Except maybe defeat, just possibly, I guess …

Well, even though the polls are still open for another thirteen hours or so, it’s high time I dealt with reality and came to grips with the crushing blow that I will not be advancing to the next round of the Masters of Song Fu songwriting challenge. Let’s face it, I started in 5th place, I’m still in 5th place, the current leader has more than four times as many votes as I do; I’m pretty much screwed.

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Remix the gitpop podcast theme song

I just wanted to drop a quick line about this new thing I’m doing. I’ve got this other site where I talk about music made by other people (gitpop [dot] com), and that site has a podcast and I finally got around to writing and recording a theme song for that podcast.

Anyway, it’s wide open for covers and remixes. Full details can be found over here.

So, you want to build your own recording studio, eh?

   » I wonder what Peter Buck's home studio is like «

Chances are you’re closer than you think

This past weekend I was approached out of the blue by an old friend I haven’t seen in about a decade. Together, Todd and I had won our high schools Battle of the Bands competition back in the ’80’s and had since drifted our separate ways. As a musician, he had a lot of questions about setting up a home studio, and I tried to give him as many answers as I could, and then I got to thinking that I may as well put what I said into writing and pass it along here.

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It’s audience participation time!

   » These waves were made for mixing «

Remixing and all that jazz

So, I’ve got an account over at ccMixter now and I’ve just posted my first remix materials for a tune, so I guess it’s time that I say a word or two about what I’m hoping for.

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MoSF#2 Round 2: “Do the Reichelt”

   » Sneaky peaky «

It’s the dance craze that’s sweeping our house, at least

For the latest round of the Masters of Song Fu challenge, I had to write a tune suggesting a new dance craze for an inventor and/or an invention. Simple enough; I can’t see anything getting silly here.

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Studio Log: 2008 September 12

   » Gear I only wish was mine, but alas, it belongs to The Travelling Band «

Masters of Song Fu #2 Round 2 Proves to be Hard Work

Well, it’s been a long hard road since last Friday, when I found out the exact nature of the challenge for MoSF#2 Round 2 (start a dance craze based on a famous inventor). I don’t think I’ve even put in this much time on a single recording before.

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The dust has settled; now what?

   » Chillin' by the Water «

More Song Fu & a Freak Girl too!

The details of Masters of Song Fu #2 Round 2 were published on Friday, the morning after I hit the substantial completion mark on the recording phase of October’s Song of the Month Club offering, “Coney Island Sideshow Freak Girl.” Long story short, sleep deprivation is starting to get the best of me.

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Song of the Month Club #1: “We All Agree”

   » Looking up the centre of a derelict tower «

Let’s kick it all off with a sea shanty!

There’s some words I thought I’d never say. Oh well, it would appear that I don’t seem to have any real control over the ideas that pop into my head that eventually grow into songs. So I was as stunned as anyone when I woke up one morning a couple of years ago with this little ditty rolling around in my noggin.

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