Category Archives: Minneapolis

Traits of Really Good Songwriters

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Today I was driving down 494 near Bloomington, MN and I was thinking about some of the best songwriters I know. I was thinking about what it is about them that makes them REALLY good songwriters. There are a few traits that kept popping up no matter who I thought about. So I thought I would blog about it :)

Here are the traits that I think make a great songwriter….

1. They write alot. – They don’t let their inner critic take over. They just write, then refine.

2. They ‘Steal’ from their influences – You can’t copyright a chord progession, and some grooves just work….Many writers I know, can take something they love, learn it, steal it and make it their own. (This doesn’t mean completely rip someone off)

3. They listen to alot of music.

4. They are not afraid to try new things, experiment

5. They keep a songwriting idea book with them at all times.

6. They practice their instruments alot.

7. They study the craft. – This means listening, analyzing, reading, and really getting into what makes songs work.

8. They do it because they love it, not because they want to make money – - Money comes after they get great.

9. They support other writers

10. They write alot…and they finish songs, even if they aren’t that great.

What do you think makes a songwriter great?

~ Chad

 

Weekly Songwriting Exercise – Week of 6-18-12: Melody First – C Dorian Mode

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Minneapolis Recording Studio

I had fun giving myself a songwriting assignment last week. It kind of forced me to write a new song that I may not have written. As I have said before in previous posts, my internal songwriter is very lazy. Weekly assignments are one way I can kick its ass. :)

This week my assignment is a bit less involved than last week.  So here it is….My new assignment due by next Sunday :) :

Write a song MELODY FIRST in the C DORIAN MODE.

The C Dorian scale includes the notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C   – - So that is the scale I am going to base this week’s song on. I have no clue what the song is going to be about, but I have to come up with the melody first, which is not super easy for me. I will probably play a melody on the keyboard and record it and listen to it over and over. It should inspire something. Stay tuned for the song that results this week! If you write your own song, feel free to post it too!  ~~ Chad

Weekly Songwriting Assignment Results: ‘Human’

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This week I gave myself a songwriting assignment. I posted that assignment here.  I started off following my own assignment pretty closely….but then the song kinda of took a few different turns. Mainly in the number of lines in the sections and where in the measures the melody starts. Anyway, what came out was the start of a song called, “Human.”  It probably needs some work, but the whole point of these assignments and exercises is to keep myself writing. Not every song is going to be a smash hit, but even the  not-quite-there songs are very important, because you don’t reach the gold without digging for it.  So this is my songwriting ‘digging’ this week….. ~~ Chad

Human
by Chad Shank

He has beach blond hair with darker streaks
And he moves like a breeze across the beach
The sand sticks to his sweat
Beads of water on his skin
He’s free as the Caribean sun sets

Chorus:
He feels Human
In this place he likes to find his joy
Where he feels Human
Away from the stress
Away from the noise
He feels Human

Sometimes he paints to forget the pain
With a brush in his hand in a different state
Emotions on the page
Feelings in the scene
Art is what takes him away

CHORUS

Bridge:
He lets himself go
Lost in the taste, touch, sight, sound and smell
Where he can find himself
Find himself again

Chorus Repeats

Chords:

Verse: ||Cm   |Cm   |Ab   |Ab  |Cm  |Cm  |Fm   |Fm    ||

Chorus: ||Ab  |Bb  |Gm   |Gm   ||

Bridge: ||Bb  Fm  |Ab   ||

©2012 Chad Shank

Another new song I wrote: “The Past I’m Running From”

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Here is another song that I wrote. Check it out, it is called, “The Past I’m Running From” ~~ Chad

The Past I’m Running From
by Chad Shank

On wet gravel
A tear slips down my face
I push the pedal
And try to drive this hurt away

The sky is black
The rain it pounds
I’m not sure where I’m going now

So I just drive away
Make my escape
But I’m haunted
By choices made and my mistakes
I’m trying to find some answers
Speeding down this dirt road
Struggling
With the Past  I’m Running From

Ugly demons
Staring at me from the backseat
‘Cause I hurt the
One closest to me

I cheated
And I told some lies
And now I’m in this storm tonight

CHORUS

Bridge:
From the bottom of my heart
I never meant to tear our world apart like this
Lost out on these muddy roads
The first and last place that I should go is to you

CHORUS

©2012 Chad Shank, Rowley Street Music

A new song I wrote: ‘I Feel Free’

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Here is another new song that I wrote recently. It is called, ‘I Feel Free.’ ~~ Chad

I Feel Free
by Chad Shank

I fill up with gas at a 2 pump station
On the outskirts of civilization
Out here where I can roam
The rat race I run away from
So I can breathe in freedom
The prairie feels like home

PC:
City’s where I make ends meet
back there I’m Mr Corporate
Stuffed into an office
Out here I’m king not a worker bee

CHORUS:
Country air
Windows down
I Feel Free
Getting out
On the road
I Feel Free
As the sun’s sinking down over the corn fields
I Feel Free

V2:
The way time is flying it won’t be that long
I can quit my job and say so long
Can’t wait til I’m retired
Get back to rural America
No concrete hysteria
The place where I’m revived

PC:
Watch the sunset and stars come out
Sinking slow on the horizon
Man it’s really something
It’s those simple things that what life’s about

CHORUS

Bridge:
Hello Farmland
It is always good to see you
But let’s not wait so long for next time

CHORUS

©2012 Chad Shank, Rowley Street Music

A New Song I Co-wrote: ‘When She Puts On That Lipstick’

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Here is a new song that I co-wrote with a great friend and songwriter, Janice Gilbert. I cut the demo at my place in Minneapolis. Check it out!  ~~ Chad

When She Puts On That Lipstick

by Janice Gilbert and Chad Shank

Verse:
She’s a foxy little vixen
With a wild look in her eyes
Wearing rich velvet lipstick
The way she moves should be a crime

The whole town’s been talking
About where she was last night
Was alone when she walked in
But walked out with a new guy

She had him on her hook
She was playing the game
No one can resist that kind of bait

Chorus:
When she puts on that lipstick
Boy, you better forget it
She knows she’s got ‘em watchin’
She can feel it in their looks
When they stare longer than they should
When she puts on that lipstick

This ain’t the first time this has happened
Feel sorry for the last guy
She used her body to trap him
and she took him for a ride

She was chasing dollar bills
She was playing the game
No one can resist that kind of bait

CHORUS

Bridge:
When she puts on
On that Lipstick
They forget their common sense
And get stuck with
Sorry regrets
But she knows just what she’s doin’

Chorus

©2012 Janice Gilbert and Chad Shank

Free Songwriting Lesson/Coaching Session

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People usually understand the idea of a songwriting class, or seminar…but I find that, at first, my clients are a little confused by 1 on 1 songwriting lessons.  They understand piano and guitar lessons, but maybe not quite songwriting lessons…..Doesn’t everyone know how to write songs? You just write.   Well….yes and no.  We all have been listening to songs since our parents played or sang us lullabies.  Songs are not in short supply. We hear them all the time. We know what great songs sound like, so we can write them, right?  You do hear them, but do you really know what is going on mechanically with the lyrics, melody and harmony that make it a great song?

In my songwriting lessons, it is my goal to share with you the knowledge and know-how to write better songs than you have ever written.  Songs that people not only like, but LOVE. Songs that connect and get people emotionally….and maybe even financially invested in you. (Insert smiley faces and dollars signs)

How can I teach that? Well in my lessons, I break down songwriting concepts into very basic and fundamental theories and ideas. Some of those concepts are hidden in plain sight, we hear them subconsciously and don’t really know what is happening….but what if you DID know what was happening and could do it on purpose? THAT is what songwriting lessons are about. We will look at your current writing….or maybe you haven’t written yet, but want to know how. We will break it into very simple, yet powerful chunks and nurture your creative songwriter.

So right now I am offering anyone who emails me, and lives in the Minneapolis or the Twin Cities area a free 1 hour songwriting lesson/coaching session. Yes, I said, if you live in Minneapolis, I will meet with you in-person and give you a free 1 hour lesson/session. That is worth $60!  —- WAIT….but what if I DON’T live in Minneapolis?  Well for you guys, I am offering a free song critique. I will critique one of your songs and give you some pointers on how to make it better. That is a $20 value….FREE.

All you need to do is EMAIL ME.  Also be sure to follow this site and sign up to get my email updates….I am working on booking some new songwriting classes, workshops, and I am working on some new songwriting E-Books!

~ Chad

C-Sharp in More Magazine now online

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The actual magazine has been out for a couple weeks, but you can now read the article that features me and C-Sharp Productions in More magazine.  You can read the story and my quotes.

If you want to buy the April Issue of More Magazine, Helen Mirren is on the cover.

Tonight I am off to Saint Paul for the Minnesota Association of Songwriter meeting. — Chad

C-Sharp Productions in More Magazine

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C-Sharp Productions

It is official!  C-Sharp Productions has landed in the pages of the April issue of More Magazine.

One of the editors interviewed me for a story they did on women who have followed a dream. They wanted to see how much it costs to go after all kinds of dreams. The dream I was asked about was recording a CD.  C-Sharp Productions has been around since 1996 so I have helped all kinds of bands and artists record CD’s. I have worked with people on 1 song demos, all the way up to full CD’s.

So next time you are at a book store, look for More Magazine with Helen Mirren on the cover. It is the April issue. My little 15 minutes of national fame is on page 119.  There is also a great photo and write up of jazz singer Sharon Rae North.

Please let me know if there are any music business topics you may want discussed on this blog. —- CHAD