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Derek Nybergerek Nyberg
D SONGWRITERS WORKSHOPNGWRITERS WORKSHOP

rolling for logic or chaos
rolling for logic or chaos

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Perhaps one of the most intimidating things to erhaps one of the most intimidating things to again. I loved the random factor it offered. gain. I loved the random factor it offered.
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master for any musician is chord theory: how chords aster for any musician is chord theory: how chords Looking back,I think my reasoning was to write a ooking back,I think my reasoning was to write a
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come from scales and how to create strong cadences. me from scales and how to create strong cadences. s
song as fast as I could, so this time instead of singing; ong as fast as I could, so this time instead of singing;
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I wrote down the chords from the same *diatonic rote down the chords from the same *diatonic
Music theory has a deep logic similar to Math which usic theory has a deep logic similar to Math which
i is maybe why some musicians avoid it altogether. s maybe why some musicians avoidit altogether. scale. cale.
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For me learning chord theory is how I’ve survived as or me learning chord theory is how I’ve survived as
C“do” / Dminor“re” / Eminor “mi”/ F “fa”/ G7“so” /“do” / Dminor“re” / Eminor “mi”/ F “fa”/ G7“so” /
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a b Aminor “la” ( “te” B-7b5 - there is no 7 on the dice minor “la” ( “te” B-7b5 - there is no 7 on the dice
a bass player and it makes me appreciate the ass player and it makes me appreciate the
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compositions of the Beatles, Burt Bacharach Stevie mpositions of the Beatles, Burt Bacharach Stevie so no need for this chord. Interestingly, it’s not used o no need for this chord. Interestingly, it’s not used
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much as the G7 provides the same function.) uch as the G7 provides the same function.)
Wonder to name a few. Chords matter. Cool chords onder to name a few. Chords matter. Cool chords m
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e The fun was about to begin, but I had to get e fun was about to begin, but I had to get
even better.ven better.
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organized. rganized.
Back in music college, before the internet, one of the ack in music college, before the internet, one of the
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first things my instructor made me do was to write st things my instructor made me do was to write I b
I bought huge dice. I rolled the huge dice. ought huge dice. I rolled the huge dice.
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out every chord in every *diatonic scale” in every key Then, I played the results on my guitar - cool, and ut every chord in every *diatonic scale” in every key Then, I played the results on my guitar - cool, and
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on manuscript paper. n manuscript paper. well, very different from my usual stuff. ell, very different from my usual stuff.
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Things evolved and I realized I needed to tame the gs evolved and I realized I needed to tame the
chaos,so I wrote rules:haos,so I wrote rules:
Besides learning to read music this was perhaps the esides learning to read music this was perhaps the
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most important step I took in my music education.ost important step I took in my music education.
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*Use only one die se only one die
But last year I threw logic out the window and ut last year I threw logic out the window and
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instead attempted to embrace chaos. stead attempted to embrace chaos. *Always play in a different key major and minor.lways play in a different key major and minor.
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*Roll for oll for
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I gues 1. The number of chords in a verse,chorus,(pre e number of chords in a verse,chorus,(pre
I guess this started a few years prior,while training s this started a few years prior,while training
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m chorus, bridge if needed.)horus, bridge if needed.)
my ear for pitch recognition, I rolled some dice (only y ear for pitch recognition, I rolled some dice (only
2. The actual chords in every section. e actual chords in every section.
1) to match the first 6 notes from the major scale:o match the first 6 notes from the major scale:
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do re mi fa so la (te do.) For example I’d roll a 6 then e mi fa so la (te do.) For example I’d roll a 6 then 3. The number of notes in the melody in every e number of notes in the melody in every
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sing “la.” This was a nice way to spend the evening: g “la.” This was a nice way to spend the evening: section. ection.
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making a game out of ear training. aking a game out of ear training.
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4. The actual note intervals (do re mi etc.) e actual note intervals (do re mi etc.)
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Later I thought without dice and by using your ater I thought without dice and by using your
L Also roll for 6 lyric options:lso roll for 6 lyric options:
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fingers you can practice anywhere. So I’ll share that gers you can practice anywhere. So I’ll share that 1. Present, resent,
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process right now. rocess right now. 2. P
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2. Past, ast,
3. Future, uture,
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Start with “do” being your left thumb. tart with “do” being your left thumb.
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Your left pinky will be “so” the 5th note of the scale. our left pinky will be “so” the 5th note of the scale.
Y 5. Storytelling, torytelling,
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Now sing “do re mi fa so” then try: so do so do so do. 6. Interpersonal lyricsow sing “do re mi fa so” then try: so do so do so do. 6. Interpersonal lyrics
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One more: do re mi mi fa mi so do.e more: do re mi mi fa mi so do.
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Over 10 weeks I videoed myself playing Roll The ver 10 weeks I videoed myself playing Roll The
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Now make up your own melodies - cool eh? Don’t ow make up your own melodies - cool eh? Don’t Dice Songwriting, and ended up with about 6 decent ongwriting, and ended up with about 6 decent
songs all written in less than 40 minutes, a back log ongs all written in less than 40 minutes, a back log
f forget to use your right hand for more notes starting orget to use your right hand for more notes starting s
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with the 6th.ith the 6th.
of unfinished songs and videos of me ripping my hair f unfinished songs and videos of me ripping my hair
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out.ut.
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This do re mi thing is the major *diatonic scale. s do re mi thing is the major *diatonic scale.
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Welcome.elcome. Sometimes the dice would lead me down chordal ometimes the dice would lead me down chordal
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rabbit holes that made absolutely no sense, and I’d bbit holes that made absolutely no sense, and I’d
say “bad co writer!” So I’d re-roll, or start again.ay “bad co writer!” So I’d re-roll, or start again.
In June of 2019, I was kind of bored with my n June of 2019, I was kind of bored with my s
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songwriting, so for some reason I picked up the dice ongwriting, so for some reason I picked up the dice
s Sometimes I’d have to work with 6 chords in the cho-ometimes I’d have to work with 6 chords in the cho
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13 SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP