Writing extended songs

[He's Dead, Jim]

Not exactly production-related, but does anyone have any tips for writing longer songs, like 7-10 minutes? The standard A/B/A/etc. formula doesn't exactly work simply because it would become monotonous. I find myself stuck between repeating things too many times or having too many awkward transitions to new parts.

 

[meanmrmustad]

Treat A B and C as 3 sets of (a,b,c)s

 

[lanky noob]

Dominant chords (I think, don't 100% quote me on it though) work really well leading in to a key change. Just let it flow and go with what feels right. At the end of the day a short song that flows effortlessly sounds much better than something that's been purposefully made long and is forced out.

Failing that, listen to a shitload of Dream Theater and take notes on how they do it

 

[meanmrmustad]

I fell asleep last time i listened to dream theater, enjoyed the first part of constant motion though

 

[lanky noob]

I fell asleep last time i listened to dream theater, enjoyed the first part of constant motion though

You need to listen to The count of tuscany and Metropolis part 1 >

Peruvian skies, Wull me under, Hollow years, War inside my head, On the backs of angels and Bridges in the sky wouldn't be a bad idea either....

I'm going through a DT fanboy phase at the moment in case you hadn't guessed

 

[meanmrmustad]

Pull me under, I heard that one from that thread about bad drum samples.

 

[oroinvictus]

Treat A B and C as 3 sets of (a,b,c)s

+1, and make sure all the transitions are killer and keep the listener interested

 

[ArthurD]

Listen to this

 

[meanmrmustad]

This one's pretty long and it's the same rythm over and over and over...

 

[Manifesto]

i would treat the song as a book. First, you have to have a story to tell, then divide it in chapters (each chapter should be diferent form each other but with a theme or melody in common). But before you jump into the process, make sure that you're capable of doing it. I mean, if you dont know how to navigate through diferent scales or rhythms efficiently, dont do it. In that case, just sit back and listen to yes for a while, then elp, then study them both and then start writing.

 

[schwinginbatman]

A lot of my songs are long because I give all of the ideas time to grow, build up, and develop. Rarely do I just pass by an idea, but rather build upon it if it's able to be built upon. Some ideas are only meant to be passing.