How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST,King Knapperty
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:59 PM

Thanks for the tips!

Is there a specific place to find these recordings?

I am into various traditional artists but my knowledge is in no way cohesive. Can someone point me in the right direction?


Thanks again


King

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: meself
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 03:11 PM

... um ... I think you're right, Mister McGrath - thanks for the enlightenment. My apologies to punkfr for my thickheadedness!

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 02:47 PM

leenia's advice is good. Soak yourself in that traditional music, listen to and take in recordings of real traditional singers, not folkie copyists.

Remember that traditional music came out of a world view and life style that is now largely gone. People lived very differently in those days, their social circles were different. Since then the things they cared about and sang about have been buried by popular culture and are often hard to find out reliable information about. All that went into their music.

The abundant outgrowth of those earlier ways of life and ways of thinking was radically changed by radio and records, which were new things in the 1920s and 30s when interest in traditional songs and music widened and began to touch mainstream culture. The new electrical media began to push aside the older styles and approaches even way back then.

It helps if you can think yourself back past the violent changes that have happened since the 1940s—World War II, for example, by calling up soldiers from everywhere, cross-fertilized and "homogenized" culture, including music. The coming of electronics is another layer to be peeled away.

It's more than just "unplugging." I can't stress this enough. It means separating out the strands of the "real stuff" from all that's been done to it since. Authentic traditional music on recordings is your best source for not just the songs, but the different singers' ways of singing them.

Not a daft question at all. You're to be praised for caring enough to want to know more and asking these questions. The very best of luck to you.

Bob

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 02:36 PM

I think the point punk was making is that Canadian accents differ for French and English speakers.

Have a little recorder ready, or they will disappear forever. If they are get tunes they will likely re-emerge. But it's useful to attach some words, maybe nonsense words to a une if you want to get it back again.

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 02:25 PM

What a daft question

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 11:04 AM

In my experience, King, if you want to write traditional music, then you listen to, sing and play a lot of traditional music. Expose your brain and fingers to lots of it.

If you don't want pop sounds, then don't listen to pop. The brain is molded by what comes into it, whether we like it or not.

If you know music theory, it will help to analyze good traditional tunes.   

Then, when you see a set of good lyrics, relax and let your brain 'send ' you the melody. You can't force good melodies, they have to well up.

For example, on my computer I have a little collection of tunes that were in my head when I woke up in the morning. I have to record them before breakfast, or they will be lost forever. I also find that tunes can well up when I'm washing dishes or driving a car in a relaxed setting. Have a little recorder ready, or they will disappear forever.

Frederic Lowe, who wrote the music for 'My Fair Lady', got his melodies to come by driving for miles around pretty Connecticut countryside.

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: meself
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 11:02 AM

NO! Nothing whatsoever to do with where your forefathers emigrated from. If you are Canadian, sing in your Canadian accent. Unless you are doing Gilbert & Sullivan.

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 10:54 AM

well.. depends which side of the English channel your forefathers emigrated from...

errrmmm.. unless they were American...


Personally I'd sing through a ring modulator...

Not been that many Dalek folk singers to my knowledge... 🤔

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST,King Knapperty
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 10:39 AM

What accent do I sing in as a Canadian?

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 10:04 AM

"How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music"

'Borrow' some well tried and tested folk melodies and lyrics and mix them up & around a bit...

..and don't sing in an American accent.. unless you are an American...

..then add electric guitars as a nod to the ye olde latter 20th century... 😜

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: BobKnight
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 09:41 AM

I write new songs in traditional Scottish style.
www.youtube.com/bobknightfolk

Subject: RE: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST,King Knapperty
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 06:08 AM

I might have spoken too soon,

English Folk Field Recordings


This one looks promising.

However this is the only one like it I could find.



I want to see better, tighter, prouder music!

Subject: How To Write Real Trad Sounding Music
From: GUEST,King Knapperty
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 05:57 AM

There seems to be a very cool thing happening right now with young people and the technology of today.

Youtube has spawned hundreds of channels dedicated to live sessions. Usually this manifests itself to Indie rock and such music, though sometimes artists come on to play what they purport to be folk.

However, these Indie folkers are essentially playing that dreadful genre known as "Acoustic" This is sad for someone who wants to see real folk inspired music played by young folks on these channels.

Here are some for reference:
Folk Alley Session
Audiotree Live
Mahogany Sessions


I feel like the Folk artists of yesteryear perform much better than the folks on these sessions.

Now that my venting is out of the way I am brought to my question. How does one avoid the "Singer Songwriter" or "acoustic" pitfalls when writing music? As a young person, I do not like the route folk is going. I want to write music that sounds like some of Maccoll's original songs, or something a tad less trad sounding like Rosselson. I want to make music with an acoustic guitar that doesn't sound like a depressed man crying. I want to make folk music without the pop that seems to have permeated among the more hip youngsters.


How do I give my music the same spirit as the greats that I listen to every day? Do I just make it fast? If it is too fast I feel like it then enters the other dreadful category "Folk punk" Which these days does not equal the Pogues, but rather that Andrew Jackson Jihad stuff.


I am in full folk crisis and its starting to vastly depress my moods.


Thank you my fine comrades,

His Majesty King Knapperty