How musicians analyze music

Hey everyone! So today is a day for those Chirstian musicians out there. Or maybe for those people who are just curious about what goes through the minds of a musician when they hear music. 

Anyways, Before we get into this topic, let’s have our moment of silence.

At this time, I would like all of us to take a moment of silence and pray for the things in our lives. Take a minimum of 5 minutes and pray to God to help us to become great musicians. Ask God to help us to be the musicians that he would want us to become. 

Now back to the show

1. I learn what genre I’m listening to

So the first step for me in analyzing a song is learning the genre that they are in. Why? Because it prepares my mind to listen to the rest of the song. I mean, have you ever tasted something sour and was expecting something sweet? It tastes bad right! Even though you like sour things, it tastes bad because you were preparing your taste pallet for something sweet. 

Same thing for me when it comes to music. I first learn what artist or genre that person is in. And even though they may use similar techniques in writing the song, ultimately it will be different than the other genre. 

The genre has a lot to do when it comes to the type of lyrics that a song will have. Often times if you have a Christian punk song, it will have different lyrics than a Christian pop song. Sometimes with pop songs, they are meant to get the audience to dance and aren’t necessarily saying things that are correct. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Christian pop songs aren’t correct. Because some of them are. 

But I am saying that the lyrics will be different and sometimes might not align themselves with the beliefs of other Christians. 

I’m  not dissing Toby Mac, but I heard a few of his earlier albums and honestly, I couldn’t listen to it. Don’t get me wrong, it was grooving and the beat was cool. But the lyrics weren’t in line with my Christian beliefs.

Toby if you’re reading this, DO NOT GET ME WRONG! HAHA! I like the way your music sounds, but I can’t listen to it. I hope you understand. I give you an A for effort though! 

Here is a link to Toby Mac’s Music

2. I either listen to the album or song, or I read about it first. 

This is especially true if I hear that the album might not be in line with my Christian beliefs. Or that I might hear is controversial. 

I first will hear about an album and I will learn about the genre.

Then if I hear that the album is controversial or is not in line with my Christian beliefs, I will read about it first. 

Like because Toby Mac’s music isn’t in line with my Christian beliefs, I researched him first before I went ahead and heard his music. 

Or if I heard one of the songs on the radio, I will learn more about it later on. 

Either way, I’m going to learn something about the album, song or artist by reading about that artist. 

3. Listening to the song

I know that I’ve probably already listened to the song by this time. But  this is talking about what I’m doing while I’m listening to the song. 

I will take notes of everything that I hear and read in the lyrics. I will see how they put stress on a certain word. Or how they used the verses to build up the chorus. Or maybe that bridge that they used, is it different than what I’ve heard? I also take notice of the key and chords that they’re in. 

Is it minor or major? Are they talking about sad things? 

Of course what comes first is the intro, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes musicians just jump right into the verse or chorus and it makes for a very powerful first verse. 

I pay attention to the type of instruments that they use. And also the different rhythms that are in the songs. I will also analyze the lyrics and see what metaphors they’re using. 

I will also see what they are doing in the lyrics. 

They could be using alliteration or assonance or consonance. They could be using internal rhymes. Are they basically rapping the verses and singing the choruses, which is a very popular and powerful way to make a good song. 

A little music theory

There is a lot that goes into analyzing a song. I might even pull up the chords or piano music in order to learn more about that song. 

And some singers out there sing in the keys that I sing, so I could use their songs for covers.

I know, I know, “German, if you know music theory so well, why don’t you just transpose songs into the key that you need?” 

I do that as well! But sometimes it doesn’t sound the same as singing in the original key. I mean in theory it works out just fine! Don’t get me wrong. And who knows it can sound better in the key that you sing it!

But it changes a little, not a lot, but a little. 

Even the chords that you use have different timbre when it comes to playing a song in a different key. 

Say for example this, the song calls for open C, F, and G and that of course is the key of C. However, if you’re a soprano and you sing in the key of G, then you have to transpose that key, 4 keys up!

And even though in this example on a guitar, it wouldn’t make much of a difference on the timbre of the chords, in other keys, it will make a huge difference. 

There are some keys that we sing that sound completely different when played up the frets of a guitar. And up the keys of the piano.  

Personally me, I have a song that I made that sounds SO INCREDIBLE, but it calls for the capo on the 6th fret, and I play with chords from the key of G. and ultimately I think the key is D or B or something like that, I can’t even remember. And you can perfectly play those chords on the lower frets if you want and in theory it shouldn’t be different. 

However, I wanted to use open chords because I thought that it would sound good with the song. And sure enough doing open chords does sound to me better than playing barre chords for that song. 

I know some of you are saying, “German, it isn’t different.” 

If you play guitar long enough, you will know that it is different. 

Here is a link to a music theory website

Broadcast

I sure hope that I have been an inspiration and a hope to you all. Please remember if you want to go to heaven, then believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven. Thank you all for listening in on this blog post. Remember to pray, read your bible, go to church, and love God above all else. Like, comment, share, subscribe, and I will see you all next time. 

German Gonzalez, signing out!