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I’ve been trying out the 2009 version of GarageBand for a few days and it feels tighter than last year’s. There is less lag when you switch between info and loop mode, the same hardware seems to be snappier in most operations, actually.

It seems that the lesson feature is pretty usable, too. The software comes with 16 free lessons for the piano and the guitar. If you have trouble getting into reading dry books, these lessons are well worth checking out.

The way you add effects on both software and real instrument tracks seems more intuitive. I haven’t tried out the “magic band” stuff, but if brings the joy of music to people, why not? (I could almost say the same about Microsoft’s Songsmith, but this is just too weird.)

A few snippets of GarageBand 09 music from my songs page: You make me. Pink butterfly.

I added a new page with my songs, where the Yahoo! Media Player picks up my mp3s from Amazon S3.

Nice!

Last week. Twelve grueling weeks were over just before Christmas. I learned a lot during this course and hope to build on it.

Week 12 saw us combine the verse/refrain form with a chorus. This form takes advantage of the strong points of both: the lyric focus and interesting music of verse/refrain, with the singalong, wider audience appeal of the verse chorus.

There are two types of combination song forms — the pop version and the country version. Mine is more of the former.

Title: “You didn’t want to stay”

Verse 1

D.................A......
I remember when I met you
Bmin....................G...
In your backyard by the tree
D.......................A......
You were smiling at the sunshine
Bmin.........................E...
But never once you smiled at me

G.............................D......
Could you tell me what you're thinking
A..................F#..
On such a summer's day
G......................Bmin.......
Was it that you had to leave girl
E..........................A....
And that you didn't want to stay

Verse 2

Stars shine through the cold wind
Backyard winds blow strong and fast
And I am standing in the moonshine
Trying hard to see our past

Clinging on to your memory
Cold night follows colder day
Was it that you had to hide girl
Or that you didn't want to stay

Bridge/Chorus

F#......................Bmin
After all I can't forget though
F#......................Bmin
that I never heard you say
E.........................D
that there was a cloud in your sky
E............................D....
and that you didn't want to (stay)
F..........
didn't want to, didn't want to
G.............................A
didn't want to, didn't want to stay

Verse 3

All the guests are all but gone now
Saying how they miss you so
And I am staring into nothing
I understand you had to go

I hope you find your peace now
Wishing I could hear you say
What I never understood girl
Why you didn't want to stay

Bridge/Chorus repeat

Here’s a verse/refrain song using mixed harmonic phrase, 3-bar surprise in the refrain line, and a moving bridge type using harmonic sequence in form A1 A2 B A3.

It’s probably my weakest assignment in the entire course. It really is difficult it is to write these kind of songs!

I tried to build the song around James Hillman’s quote “I don’t want the demons taken away because they’re going to take my angels too.”

Title: “Without my demons”

C........................F
It isn't really what you see
C.......................G
No need to reach out to me
C...........Bb.........Eb
There isn't much I can say
C......................F
So darling just let me be, .... on my own
Bb.....................Eb..............D7
Without my demons, the angels would go away


C.........................F
I have got no one else to blame
C.............................G
I played life as it's one big game
C........Bb..................Eb
And when night time turns to day
C.....................F
It's just more of the same, .... but I'm not alone
Bb....................Eb..............G
Without my demons, my angels would go away


Ab........................................Eb
I promised I will change, forever were my words
Gm......................................D  
And now I listen to them, they sound so absurd
...........G
The best I heard


C...........................F
Between the meaning and the need
C.........................G
The squander of my life I lead
C...............Bb.......Eb
There's nothing left but pray
C.....................F
I promise soon I will proceed, .... but I won't
Bb.........Eb..........D7..............G
Without my demons, my angels would fly away