Your Signature Sound Worksheet by Cari Cole

Transcription

1 Your Signature Sound Worksheet by Cari Cole Welcome! Thanks for trusting me with your and being willing to find out more about how to craft your sound. It s one of my favorite things to do with artists and is the key to becoming a true artist in your own right. Having a voice and sound that is instantly recognizable is the defining factor to creating a sound that is your signature. It is not only the key to your career, but is crucial to your success. Funny enough, it is easier to screw this up than to get it right. Many artists, in their attempt to find it, only end up copying others and sounding generic or copycat. How can you avoid that? The truth is, the path is different for every artist with one commonality: the determination and stamina to keep crafting until the music you are making is the music you want to hear. I recently worked with an artist who had a major recording deal but hadn t been successful in finding her sound. She recorded and released a record that unfortunately wasn t promoted and didn t go anywhere. She came to me to help her figure out her next steps. After talking to her for a little while, I discovered (as did she for the first time) that she didn t even like the songs she wrote for her record! This is more common than you think! And I m not surprised the record wasn t successful. We started listening to a ton of music and as it turns out, the music she really liked was a far cry from the music she was making. We then started writing from this new perspective and all I can say is, not only does she sound ten times better singing them, but her songs are infectious -- because she is making the music she wants to hear!

2 There is an art to crafting songs with a style in mind. Here s what we did that you can try at home: 1. Write down the ten top songs/artists that you love. Include artists that you listened to growing up (at least 5 from the past). And next to each, write down what you love about the song in particular - choose one of the following: lyric (the songs message) songwriting vocal (sound & style) production (music or sound) genre Here s an example, to get you started the right way with this list: 1. Everlasting Light/Black Keys - production 2. Tears Dry On Their Own/Amy Winehouse -lyric 3. Love is You/Chrisette Michele - songwriting (and vocal yes, but choose one) Okay, it s your turn now; choose those top ten songs/ artists on your list - and then what it is you love about each of them here (lyric, songwriting, vocal, production, or genre): 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 2. Select 3 artists from that list as your top 3 which blended together would come close to YOUR sound. Next to their name, select what one element they have that you think best matches you: lyric, songwriting, voice, or production. 3. Listen to as much music from England, Australia, and Canada as you can. Google the top 10 British, Australian, & Canadian bands or solo artists by current

3 or last year. Sift through as much music as you can to get an education on the music coming up. These countries produce music that is less formulaic and more creative. It s the music in the rehearsal and recording studios -- that is just getting out on the airwaves -- which you want to concentrate on. These are the trends that are coming. Write down your top 5 from each country and write down what it is you like most about them - lyric, songwriting, vocal, production, genre: British bands/solo acts: Australian bands/solo acts: Canadian bands/solo acts: Here are some ways to change up your songwriting, utilize the worksheet above, and create the music you truly want to hear. Each time you sit down to write, try one of these approaches: 1. Start songwriting with the above in mind. Don t just go to the piano or guitar and write the same darn song again. And if you are writing to track - stop that. Great songs are written by either singing the melody or working it out on an acoustic piano or guitar. Print out a lyric of one of the songs mentioned above. Use it as a template to write a similar song. This is a great exercise to get you out of your box. And, if you are a better lyricist than a melody writer or vice versa, find a great co-writer whose strengths are where yours aren t. 2. Try writing a sketch of the lyric first without rushing to write the music. Once you have the lyric (message of the song) written - then create the music - let the lyric lead the musical direction, Elton John style. (In case you didn t know, Elton writes music to his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin s lyrics and they have been doing this for coming on half a century - the benefits of a powerful songwriting team.)

4 3. Listen to a song you love, cop the groove/tempo and chord changes, turn it off, and write your song with the same groove/tempo/feel and similar chords (I usually change up the chords and the key but cop the general stuff). A great way to get your material more current sounding and change up your tempos. Don t copy the melody exactly or you ll be infringing on copyright (if you are unsure if you are coping the melody - just record yourself singing your melody and then listen to the song you were copying. Most of the time I find it comes out quite differently). This is a cool way to change your writing and get in the flow of the music you love. Creating a signature sound is a process best achieved by working with others who can give you feedback and help point you in the direction that will feature your strengths. Find a professional songwriter, vocal coach or record producer who also writes (yes, I do this) with a successful track record to help you cultivate your sound and style. No one does this alone, why should you? Here s how you can work with me: This is my highest tier program where you work with me one-on-one in person or over Skype: The Ultimate Performer 1-on-1 coaching with Cari Cole. Step into Your Power as a Performer, Your Strength as a Singer, and Your Excellence an Entertainer! Make a Major Shift in your Music & Career!

5 This is my popular 100% online course to Step Up Your Voice, Your Music and Career - for artists all over the world to supercharge their music. All you need is a computer and Step Up to the Spotlight ~ An Online Kick-Start Artist Development Program. This is my signature vocal warmup I use with all of my artists at my studio in New York - - now you can have it on your ipod and take me with you wherever you go!! Comes with 2 E-books: an instructional guide to accompany the exercises and The Ultimate Performer Tools & Techniques Guidebook all about the craft of unstoppable stage performance! Get yours here: The Singers Gift Vocal WarmUps