Revised original

[RunsWithBuffalo]

So its ok as long as you switch mediums?

You really should study folk music. It is a long rich history of borrowed lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions. I mean how much can you possibly do with three chords?

When you consider songs as whole ideas instead of bits and pieces, i think you would find that there are actually very few similiarities between "where is god" and Dave Matthews's songs.

The other thing to consider is that this song is all acoustic. That carries with it inherent limitations for variety. My guess is that this song could become very different flushed out with a band.

Not every artist out there is trying to reinvent the wheel, that doesnt make them plagarizers.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Not trying to start a fight or anything, its just an interesting topic and one i feel strongly about, thats all.

Cheers!

[boonie]

Not trying to start a fight or anything, its just an interesting topic and one i feel strongly about, thats all.

Cheers!

I'm not saying taking certain bits is bad, obviously shit gets ripped by everybody from everybody. To me though this kid sounds absolutely nothing like himself, there is absolutely no originality IMO of course. I understand all of what you're saying many of my favorite artists "plagiarize" to some extent. Mike Doughty for instance didn't write a bridge for his sing Sunkeneyed Girl so he inserted a riff from a .38 special song. Eddie Vedder drops Pete Townshend in his songs often times, the ending of Gone he takes a line from Let's See Action. The Song I got Id, the chorus is very similar to cinamon girl. To me the difference being that these songs are sung in his own voice, with his own style, with mostly his own original ideas, it's less stealing and more his own work. As for the thing you said in the post before about it being an acoustic song, I don't think that is an excuse either, plenty of people have done interesting and innovative things while writing songs on acoustic guitar, as well many people have written simple 3 chord songs on their acoustic guitar and made them original, I ask you to stare at Jeff Tweedy's songs as a testament to that, tons of 2 and 3 chord songs and he is one of the best most original songwriters currently performing.

[SRVDMB]

Its my music bro. End of story. Don't say i'm copying dave. Drop D is the reason why you think that. Many songs in dropped D are based around the note of D, My song is. Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers is based around D. Its my music not Daves. If it were Daves music i wouldn't love the fact that its my original. Now about the topics being the same. You are incorrect. DDTW is a song from the perspective of a white man taking the Indians land. Minarets seems to me like its about wars in the middle east. I fail to see the extreme similarities. My song is through the eyes of a SLAVE traveling from his home to slavery and his life during slavery. You are going in circles with your argument. I respect your opinion and I appretiate the fact that you actually took the time to listen to it. But its my music. I wrote it with a strong amount of emotion and passion. You are correct a line sounds similar. You are correct it has a "Dave" sound because its drop D. But you are incorrect saying that i'm "stealing" a song. 1 chord matches a chord in DDTW all the others are different.


Cheers and thanks for the tips,
Jack

[boonie]

Its my music bro. End of story. Don't say i'm copying dave. Drop D is the reason why you think that. Many songs in dropped D are based around the note of D, My song is. Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers is based around D. Its my music not Daves. If it were Daves music i wouldn't love the fact that its my original. Now about the topics being the same. You are incorrect. DDTW is a song from the perspective of a white man taking the Indians land. Minarets seems to me like its about wars in the middle east. I fail to see the extreme similarities. My song is through the eyes of a SLAVE traveling from his home to slavery and his life during slavery. You are going in circles with your argument. I respect your opinion and I appretiate the fact that you actually took the time to listen to it. But its my music. I wrote it with a strong amount of emotion and passion. You are correct a line sounds similar. You are correct it has a "Dave" sound because its drop D. But you are incorrect saying that i'm "stealing" a song. 1 chord matches a chord in DDTW all the others are different.


Cheers and thanks for the tips,
Jack

I think you're missing my point, the song being in drop d is only one of many similarites. I didnt say it sounded like the Allmans b/c it doesnt, despite chordal similarities. But I'm saying it sounds like a Dave song b/c the guitar, the vocals, and the lyrics sound like Dave. I'm saying that b/c i dont see any of you in the song and just all Dave in the song. Secondly, your cockiness annoys me you called your own song "powerful" I'm sorry but that sounds very much like your tooting your own horn. Very rarely on a any message board do I hear somebody trying to state that their song IS something. To me your song sounds like some kid babling about some concept he has no grasp over. It isn't powerful to me and just because you say it's emotional and powerful doesnt make it so, if the listener doesn't buy into it.

[ut4ever8]

I have to say i really stand in the middle. I do think this is an improvement and your headed in the right direction. You could have ran away when people got on you the first time but you stuck around and worked on the song and i commend you for that, but i do agree with alot of what boonie is saying. It is very "daveish" but maybe thats what you want i don't know. To me it sounds like an early version of DDTW with the similar concept not being slavery, but moreso mistreatment of minorities and an all around deprivation of rights. Between that and, even if you say the chords are different, it does have a similar groove to the song, not because its in drop d, just because thats how the song flows. With that said I do still think your on the right path to getting better and thats the most important thing.

[SRVDMB]

Its my music bro. End of story. Don't say i'm copying dave. Drop D is the reason why you think that. Many songs in dropped D are based around the note of D, My song is. Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers is based around D. Its my music not Daves. If it were Daves music i wouldn't love the fact that its my original. Now about the topics being the same. You are incorrect. DDTW is a song from the perspective of a white man taking the Indians land. Minarets seems to me like its about wars in the middle east. I fail to see the extreme similarities. My song is through the eyes of a SLAVE traveling from his home to slavery and his life during slavery. You are going in circles with your argument. I respect your opinion and I appretiate the fact that you actually took the time to listen to it. But its my music. I wrote it with a strong amount of emotion and passion. You are correct a line sounds similar. You are correct it has a "Dave" sound because its drop D. But you are incorrect saying that i'm "stealing" a song. 1 chord matches a chord in DDTW all the others are different.


Cheers and thanks for the tips,
Jack

I think you're missing my point, the song being in drop d is only one of many similarites. I didnt say it sounded like the Allmans b/c it doesnt, despite chordal similarities. But I'm saying it sounds like a Dave song b/c the guitar, the vocals, and the lyrics sound like Dave. I'm saying that b/c i dont see any of you in the song and just all Dave in the song. Secondly, your cockiness annoys me you called your own song "powerful" I'm sorry but that sounds very much like your tooting your own horn. Very rarely on a any message board do I hear somebody trying to state that their song IS something. To me your song sounds like some kid babling about some concept he has no grasp over. It isn't powerful to me and just because you say it's emotional and powerful doesnt make it so, if the listener doesn't buy into it.

Now i guess you don't think the issue of slavery is powerful. Saying its powerful is not blowing my own horn. And i'm insulted that you would say that about me. I'm humble. Here i am trying to be nice and trying to explain to you the reasoning of the song and your putting me down like you know it all. The song is MINE! I wrote the song. I sat down after watching a thing on the history channel about slavery. Without Dave in my head i sat and wrote on a piece of paper. 2 pages later i came out of my room with a song. I then put music to it. Your telling me about how the listener doesn't buy it then its usless. Sorry bro. Not eveyone is gonna dig my music. its fine you don't like it. Don't pick me apart because its not what you want. If it sounds like dave so what. If its about a minority so what. How many Dave Matthews Songs are about Slavery in America? When you find a song that dave wrote about a slave in america let me know. Maybe he did. But i haven't heard a Dave song about slavery. A couple of similarities and your all over my back. I'm not trying to start an arguement. I'm trying to point out that your wrong about me copying Dave. Absolutly wrong.


Cheers,
Jack

[boonie]

Now i guess you don't think the issue of slavery is powerful.

Cheers,
Jack

I think slavery is a big issue and i think stories about slavery are powerful, i just don' think your song is powerful. I dont think it presents the issue of slavery in a powerful way

[boonie]

i'm sorry, that last comment was a little more harsh than i meant it, it's not constructive criticism it's just criticism. The fact is i think you have a good voice and play decently, but i think you're wasting your talent by sounding too much like your influence. Like Pat said in the other thread I want to hear Jack.

[SRVDMB]

i'm sorry, that last comment was a little more harsh than i meant it, it's not constructive criticism it's just criticism. The fact is i think you have a good voice and play decently, but i think you're wasting your talent by sounding too much like your influence. Like Pat said in the other thread I want to hear Jack.

You are hearing Jack. My influences are involved with my music. I have many influences. Thats why my original music stretches from acoustic to blues to rock and so on.

[Smbabs886]

i'm sorry, that last comment was a little more harsh than i meant it, it's not constructive criticism it's just criticism. The fact is i think you have a good voice and play decently, but i think you're wasting your talent by sounding too much like your influence. Like Pat said in the other thread I want to hear Jack.

You are hearing Jack. My influences are involved with my music. I have many influences. Thats why my original music stretches from acoustic to blues to rock and so on.

I need to put my two cents in.. lol All im going to say is this bonnie person is correct in a way, not knowing who you are. Now since i know who you are and what your about i know what the problem is and i've told you this several times. What music did you always listen to? what music did you learn on? What music do you listen to now? You know as much as i know that dave matthews was a huge influence. Now you listen to stevie ray and honeytribe,mostly stevie ray..lol and before that it was all dave. That's your problem. I'll say it again and again, But i was in the same boat as you.. although you may not believe it cause when i wrote a song that sound like DMB all the time i would never share it.. i would 86 that shit.lol
If you listen and literally listen to all types and style of music and not just listen like its homework, but actually listen and enjoy it you'll be surprised with what you can come up with. I think that because you were saturated with dave matthews for such a long time thats all you know how to do. Now im not saying that you can't play other covers or other types of music. I'm just saying in terms of writing originals. If you set back and listen to Where Is God you can see where these dmb fans are coming from in the fact that it sounds like a dave matthews song. That's all im gonna say.
I'm not trying to be an asshole cause i know you can prettymuch outplayme in anything..lol Some tuttle specials are on the way..

[SRVDMB]

haha yeah. I agree it sounds like dave. I never said he was wrong about that. Its very dave influenced. But I want to point out that this is my song. I wrote it and that i'm not trying on purpose to have a Dave style to it. But yeah other originals on the way. Dude i got texas flood down now. We need to jam it sometime. Take the drive....lol....its an hour and bring the damn buddah...Bring tuts too...

[dmbguitar718]

i'm sorry, that last comment was a little more harsh than i meant it, it's not constructive criticism it's just criticism. The fact is i think you have a good voice and play decently, but i think you're wasting your talent by sounding too much like your influence. Like Pat said in the other thread I want to hear Jack.

You are hearing Jack. My influences are involved with my music. I have many influences. Thats why my original music stretches from acoustic to blues to rock and so on.

I need to put my two cents in.. lol All im going to say is this bonnie person is correct in a way, not knowing who you are. Now since i know who you are and what your about i know what the problem is and i've told you this several times. What music did you always listen to? what music did you learn on? What music do you listen to now? You know as much as i know that dave matthews was a huge influence. Now you listen to stevie ray and honeytribe,mostly stevie ray..lol and before that it was all dave. That's your problem. I'll say it again and again, But i was in the same boat as you.. although you may not believe it cause when i wrote a song that sound like DMB all the time i would never share it.. i would 86 that shit.lol
If you listen and literally listen to all types and style of music and not just listen like its homework, but actually listen and enjoy it you'll be surprised with what you can come up with. I think that because you were saturated with dave matthews for such a long time thats all you know how to do. Now im not saying that you can't play other covers or other types of music. I'm just saying in terms of writing originals. If you set back and listen to Where Is God you can see where these dmb fans are coming from in the fact that it sounds like a dave matthews song. That's all im gonna say.
I'm not trying to be an asshole cause i know you can prettymuch outplayme in anything..lol Some tuttle specials are on the way..

You are right.

SRV, in at the very most two years, I would put my money on you listening to this song and totally throwing it out. I understand you're excited because it's one of the first things you've written, but you really need to be critical of yourself. This would not pass as original work in many people's minds. Of course, you're 16 and you haven't been playing for that long, so you'll understand all of this in the future. I'm not trying to be an ass, I'm trying to be the guy that helps you amongst all your other friends saying "yeah, this is so sweet dude!"

But, call me what you will. I expect another irate post, but it'd be nice if you could take some constructive criticism here.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Yeah man, all were saying is you are wearing your influences a little too much on your sleeve. We all used to do the same thing. Dave fans tend to listen to dave exclusively. If its all you listen to, sing along with, play on your guitar of course you are going to sound like him somewhat. I used to do it! It took me many years of listening to other things before i stopped singing like dave.

So don't worry, your song is original, but your delivery is highly influenced by dave. I bet two years from now you will play this song much much different.

Good Luck finding your own voice, I have been working at it for years and am still looking.

[SRVDMB]

i'm sorry, that last comment was a little more harsh than i meant it, it's not constructive criticism it's just criticism. The fact is i think you have a good voice and play decently, but i think you're wasting your talent by sounding too much like your influence. Like Pat said in the other thread I want to hear Jack.

You are hearing Jack. My influences are involved with my music. I have many influences. Thats why my original music stretches from acoustic to blues to rock and so on.

I need to put my two cents in.. lol All im going to say is this bonnie person is correct in a way, not knowing who you are. Now since i know who you are and what your about i know what the problem is and i've told you this several times. What music did you always listen to? what music did you learn on? What music do you listen to now? You know as much as i know that dave matthews was a huge influence. Now you listen to stevie ray and honeytribe,mostly stevie ray..lol and before that it was all dave. That's your problem. I'll say it again and again, But i was in the same boat as you.. although you may not believe it cause when i wrote a song that sound like DMB all the time i would never share it.. i would 86 that shit.lol
If you listen and literally listen to all types and style of music and not just listen like its homework, but actually listen and enjoy it you'll be surprised with what you can come up with. I think that because you were saturated with dave matthews for such a long time thats all you know how to do. Now im not saying that you can't play other covers or other types of music. I'm just saying in terms of writing originals. If you set back and listen to Where Is God you can see where these dmb fans are coming from in the fact that it sounds like a dave matthews song. That's all im gonna say.
I'm not trying to be an asshole cause i know you can prettymuch outplayme in anything..lol Some tuttle specials are on the way..

But, call me what you will. I expect another irate post, but it'd be nice if you could take some constructive criticism here.

I have agreed to everything. I just disagreed with the fact that i'm just copying Dave. Thats all. It may sound like him. But those are my words and thoughts. Thats all i'm defending. You can tell me my music is bad. lol. But i still like to think my ideas are good. Any chance i can sell this song to Dave? hahaha