New Lyrics for Older Songs

Believe it or not but when I first became really serious about being a professional musician, I was looking to enter the Christian music market. Most of my first songs and recordings were actually Gospel-themed (as I have shared previously) and I was hoping to create music that would be used in churches and worship settings. I was really influenced by the music of Hillsong church and of the various Vineyard churches being made around the world. There are some truly amazing recordings that have come out of both Hillsong and Vineyard, and even the non-religious would be hard-pressed not to like some of them.

I didn't limit myself to just 'church-type' music but I also tried making songs under the genre of CCM which is Contemporary Christian Music. This genre differs from 'worship' or church music in that it would not normally be used in church services. Rather it would be radio-type music with overtly Christian themes.

However, my own recordings and songs did not really go anywhere other than a few Billboard Contest Top 500 or Top 1500 awards. The last recording I made of any Christian-themed music came about in 2009. Since that time, I have decided that I could do a lot more through my passion for music and my abilities by creating non-Christian music. Some of my songs may still have Biblical themes but nothing overt and most likely with ambiguous lyrical meanings as some already do.

CCM has a very modern sound to it. And some of it is really good as I mentioned before. But as I draw the greater majority of my influences from 60's and 70's pop/rock music, the CCM-type songs I made were definitely out of place with what the big-name artists put out there. I don't think there is a market for 60s/70s sounding Christian music. There are just some things they're not open to. And the Christian music business is really no different than the non-Christian music business. They are both businesses with goals of making profits. That being said, my best chance lies with secular music, non-Christian music, regular music--whatever you want to call it. There is a lot more room for creativity in this area as my personal tastes encompass a wide variety of colors on the music spectrum.

The trouble is that I have several really good recordings that come with Christian-themed lyrics. What to do with them, as really they aren't going anywhere. What I have decided to do is to write new lyrics for them. In my opinion the songs are just too good to leave them lying around. And that's what I've started to do. A couple posts back I wrote about a song that I was editing down from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. That's one of those that I had originally written Christian lyrics for. In fact it was titled "All For You." I've scrapped those lyrics and even changed the melody completely. As I stated in that blog entry, I never released the song with vocals before. So when I do finish up this one it will actually be a fresh, new song. On the other hand, a song I have already released 2 years ago on my EP may need a re-working of lyrics.

Don't get me wrong. It's not like I have a slew of songs that I will now write new lyrics to. There are just 3, 4 tops. Some of the other ones I'm not even going to touch. They will remain in the dark recesses of oblivion. But only the ones that have solid instrumental backings or a cool riff that needs to be transported to a new song will see new light and life.

Most Amazing

I've gone several days without posting. I apologize. Something unexpected happened but now I'm back. So let's continue with my next song, "Most Amazing."

This was my song for 2005. I was aiming for a different sound from "You Are So Good." I had started to listen to some other bands and more modern music and this is what I came up with. It's definitely a driving alternative rock song featuring several electric guitar tracks, an acoustic guitar, an electric bass, drums and vocal track. At the time, this was the first song that did not include any keyboards. It was also my first song to feature an e-bow. The purchase and use of an e-bow was the result of a strong influence by Marcus Beaumont of Hillsong on their 17 minute epic song titled "Highest." That is the song I could be found listening to/watching the video of almost all the time back then.

This song is also different from anything else I made up to that point in that I tried singing in a different voice during the bridge part. As I was listening to a lot of alternative at the time--The Calling, STP, Live, Creed, Staind, Jeremy Riddle (of Vineyard), Tony Sanchez (of Vineyard), etc.--and was influenced not only by the guitar playing but also the vocal stylizing. Took me a while to get it, but eventually the end result was satisfactory to me.




What was not satisfactory to me is the overall sound of the drums. They sound muddy. The snare especially. The toms I can barely hear. Short of re-recording the drum track, I'm not sure there's much I can do to improve its sound. Also the overall sound of the track is a bit trebly. In particular the vocals and drums.

The guitars used in this song include: the white Les Paul Studio I pictured in the last post; a black Fender Aerodyne Strat which I had for a few years and regrettably traded for an Epiphone Dot; and a Gretsch White Falcon used for the solo during the bridge. I have none of those 4 guitars anymore. Here are some photos of the Aerodyne Strat:

(All these guitars makes me think I should devote one post to all the electric's I've had over the years.)

I entered this song into another Billboard Songwriting Contest and it ended up winning an Honorable Mention by placing in the Top 500. This was the best showing for any of my entries. I even won 2 prizes which included a book and a pair of sunglasses.

Do I want to spend the time reworking the odds and ends of this recording? Not really. I feel it was just another stepping stone to where I am now. It's a part of the past that should stay there. To be honest, I have new and exciting musical endeavours I want to embark on. Going back and working on stuff from the past is regressing, not progressing. This song was great when it happened. But I feel it really pales in comparison to some of the stuff I have done within the last few years. In fact, it has not stood the test of time for me like "You Are So Good" has. I find myself always coming back to listen to "Good." I rarely listen to "Most Amazing." "The Moment of Truth" is another I keep coming back to, especially after I re-recorded the vocals.

There Is Nothing Like (Hillsong) Guitar Tab

Today's tab will feature the main guitar riff from the Hillsong version of "There Is Nothing Like." This is not the Hillsong United version which came out months earlier and is significantly different. This is the later version and, in my opinion, the superior version and features the excellent playing of Nigel Hendroff on lead guitar.

Here is my YouTube video of me playing along with the recording:

I threw some extra notes there. I realize that I am not playing exactly note-for-note what Nigel played. I just added some notes to fill in the empty spaces which are especially noticeable if you are not using any kind of delay.

Here is the tab of what I played:


E  :----------------|---------9-----------|------------------|
B  :----------------|-------------9----12-|--12------9-----0-|
G  :----------------|----9----------------|-----9------------|
D  :--------------9-|h11---11-------11----|-------11---------|
A  :----------------|---------------------|------------------|
E  :----------------|---------------------|------------------|

E  :------0---------|----------------|---------9-----9-11-|
B  :----7-----7-----|--7-------------|--------------------|
G  :--8---------8---|----8---8-------|----9---------------|
D  :9-------------9-|------9-------9-|h11---11------------|
A  :----------------|----------------|--------------------|
E  :----------------|----------------|--------------------|

E  :-------------------|------------------|
B  :--9-12--------9-12-|9-----------------|
G  :---------9-11------|--11-9-11---------|
D  :-------------------|------------------|
A  :-------------------|------------------|
E  :-------------------|------------------|


The last 2 and-a-half measures is the little run I did at the end of the segment. The first 5 measures is what you play over and over during the verses--I only tabbed it out one time for the sake of space but it is to be played repeatedly throughout the duration of the verses. 

Sorry the posts are coming a little less frequently. I have nearly run out of available tabs for my videos. I will have to find the time to make more tabs and/or videos but lately I'm trying to focus more on my own music. 

None But Jesus (Hillsong) Guitar Solo Tab

Here is another tab that I have received many requests for. It is short and sweet but it's for the guitar solo to Hillsong's "None But Jesus" song.

This is my interpretation of the solo. It may or may not be 100% accurate. I believe it is right on target but the very last measure of the solo [last 2 measures of the tab] is where I have seen the most varying interpretations. So first here I am playing along with the recording:

And here is the tab of what I played in the video:


   Capo 4                                                              
E  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G  :4-4-4---5---7---|----------------|----4-----------|----------------|
D  :----------------|5---7-----------|5-7-----7---5---|----------------|
A  :----------------|----------------|----------------|5---7-----------|
E  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

                                                                           
E  :----------------|----------------|----------3------5-|-----7-----------|
B  :----------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|
G  :4-4-4---5---7---|----------------|0-h2-2-/4---4-/5---|5-/7-------------|
D  :----------------|5---7-----------|-------------------|-----------------|
A  :----------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|
E  :----------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|

                                                                       
E  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G  :4-4-4---5---7---|----------------|----4-----------|----------------|
D  :----------------|5---7-----------|5-7-----7---5---|----------------|
A  :----------------|----------------|----------------|5---7-----------|
E  :----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

                                                                         
E  :----------------|----------------|--------3-0-------|----0-----------|
B  :----------------|----------------|------------3-0---|----0-----------|
G  :4-4-4---5---7---|----------------|0-h2-/4---------2-|--0-0-----------|
D  :----------------|5---7-----------|------------------|----2-----------|
A  :----------------|----------------|------------------|----2-----------|
E  :----------------|----------------|------------------|----0-----------|

Please note that I play this solo--and actually the entire song--with a capo on the 4th fret. I don't believe it is necessary to play with a capo but for the sake of this song it makes the solo smoother and easier to perform and allows you to play with open chords for the remainder of the song. 

Perfect Love (by Hillsong) Bass Line Tab

I made up a bass line for the verses of "Perfect Love" by Hillsong some time ago and it turned out to be rather popular on YouTube as many viewers have asked me for the tab over the last few years. It's really not a complicated line but it's definitely a lot more than what was played on the original recording of the song. So  here is the video of me playing it:

Here is the tab of what I played:


   G#m              E                B                F#                 
G  :----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------- 3|
D  :----------------|----------------|----1---4-4-2-1-|----------------*||
A  :--------6-6-4---|--------2-2-----|2-2---2---------|----1---4-4-2-1-*||
E  :4-4-7-4-------7-|0-0-4-0-----4-0-|----------------|2-2---2--------- ||


That's all it is! 

I've received requests for this tab from all over the world so it's pretty cool to think something I made up is being used in different parts of the globe. That's the power of the internet! Amazing indeed.

Arms Open Wide (by Hillsong) Bass Tab

Here is another bass line I created for a Hillsong song called "Arms Open Wide." This is the 2nd title by Hillsong that I am including a bass tab for. This tab is not what they actually play on the song but rather something I made up and played in my YouTube video below:

In the video I'm using a 5 string bass so the tab corresponds to that. Granted I'm only playing a couple of low D notes on the B string and some E's. So most of this bass part can be played on a 4 string bass with the exception of those absolutely mandatory low D's. Here is the tab:


G  :----------------|--7-------------|----------------|
D  :--5-------------|----4-7---------|--7-------------|
A  :----2-5---------|5---------5-----|----4-7---------|
E  :3---------3-----|----------------|5---------5-----|
B  :--------------3-|--------------5-|--------------5-|

G  :------9-/18-17-16\---|----------------|--7-------------|
D  :---------------------|--5-------------|----4-7---------|
A  :7-7-7----------------|----2-5---------|5---------5-----|
E  :---------------------|3---------3-----|----------------|
B  :---------------------|--------------3-|--------------5-|

G  :----------------|--------7-h9-9-9-9-7---|--------------------|
D  :--7-------------|--7------------------9-|--------------------|
A  :----4-7---------|----4-7----------------|5-5-5-5-5-5---------|
E  :5---------5-----|5----------------------|------------2-2-3-4-|
B  :--------------5-|-----------------------|--------------------|

G  :-------------------|---------------6-h7|p6----------------|
D  :-----------7-------|-----------9-------|---9-7------------|
A  :------5-h7---7-----|-------9-----------|-------9----------|
E  :5-5-5----------5-5-|7-7-10-------------|---------10-9-7-5-|
B  :-------------------|-------------------|------------------|

G  :----4-5-4-------|----6-7-6-------|----4-5-4-------|
D  :----------5-----|----------7-----|----------5-----|
A  :----------------|----------------|----------------|
E  :3-3-----------3-|5-5-----------5-|3-3-----------3-|
B  :----------------|----------------|----------------|

G  :----6-7-7-/9-9-9-9-7---|--------------------|-------------------|
D  :---------------------9-|--------------------|-----------7-------|
A  :-----------------------|5-5-5-5-5-5---------|------5-h7---7-----|
E  :5-5--------------------|------------2-2-3-4-|5-5-5----------5-5-|
B  :-----------------------|--------------------|-------------------|

G  :--------------------|-----------------------------|----4-5-4-------|
D  :-----------9---10-p9|10-p9------------------------|----------5-----|
A  :-------9------------|------10-p9-10-p9------------|----------------|
E  :7-7-10--------------|------------------10-9-7-5-5-|3-3-----------3-|
B  :--------------------|-----------------------------|----------------|

G  :----6-7-6-------|----4-5-4-------|----6-7-6-----6-|/11---------------|
D  :----------7-----|----------5-----|----------7---7-|/12---------------|
A  :----------------|----------------|----------------|------------------|
E  :5-5-----------5-|3-3-----------3-|5-5-------------|------------------|
B  :----------------|----------------|----------------|------------------|

It just adds some musicality to the bass part. With a very few exceptions, Hillsong tends to keep its basslines very simple and straightforward. While that's fine for many of their songs, I envisioned something a bit more interesting for this dynamic tune and now here it is all tabbed out. I did not come up with anything for the verses because I did not feel anything on them. Plus, not doing anything 'special' on the verses sets up the interesting parts for the rest of the song.

Evermore (by Hillsong) Bass Tab

I guess I will put up my tabs in the order that they are asked of me. So the next one will be of the bass line that I made up for the song "Evermore" by Hillsong. This is a really great song that I enjoy playing bass along to. Their bass part is plain and simple and many people say that it should be that way with 'church' music. I disagree and don't believe that any musical distinction needs to be made because it is in fact 'church' music. My opinion is that one should play as best as possible and as tastefully as possible. Ultimately you will never be able to please everyone so just be unique and do your thing. And play well, whether you're playing steady 8th notes on the same fret for one or two measures or you're creating a lot of tonal movement and going all over the place. Keep it musical and rhythmic.

Here is the video of me playing along with the song:

And I apologize because this is from my first batch of videos that I made for YouTube so I only included the fretting hand. If you look at my later videos you will see both hands included.

Now here is the tab of what I played in this video:


G  :-----------------|-------------------|------------------|
D  :2---2--2-2-0-----|-------------------|------------5---4-|
A  :-------------2-3-|--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|--------3-5---5---|
E  :-----------------|-------------------|3---3-------------|

G  :----------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D  :--5-4-----------|----2----2-2-0-----|-------------------|
A  :------5-3-2-0---|-------2-------2-3-|--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|
E  :--------------3-|0------------------|-------------------|

G  :------------------|----4-5-4-------|-------------------|
D  :------------5---4-|--5-------5-4---|2---2----2-2-0-----|
A  :--------3-5---5---|--------------5-|-------2-------2-3-|
E  :3---3-------------|----------------|-------------------|

G  :-------------------|------------------|-------------------|
D  :-------------------|------------5---4-|--5-p4---4-5-4-----|
A  :--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|--------3-5---5---|-------5-------5-2-|
E  :-------------------|3---3-------------|-------------------|

G  :-------------------|-------------------|------------------|
D  :2---2----2-2-0-----|-------------------|------------5---4-|
A  :-------2-------2-3-|--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|--------3-5---5---|
E  :-------------------|-------------------|3---3-------------|

G  :----4-h5-p4---------|-------------------|-------------------|
D  :--5---------5-4-----|2---2----2-2-0-----|-------------------|
A  :----------------5-2-|-------2-------2-3-|--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|
E  :--------------------|-------------------|-------------------|

G  :------------------|------------------|-------------------|
D  :------------5---4-|--5-4---4-5-5-4---|2---2----2-2-0-----|
A  :--------3-5---5---|------5---------5-|-------2-------2-3-|
E  :3---3-------------|------------------|-------------------|

G  :-------------------|------------------|----------------|
D  :-------------------|------------5---4-|--5-4-----------|
A  :--3-3-3-h5-3-5-3-0-|--------3-5---5---|------5-3-2-0---|
E  :-------------------|3---3-------------|--------------3-|

G  :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D  :-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A  :-----------------|3---3--3-3-2-0---|-----------------|
E  :0---0--0-2-0-2-0-|---------------3-|0---0--0-2-0-2-0-|

G  :--------------------|| -----------------|-------------------|
D  :--------------------||*5---5--5-5-2-----|-------------------|
A  :3---3--3-3-3-/15\---||*-------------5---|------2----2---2-3-|
E  :--------------------|| ---------------3-|--3-3----3---3-----|

G  :-------------------|-----------------|----------------|------4-5-4-2---|
D  :-------------------|-----------------|----------0---2-|--2-2---------5-|
A  :5---5--------3---5-|--5-5-5--5-5-5-4-|3---3---3---3---|----------------|
E  :--------3-h5---5---|-----------------|----------------|----------------|

G  :-----------7-/9-7-|--5---5-7-5---5-7- 1|
D  :------------------|----7-------7-----*||
A  :5---5--5-5--------|------------------*||
E  :------------------|------------------ ||

There you have it. It is a bit long but it's a complete transcription of what I played in the video. Have fun with it. More tabs to come in the future.