Songwriting is an individual experience and no two writers work the same way. Some compose their music in their heads before adapting it for guitar instruments such as an electric or bass guitar.
Beginners often start off learning chord progressions and then writing lyrics and melody around them. Repeated use of similar chords over an extended period creates a fascinating sense of form and continuity in a composition.
The Beatles – I Want You Back
John Lennon wrote this bluesy tune about being overcome with love for Yoko, providing the perfect follow up to Howlin’ For Her. Featuring repeated bass guitar chords as the backdrop for John to improvise over while singing his lyrics. The band played behind John as they sang.
Though this track was their final collaboration, this song remains one of their finest works and most memorable hits. It brilliantly encompasses love, lust, anger, grief and humor in an almost flawless package.
This song is notable for its use of repeated guitar chords spanning different rhythmic and time signature changes, its three-minute long descent through similar phrases (with McCartney using arpeggiated chords in dark chords) and, perhaps most notably, its sudden end when hitting an inner groove on a record player.
Crackling sounds towards the end of this song are an inevitable side-effect of recording onto vinyl records – they only allow one playback per record! However, the band was drawn to this effect and decided not to shorten their song in response.
The Rolling Stones – Stones in Love
The Stones may be known for being somewhat gritty; that’s part of their allure. But when it came to love songs, they could bring some sensitivity into the mix – as evidenced by this slow rocker from Exile on Main Street featuring Keith Richards’ loose, goosey guitar riff and handclaps; this track proves they were one of the greatest rocknroll bands ever.
Mick Jagger was well known for his rock’n’roll vocals; yet his gentle ballads could also move grown men to tears over time. “She’s a Rainbow” features Nicky Hopkins on piano with future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones providing accompaniment. A truly tender tune by The Stones that provides an excellent contrast to their bluesandcountry-influenced material prior to it; making this track perfect for an evening on the town!
The Beatles – Help
The Beatles began to step outside their comfort zone with this song. Its mysterious yet intriguing lyrics made it one of Lennon-McCartney’s more captivating collaborations up until that point.
On April 13th 1965 at Abbey Road Studio Two in London, the band recorded this song in one night in 12 takes. Due to John needing to tune his guitar during its initial introduction, its first take wasn’t completed due to being cut short because John needed a tuneup; its second take got through but John eventually stopped due to disliking his voice during playing time.
George Martin used the intro and rest of the song for the final stereo mix that appeared on Help! and its American soundtrack album of the same name, as well as Rarities LP and The Beatles in Mono collections. Additionally, in November that same year it would be rerecorded for inclusion on Rubber Soul.
The Beatles – Let It Be
Paul McCartney wrote the song, “Let It Be,” after having a dream about his late mother Mary appearing and assuring him everything would be alright; telling him to relax and accept the things beyond his control without fretting over them. She told him it’s all OK so take it easy, let it be and find peace within yourself – that everything would turn out fine in time.
This track by The Beatles remains one of their least appreciated tracks, recorded during the Get Back sessions at Twickenham Studios in January 1969 and which were marred by internal conflict amongst its surviving members.
Phil Spector was hired to save the project from collapse, known for his bombastic “Wall of Sound” production style. Let It Be was eventually released in May 1970; later that same month McCartney spearheaded an altered remix called Let It Be Naked which stripped much of Spector’s influence – closer to what the Beatles originally intended with this album project.