Finishing a song in progress

Ok, here's an mp3 of a song I've been working on.  when I wrote it, it was late on a work night.  I was worried I'd wake my roommate up, so I took my electric (unplugged so it wouldn't make much noise) and played and danced in the middle of the street in the dark.  now that the excitement is over, I'm really happy about some parts of this song and I'm not content with others.  First off, I like the rhythm of the chord progression.  I've broken out of the pattern I've had of giving each chord at least a 4 count.  I give the A a 4 count, then the D and Bm 2 counts each.  I'm not really sure if I've done that before in songs.  Then, I also like the little lick that I've incorporated into it as well.   In all there are a 3 different guitar rhythms played - the lick, the strumming, the alternate bass and finally some picking at the end of the chorus.  I also like the range of vocals that I (attempt to) hit, and that I say that I like to ride my bike!

Here's what I wish I did a little differently.  I really wish I had more lyrics, but I don't.  This always happens to me where I feel like I've written part of a song, but not the whole thing.  Then, it's like, do I just play it over from the top?  I started this song probably 5-6 months ago, and I still don't have anything more to say.  The problem is that I don't want there to be any "resolution", omnipotence, or fortune telling.  What would Josh Rouse do?  Then, I'd like to improve the musical performance - both the guitar playing and the singing.  The guitar playing should be cleaner and with better rhythm.  The singing could use a little work, especially at the beginning of phrases and "summer".  So I think that covers most of the technique / practicing issues of my voice and guitar, except for the rhythm.  I haven't been counting out enough in my head, so that would be a good thing.  I'm probably playing it too fast, since that's what I've been doing since I first started playing piano when I was 5.  Lastly, it would be cool if there were a bridge or a guitar solo or something new and interesting in the song.  Most of my favorite songwriters have something of that nature in every song.  I'm not as familiar with how to make those.  Something to work on, I guess.

The summer games

(Capo on 2)

A                                         D              Bm    A

I never said that I could take care of you

A     D      E                              A

You do it yourself pretty well

A                                 D                 Bm    A

All my heroes have muster and might

       D            E                A

But I never learned to fight

A                              Bm                 C#m

sometimes I play games in the summer

A                             Bm                    C#m

and I've been known to ride my bike

Bm       C#m     Bm        C#m  E

but you            you       you

                 A

You I like

A D Bm 

Chord Progression:

1 4 2

1 4 5

1 4 2

1 4 5

1 2 3

1 2 3

2 3

2 3 4 5

Let's see here

Guitar Technique

I've been playing guitar for the last 10 years.  I like figuring out songs and learning how to play new ones.  I love playing and I rock pretty much every day.  But because I haven't had much instruction, I'm definitely lacking in a few areas of guitar technique:

- My rhythm could use some improvement

- My picking isn't as clean and accurate as it could be.  After 10 years of playing, I should really be able to do alternate picking with no sweat, but it's still not easy for me.  

Songwriting

Songwriting is made up of guitar arrangements and words.  I'm happy with a handful of songs that I've written and I think my songwriting has consistently been improving for the last few years.  I'm a little stuck now with both the words part and the guitar parts.  It's time to add new elements.  The last trick I added to my songs was adding more 7th's, especially C7's and D7's.  This was inspired by bluegrass and folk songs.  Now, I'm just starting to feel a little stale and repetitive with chord progressions and voicings and picking patterns and rhythm, so it's time to explore some more.  What I'm goign to do is pick apart some of my favorite songs and see what I like about them, then try to use the parts I like.  Some of the things I like, but don't really know how to use well in songs are:

- I like different rhythms, but I think almost every song I play is in 4:4

- I like it when the guitar parts switch between steady strumming, power chord type stuff, fingerstyle picking and other types of solos

- I like good lyrics, but I can't really define it much better than that, I'll work on that

- I like songs with drums and bass.  There has to be a work around for a guy that doesn't have either, right?

- I like songs with vocal variety.  I don't really know how to use my voice as an instrument very well yet

- I like songs with lyrics about things i like.  right now I like coffee songs.