Mark Lincoln - The Story of Me Guitar Lesson
The Story of Me
Mark Lincoln teaches an original song of his entitled "The Story of Me."
Taught by Mark Lincoln in Songs with Mark seriesLength: 17:16Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
There are some who believe that a composition should be initially derived from chords and that without the initial chords to begin with, you are essentially lost. But what happens when you come up with a really cool melody line that you just can't seem to get out of your head? How do you find the "right" chords to accompany it and then where do you go from there? I'll show you how I did it in The Story of Me.
Here is the initial melody that I woke up with one lazy morning and couldn't seem to get out of my head:
E|--------3------5s7-----5-3-5-3---|
B|---5-----------------------------5--|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
E|---------------3---------------------------|
B|----------3---------5----3--------3---5-|
G|-----4------------------------4-----------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
The melody was simple enough and it seemed that maybe, just maybe I could find some chords and make a tune out of it. I figured out that the notes I was using were E-G B A-G-A-G-E, B-D-G-E-D-B-D-E as indicated in the tab above.
I knew I could start with an E major chord but I didn't want to go directly to a B-chord at that point, it just didn't sound right! So I experimented with some other chords to see what might fit and found that D-major worked great for the second chord in the progression although I couldn't figure out why it worked so well and then....it came to me! B is in the key of D which made it the perfect chord for the B-note to be played over the top. And further, B minor is the relative minor of D so that turned out to be the best chord for the next step in the progression. So now I had the first three chords of the progression and A major, well, it just seemed to fall right into place as the next chord (and it has the E-note in its scale as well which is a prominent part of the melody line). I simply played a number of chords until I found the ones that seemed to fit well with the melody at hand. Subsequently, I found the "right" chords to accompany the haunting melody I had uncovered in my dreams. Here are the chords we'll be using for The Story of Me beginning with the verse chords that we just discussed:
E
E__________|_____0_____|___________
B__________|_____0_____|___________
G_____1____|___________|___________
D__________|_____2_____|___________
A__________|_____2_____|___________
E__________|_____0_____|___________
D
E__________|_____2_____|___________
B__________|___________|_____3_____
G__________|_____2_____|___________
D__________|_____0_____|___________
A__________|_____X_____|___________
E__________|_____X_____|___________
Bm
E__________|_____2_____|___________|__________
B__________|___________|_____3_____|__________
G__________|___________|___________|_____4____
D__________|___________|___________|_____4____
A__________|_____2_____|___________|__________
E__________|_____X_____|___________|__________
A
E__________|_____0_____|___________
B__________|_____2_____|___________
G__________|_____2_____|___________
D__________|_____2_____|___________
A__________|_____0_____|___________
E__________|_____X_____|___________
C
E__________|_____0_____|___________
B_____1____|___________|___________
G__________|_____0_____|___________
D__________|_____2_____|___________
A__________|___________|_____3_____
E__________|_____X_____|___________
Em7
E__________|_____0_____|___________
B__________|_____0_____|___________
G__________|_____0_____|___________
D__________|_____0_____|___________
A__________|_____2_____|___________
E__________|_____0_____|___________
G
E__________|___________|_____3_____
B__________|_____0_____|___________
G__________|_____0_____|___________
D__________|___________|___________
A__________|_____2_____|___________
E__________|___________|_____3______
The following four chords (E, D, Bm and A) can be played over the four verse chords as well by another guitar player to add thickness and variation:
E (13th fret)
E__________|______0_____|__________|_________
B__________|______0_____|__________|_________
G__________|_____13_____|__________|_________
D__________|____________|_____14___|_________
A__________|____________|_____14___|_________
E__________|_____0______|__________|_________
D (10th fret)
E__________|_____10____|___________|_________
B__________|_____10____|___________|_________
G__________|___________|_____11____|_________
D__________|_____0_____|___________|_________
A__________|_____X_____|___________|_________
E__________|_____X_____|___________|_________
Bm (7th fret)
E__________|_____7_____|___________|__________
B__________|___________|___________|__________
G__________|___________|___________|__________
D__________|___________|___________|_____9____
A__________|_____7_____|___________|_____9____
E__________|_____7_____|___________|__________
A (9th fret)
E__________|_____X____|___________|__________|___________
B__________|__________|_____10____|__________|___________
G__________|_____9____|___________|__________|___________
D__________|__________|___________|_____11___|___________
A__________|__________|___________|__________|____12_____
E__________|_____X____|___________|__________|___________
Please play through all of the above chords and make sure that you have a good feel for them. If you want to, you can play through the verse chords, E, D, Bm and A while humming the melody to see how the melody line works played over the top.
The Boom
Many of you have heard me use this term when it comes to using your voice to gain momentum and power during a certain portion of a song. The Story of Me is no exception to this rule as you can use your vocals to really accentuate the chorus and/or bridge of the song to make it more dynamic. Watch me for more on this in the video and I'll show you how to add power and intensity during a given portion of a song.
->Please open the song chords and lyrics in the supplemental content<-
Well, there it is! Play along with me in the video or play the melody line that we discussed over the verse chords and see how it works for you.
Strum Patterns
Strum patterns for this song are as such: Intro and verse chords are strummed using or down down-up-down down up-down down-up-down and played using snap strums or continuous types of strums where indicated by the symbol "-".
The chorus chords are strummed using or down down-up-down-down up-down down-up-down (over the C chord), down down-up-down (over the Em7 chord), and or down up-down down-up-down.
The bridge chords are strummed using or down down-up-down-down up-down down-up-down during all four of the chords in this section. If you're confused about the notation and how it applies to the actual strumming, watch me carefully in the video for more insight.
Instrumentation
Although the original recording is not currently available for you to hear at this time, the members of the band tried some fairly different and experimental types of instrumentation during the lead break. During the first part of the break we used classical guitars to fill in some of the space and during the C Em7 D portion of it we used a cello part. The cello added some interesting and very different tones to the feel of the break and allowed us to break away from the everyday and sometimes overused guitar lead break. Keep this in mind as well when you're doing some of your own recording as there's always room for experimentation and thinking outside of the box when it comes to innovation and recording.
Vocal Parts
During the bridge of the song there is ample room to allow for various and esoteric vocal parts including the use of call and response and rounds. These types of vocalizations can add a lot to a recording and help fill in dead spots in recordings, as well as make the overall sound more interesting to the listener. Watch me in the video as I experiment with some of these vocal tricks and think about how you might use them as well with The Story of Me.
Hammer-ons
Many of you have commented that you've noticed me using hammer-ons when I'm strumming chords and there's no question about it, you're right! I often incorporate hammer-ons even if it's simply one note within a chord as I'm strumming. Hammering onto one or two notes can add a little bit of flair to simple chords and a little fun for the guitar player as well. Keep in mind though that using hammer-ons is not essential to the integrity of this song and will not change the over-all sound if you opt not to use them.
Supplemental Learning Material
Songs with Mark
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsLearning to play songs is a rewarding and enjoyable way to put your guitar skills to the test. This series is all about learning great songs.
Lesson 3
Jeni Lani
Mark Lincoln teaches his original song "Jeni Lani." He also throws in a good deal of useful music knowledge.
Length: 31:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Zero Hour
Mark Lincoln teaches his original song "Zero Hour."
Length: 23:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
That's What She Told Me
Mark brings us one of his original songs with a punch. Here Mark teaches "That's What She Told Me."
Length: 33:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Song For You
Yet again, Mark brings his unique songwriting style to JamPlay with an original song. "A Song For You" is a more difficult song that features a Latin feel and a strong punctuated chorus line. This one...
Length: 28:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Story of Me
Mark Lincoln teaches an original song of his entitled "The Story of Me."
Length: 17:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hope Springs Eternal
Mark Lincoln just does not stop writing great originals! Here he teaches a rather complex song called "Hope Springs Eternal." This song will test your ability to play arpeggios and chord transitions.
Length: 30:22 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Iris
In this lesson Mark Lincoln teaches the famous Goo Goo Dolls song, "Iris."
Length: 37:52 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
About Mark Lincoln
View Full Biography
Mark Lincoln was born in S. California but was raised near Portland Oregon in a town called Beaverton. When he was twelve years old, he began his journey into the realm of the creative by composing poetry and was later published in a journal called "In Dappled Sunlight." He wrote for four years until his older sister blessed him with his first guitar, an old beat-up nylon stringed classical guitar. Mark played that guitar for five years, continuing to compose his own lyrics and starting the process of matching his own words with chords that he was learning on the guitar. He learned to play chords from his friends and from music books that he both bought and borrowed. Mark cited his four biggest influences, at that point at least, as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, The Rolling Stones.
Mark cites his most current influences as Radiohead, U2, older music by REM, and Peter Gabriel amongst others. He performs with two acoustic guitars, one being a six-string M-36 Martin with a three-pieced back for increased bass response, and a Guild Twelve-string which is his most recent acquisition. Mark is fond of saying that the twelve-string guitar is better because you get two guitars for the price of one, but he still plays his Martin equally as much and with the same passion.
Mark ended up in Fort Collins Colorado where he currently lives, works as a Marriage and Family Therapist, and continues to write, teach and perform music. He currently performs with a group called "Black Nelson" as well as with a number of other seasoned professional musicians including his cousin David, a virtuoso lead-guitar player. Mark has performed in many of the smaller venues in Denver and Boulder, as well as some of the larger ones including the Fox Theatre, The Boulder Theatre, Herman's Hideaway, and also at The Soiled Dove where he opened for Jefferson Starship as a soloist. Some of Mark's originals are also available for your listening pleasure on MySpace.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Mark, you are an inspiration. I love your explanation and energy. When writing songs do you find yourself starting with the chorus or a verse?
Ok Esh I think I understand your question better now....I usually start with a set of chords that likely become the verse so yes, the verse is usually the first and biggest driving force of the song. But, that's not always the case and sometimes I find a cool melody or a catchy hook that becomes the chorus so there really are no hard and fast rules to the process. Thanks for clarifying your question my friend, Mark
Hey Esh how are you? Um, I'm a little confused by your question, what do you mean? Mark
Hey Mark, I was wondering when you sit down to write a song if you begin with the chorus or do your begin with the verse. I guess I was wondering if the chorus or a verse drives your thoughts. Esh
Hey Mark I have already mastered the main gist of the song, strumming and all. It is a different arrangement of chords that I have never done and I love how it sounds. Of course the singing... well that is something else to be mastered.
Hey Peter thanks man! I really appreciate the feedback and the kind words as well! Mark
Mark, Love this song. really cool. you are a great song writer my friend and a true artist. I've learned allot from your lessons. Thanks.