Mr. Giesecke Tips His Woefully Mundane Songwriting Process That Was Until Now, Not Shrouded In Mystery

Mr. Curry got me to thinking about my own approach to songwriting as a craft. At least the way I approach it. So I thought about it for a bit, grabbed my guitar in an attempt to “notice” my process—then chisel it into stone for my progeny.

Granted, I doubt any of you have heard a single thing I’ve written. But since I happen to think some of what I’ve come up with is most swell, I’ll let you assume it is, too, so that you can also be inspired to write really cool stuff you’ve never heard either.

For the writing process, I find that I am oddly inspired by literary works; something that synergistically affects me from perhaps even one little phrase. I will mull the concept around for weeks on end. Then, one day, I’ll start driving my concept melodically—trying to hear the direction in my head.

Now and then, I’ll swerve into something that accentuates my concept perfectly. A good idea is to record the melody, independent of anything else. Chords can be placed later, and besides, the great thing about chords is, is that many times a song’s innate power can be decided by a single chord substitution.

I’ll generally scratch my lyrics in, but will always allow myself the malleability to alter them without sacrificing message. For me, I rarely compose a solid lyric set before figuring out my basic rhythmic and melodic requirements.

Arranging is another matter. Being a blues guy, I have a distinct affinity for what I call “Stylistic Transmogrification.” Of course I call it that because I also have an affinity for convoluted, labyrinthine phrases that could simply be distilled to what I actually mean. So what I really mean is, that I thoroughly love taking traditional gospel songs and recasting them in a distinct, pentatonic-based, Mississippi-Delta blues format. For this, I use my acoustic guitar. Sometimes, all it takes is a little "grit" to transform what has become to me a rather pedestrian-sounding tune into something that reminds people that the “old stuff is cooler” than they ever imagined. So while some are handing their “I Can Only Imagine” soundtracks to the church soundman, I’m vamping on “Since I Laid My Burdens Down.” You be surprised how many people come up to me and ask where they can “find that song.”

“In your hymnal,” I always say. “At least the old ones.”

Lastly, I have this other little regimen that not only keeps my chops in line, but many times leads to either a cool arrangement of an already-extant song, or becomes the progenitor for a new one: I start by taking a tonic chord, and use it to strum a distinct downbeat, say a 4/4 rhythm. I will sometimes use a metronome, but either way, I accentuate this beat, and then play melodic licks between them, making sure that I return to the chord and the downbeat at the exact time.

You’d be amazed at what comes out of such an endeavor sometimes. I know I am.