I have a song I need chords for

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Permalink Reply by Walt Pilcher on August 6, 2011 at 6:30pm

Christin,

This looks like it's in 4/4 time, so first read it like a sing-songy poem and try to discover which words occur on the beats.  For example:

Here I come lord. Lord I come to you. (followed by a silent beat)

You're my saviour. Lord, I come to you. (followed by a silent beat)

Notice I suggested a couple of changes in the 2d line so the words will fit the rhythm.  You may want to change some others as well. 

After that, two approaches come to mind:

1. Do you have a melody?  If so, and you know or can write out the notes, use the beat note as the root note on a chord.  For example, since "Here" and "come" in the first line are words on which beats occur, if Here is an A note and Come is a D, then your first two chords can be A and D.  

2. If you don't have a melody, or don't have one that you like yet, try playing different chord progressions on your guitar until you find one or more you like and that seem to fit the rhythm and mood of the song as you heard it in your head when you wrote it.  You might start with a typical I, IV, V progression* (A,D,E and back to A if the song is in A, or G,C,D,G if you're starting in G, or D,G,A,D if you start in D, etc.).  Write them down above the words to which they apply (you can stay on the same chord for more than one beat, too, of course.).  The root notes in the chords can be used as an "outline" of a melody, and you can fill in notes for the other words as you see fit.  Often, the best notes for words that follow a particular chord will be notes that are in that chord, but not always.  For example, notes in the D chord are D, F# and A.  

If you do all this, a strumming pattern will probably suggest itself in the process. 

You're off to a good start with this song, and you'll probably discover you need a chorus.  Whereas your verse started off with a I chord, the chorus might start with the IV (If verse starts with A, chorus starts with D.). 

I hope this is some help.

Walt

*This enumeration of chords is sometimes called the Nashville Numbering System.

Permalink Reply by kevin l. george on August 6, 2011 at 6:34pm

The words are wonderful and the tune is right there within the lyric... a lot of  times when I'm writing it helps me to connect the action words.

For example where are you coming from when you tell the LORD your coming to Him?

 

What brings you down and what has He become Savior of / over in your life?

 

The tune will possibly be right there as you continue to describe the reasons why? 

 

Be blessed as you continue the journey...

Permalink Reply by Christin Ellington on August 6, 2011 at 7:35pm

The idea of this song is that we come to the lord spiritualy. Perticurly me being a new born again.

Permalink Reply by Central Valley Musician on August 7, 2011 at 12:36am

Yea, it depends on what key you will be singing the song in really.  What is your comfortable range?

Permalink Reply by FloridaGull on August 8, 2011 at 2:43pm

OK - my 2 cents...

When I have written Christian songs - or any songs, for that matter - I have always come up with music first, then fit words to the music.  This is what works for me...

What do you see this song as?  A worship chorus - repeated reverently 3X/4X?  My primary style is fingerstyle (no picks at all), so my take on things may be a bit different than if you intend to strum/flatpick...can you play fingerstyle?

Let me know how you see this - I'll fool around with it a bit tonight, and give you some thoughts tomorrow...

If this is not meant as a worship chorus, you may need some more lyrics - a second or third stanza?  Do you have any thoughts about expanding the song? 

Permalink Reply by FloridaGull on August 9, 2011 at 10:56am

Worked on this a bit last night -

1st line - C-F-C

2nd line - C-G-F-C

3rd line - C-G-F-C

4th line - C-G-C

Don't have time to be more complete right now - worked out in a fingerpicking style - strumming could be a down, down-up, down-up-down deal - worked on it as more of a worship chorus - mellow, reverent style - try the chords - see what you think - I'll try to be more complete later...good luck!