The Elusive Sound.

[groovitude]

A question for those that have achieved their own sonic glory:

My band and I all have been writing songs, but together, song to song, they don't have a cohesive sound -- a continuous thread of its own through each song. Each song is too much of an independent unit rather than part of a collective work.

For instance, if you hear a Killers song, you know it's by the Killers. If you hear an Interpol song, you know it's by Interpol. Weezer, the Pixies, the Hippos, Black Sabbath, whatever you decide to choose, you can identify it as that band.

What gives these songs that element? I'm starting to lean toward certain scale positions -- for instance, Nirvana songs can be identified as Nirvana songs. They also tend to lean on the root, minor third, fourth, and flat sixth notes at some point in the song.

The singer's voice, the instrumentation, and the effects used on it certainly help, but it doesn't seem to be all of it. Any input you have would certainly be welcome.

[severed_heaven]

Well only you can know what sound you're after, so just play around with stuff and once you think you've found what you were looking for take it from there, and most of all music is supposed to be fun not a chore.

[Merkaba]

I always thought it better if you couldnt identify a band's music. I like the idea of being able to be that original and that different on every song. I think thats awesome. If the music is good, it wont matter.

[severed_heaven]

I always thought it better if you couldnt identify a band's music. I like the idea of being able to be that original and that different on every song. I think thats awesome. If the music is good, it wont matter.

good point, i'm sure everyone can remember a time they heard a song and after heard who it was by and were shocked. :amaze:

[Knifeboy]

Scales and such, have didley to do with recognizing someones music.. Except if it's a crappy band that writes the same song again and again. Right now I'm listening to dave matthews.. He definately doesn't use the same scales, same progressions etc. But you still know it's him
The sound of the guitar, the sound of voice, and the uniqueness of the drummer has quite alot to do with it though. If you've ever heard Dredg - Leitmotif.. Their sound on that album ties it together..
I think I'm rambling, I forgot the point with this post

[UntoldProphecy]

With most well known bands it is a compelation of things. Of course its easy to indentify singers for the most part so that gives it part of it. Most musicians have their own EQ settings, effects pedals, Guitar/Bass etc itself that gives them a reasonably unique tone, particularly in famous bands, because they can afford diverse equipment. Slash has that cutting lead tone, Dave Murray has a creamy treble tone, Steve Harris has a destinctive Plink to his Bass, Tim Copperfield has a unique (and beautiful) tone.

Also musicians often use similar themes in their music, love, war, drugs, religion etc in addition to similar musical influences thoroghout their career, including using scale shapes etc. Of course many Metal bands use predominantly E Minor, but Friedman for example uses very "Egyptian" sounding riffs, melodic minor I believe, Guns and roses use a lot of pentatonic fills. It all adds up to a relativly unique sound whatever band you're in. Tiny things can change it, when our first lead guitarist was fired and we got a new one our sound changed dramatically due to individual variations in tone and playing style.