Songwriting help

[EmergencyRoom]

Hey all,
I'm looking for some help regarding guitar chord harmonies. I kind of have a handle on writing parts for two guitars when one plays a chord progression and another plays single not or double stop melodies along side it. However i think that every song written like that would be a bit one dimensional and am looking to add variety. How would i go about writing chordal harmonies, and theory wise how do they work? And if one guitar plays a single note riff culd i have some examples of what i could do with the other guitar part?

Thanks in advance an all help is much appreciated.

[Metalixia]

Here's a few of my tips, they're kinda good, so use em!

try playing some "octave chords" (ie, A4, A5) that are one 5th down from the chord you're playing (or up!). also, if you really want a slightly messed up sound (great for a instrumental break, to build up tension!) then take the root note of you're chord, then get the other guitar to play that note, and the major second interval (Eg, if it's an e barre chord, play an e, an f# on the next guitar.) it sounds a little out of key, wouldn't recommend it for chorus or verse, but sounds the bollox if you wanna build up tension for a break.

i'm gonna drop you a name, Dir en Grey, they're my favourite band, they're kick ***, and you've probably never heard of them. they do kick as chordal harmonies, which i think you could learn alot from.

Lewis

[EmergencyRoom]

Here's a few of my tips, they're kinda good, so use em!

try playing some "octave chords" (ie, A4, A5) that are one 5th down from the chord you're playing (or up!). also, if you really want a slightly messed up sound (great for a instrumental break, to build up tension!) then take the root note of you're chord, then get the other guitar to play that note, and the major second interval (Eg, if it's an e barre chord, play an e, an f# on the next guitar.) it sounds a little out of key, wouldn't recommend it for chorus or verse, but sounds the bollox if you wanna build up tension for a break.

i'm gonna drop you a name, Dir en Grey, they're my favourite band, they're kick ***, and you've probably never heard of them. they do kick as chordal harmonies, which i think you could learn alot from.

Lewis

Ah, i see. about the messed up sound thing. The octave chords though i dont get. A5 to me means an A power chord so im not sure what you mean. Sorry if im being slow but could you elaborate for me on that. I'll def check out that band because im into crazy multi layered guitar parts but not sure how to write them.

Also, does anyone have any links to lessons dealing with multiple harmony writing etc. thanks much

[Metalixia]

octave "chords" are when you play a note twice at the same time, but on different octaves. ie, play a c (a string, 3rd fret) then play another c, (g string 5th fret). use a finger to mute a string in the middle, then play both strings at the same time. this sounds good if you play in in 16th notes or faster, over a chord progresion. also, try playing chords that are harmonic to you chord progression, ie, an e over an a, or something. did you check out Dir en Grey?