Soundcloud: No matter how
YouTube: No matter how

DEVELOPMENT
The chords and melody with a placeholder title 'I want it more' were written in 2005, but this song remained that way until early 2026 when I finally added lyrics and renamed it 'No matter how'. Even without lyrics, I’d always liked the chorus melody to this song and knew I needed to get around to finishing it one day.
It was originally in the key of E major, but when beginning to write the lyrics and sing it, I realised some of the passages might be too low for me, so I put it up to F# major, but I still play on my guitar with the capo on the second fret. This avoided the low notes but also meant the highest note was F# above the treble clef – which is falsetto range for my limited vocals. When recording, I *almost* got there, and needed Reaper ReaTune only on that note to keep it clean.
In the last chorus, I added a bass run-down of sorts which led to some interesting bass notes underneath a couple of the chords. I had the pleasure of swapping out the F#m in this last chorus to F#m7b5/C … because I could. The chord sheet is attached.
The lead guitar solo uses two sections of the same track 3441:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BritPsycRockMarch and I like how they play around each other.

Video - for complete transparency, I rarely go more than 2 metres off the ground, and even preparing the video gave me bouts of vertigo!

SONG SUMMARY
Style is _GRANITE.STY (Granite Hard Rock w Guitar Solo)
RealTracks in style: 1523:Bass, Electric, PopPowerA-B Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 2758:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockHeavy8thsMurray Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 2757:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockHeavy8thsCraig Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3441:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BritPsycRockMarch Ev 110 – only used in the solo section
RealTracks in song: 1278:Synth Pad, PopUplift Ev 120 – only used in the chorus
RealTracks in song: 5008:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockHiArp ev 125 – only used in Verse 4
RealDrums in style:RockHardKick^01-a:Closed Hat, Snare , b:Open Hat, Snare
Me: vocals
Recorded in Reaper

LYRICS
INTRO

VERSE 1
I’m going to give it much more, I’m not thinking of my inherent flaws
But that is my call
The struggle is real, I’d rather think about the things I have won
Than things I’ve not done

VERSE 2
The longer I wait, it’s getting harder each step that I tread
I won’t live in dread
I know I can rise, all I have to do is keep it in sight
Eyeing the prize

CHORUS 1
No matter how I try to fight it, I end up falling down
The things that I want to do I might, but I’m not giving ground

VERSE 3
I dreamed of it all, even though there was a chance I could fall
But I won’t be stalled
Before I am primed, it’s only during that I increase my doubts
But I’m climbing out

CHORUS 2
No matter how I try to fight it, I end up falling down
The things that I want to do I might, but I’m not giving ground

VERSE 4
I’m down but not out - that’s just rehearsals for a challenge out front
I’m up for the hunt
One step at a time, I’ll just say ‘yes’ and I will work out a way
Proclaiming it’s mine

SOLO

CHORUS 3
No matter how I try to fight it, I end up falling down
The things that I want to do I might, but I’m not giving ground

CHORUS 4
One day I’ll have the passion to win, and that day is now
I have the strength to not give in, I’m note being taken down

OUTRO

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Chord sheet.png (29.69 KB, 57 downloads)
Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes