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
This is a great groove. I love the lyrics and the whole presentation. To my ears, there's a hint of British rock in this production. It sounded great and I really enjoyed where you took me. Your singing was full of confidence and it was very easy to hear all the words
Super tune, Andrew. Very cool Bowie-esque classic rock vibe with tons of hypnotic hooks. The progressions are quite nice, too. Really like your vocals on this one and the streamlined (to my ears) vocal FX chain. Nice use of BiaB instruments, and those soloists do sound great together. Another shiny little pop gem!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
I agree with Noel, it immediately says "I'm British". Good vocals with a nice Bowie touch, and the chorus has a super cool chord progression. I love it
Great chord structure here! I also thought the 2 guitars in the solo worked so well I'd liked to have heard more.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
This is a great groove. I love the lyrics and the whole presentation. To my ears, there's a hint of British rock in this production. It sounded great and I really enjoyed where you took me. Your singing was full of confidence and it was very easy to hear all the words
Thanks Noel! Glad you liked the lyrics - they were a late addition. I just brain dumped; word-smithed to get the flow and variation in rhymes; and made some of the lines have a more positive outlook. Confident singing - I tend to take the approach (despite not having the best vocal) to say 'What the heck! Let's go for it!'.
Originally Posted by rsdean
Very nice job on this song. I like the way you approach the vocal here. A really solid performance. Great video as well.
Thanks Bob. I thought that falsetto note was going to be tricky but after a bit of doubling and a very minor pitch correction, it came out well.
Originally Posted by DC Ron
Super tune, Andrew. Very cool Bowie-esque classic rock vibe with tons of hypnotic hooks. The progressions are quite nice, too. Really like your vocals on this one and the streamlined (to my ears) vocal FX chain. Nice use of BiaB instruments, and those soloists do sound great together. Another shiny little pop gem!
Thanks Ron! I have a project template for any new songs with FX that have worked already in place, then I tweak them (or remove them) according to what the new song requires. Not foolproof, but it helps with my memory. Being a 10 pound pome (assisted passage to Australia from the UK; pome = Prisoner Of Mother England - a reference to Australia's convict past, but not us here in South Australia - we were a 'free settler' colony) in the mid 60s, we were immersed in British rock - more so than American - which was a later discover for me. It helps that I still have residual south UK accent that comes out when I get excited.
Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
I agree with Noel, it immediately says "I'm British". Good vocals with a nice Bowie touch, and the chorus has a super cool chord progression. I love it
Hi B.D.! It should say "I *was* British." Ha ha! Thanks for noticing the chord progression - always been interested in good progressions from an early age.
Originally Posted by WaoBand
Great chord structure here! I also thought the 2 guitars in the solo worked so well I'd liked to have heard more.
Hi Chay! Same comment to you about the chord progression. I am going to consider extending the solo.
Originally Posted by laurent4114
Great work on the guitars. I agree with WaoBand, we would have liked more guitar solos. Great energy.
Hi Laurent! OK - if I get two more votes for a longer or additional guitar solo, I'm going to do it. Where would you put the additional solo?
Thank you everyone for listening and your great comments and suggestions!
glad you went back to get this one finished. It opens with a lot of attitude and keeps building throughout. I particularly liked the drum pattern and the two guitars duelling it out for supremacy in the solo. I like the vocal contrast from the end of the verses and goes into the “no matter how” falsetto of the chorus, that’s a winning hook right there. Another good video also, now I know what you get up to in the Blue Mountains!!
Wow, Andrew, what a melody! The punk styled verses drew me right in and then the terrific surprise of the Beatle-esque orchestrated chorus. Great choice of guitars! I love it! You mentioned changing keys in writing the song. When I send a song to a vocalist, I often send it in three different keys and let the vocalist choose the most comfortable one. It's one of the beauties of Band in a Box. I'm playing this a third time I like it so well. John
Good BAND. Nice use of the BIAB players. Nice change up at 1:50... followed by some nice solos. Good vocals. Well mixed - vocals sit nicely, bass and drums sound good. Guitars, too.
glad you went back to get this one finished. It opens with a lot of attitude and keeps building throughout. I particularly liked the drum pattern and the two guitars duelling it out for supremacy in the solo. I like the vocal contrast from the end of the verses and goes into the “no matter how” falsetto of the chorus, that’s a winning hook right there. Another good video also, now I know what you get up to in the Blue Mountains!!
K-dub-ya! How does ya? Drum pattern - I didn’t notice the drummer so s/he must’ve been doing okay. The guitar solos was a random idea - I cut two sections and plonked them together - one a little left and the other a little right, and … voila! Fluked it! I’m happy with the falsetto, given my initial apprehension when recording. Blue Mountains? We’ve only been once, and on the day we were there, our view of the rain filled dark clouds was occasionally obscured by the three sisters.
Originally Posted by John Walradt
Wow, Andrew, what a melody! The punk styled verses drew me right in and then the terrific surprise of the Beatle-esque orchestrated chorus. Great choice of guitars! I love it! You mentioned changing keys in writing the song. When I send a song to a vocalist, I often send it in three different keys and let the vocalist choose the most comfortable one. It's one of the beauties of Band in a Box. I'm playing this a third time I like it so well.
Thank you John! Yes, it does have a bit of ‘punk’ to it, doesn’t it? Regarding keys, because I sing my own yet have a fairly narrow range, unless I already have a melody in mind, I usually start with a chord or chord progression, then pick a starting note in the notation window - usually in the range of G to C on the treble clef - knowing that gives me room to go up or down but still within my range. My melody writing has been informed by two thoughts I heard in recent years: distinctive melodies have larger interval jumps, and one famous songwriter tended to use lines with single note melodies or melodies varying only by a semitone or tone as a means of tension and release to one with more movement.
Originally Posted by BlueAttitude
I'm hearing the Bowie vibe happening too with this one, his early stuff. Good changes, good guitars, good vocal. I especially like how you handled verse 4, very effective way to lead into the guitar solo. Nicely done, enjoyed.
Thanks Dave! Verse 4 - I’m always conscious of creating variety in a song, but based on familiarity. I think the Bowie vibe comes from 1. The falsetto note 2. My sometimes Brit accent and 3. The band/style choice.
Originally Posted by MarioD
Andrew, this is a fantastic song I agree this song has the British vibe Great vocal, chord progression, and mix One of your best for sure.
Thanks Mario! Over half the time when writing, I am starting with a chord progression, and if that sparks my interest, I’m off to a good songwriting start. Maybe I should get a tee-shirt “I have a British vibe” but be careful not to wear in certain locations e.g. Boston.
Originally Posted by floyd jane
Cool one, Andrew. Good BAND. Nice use of the BIAB players. Nice change up at 1:50... followed by some nice solos. Good vocals. Well mixed - vocals sit nicely, bass and drums sound good. Guitars, too. Good listening.
Thanks Floyd! If it’s good to your ears, I know I’m on a winner. Seriously having to consider if I extend the guitar solo or bring it back later - but don’t want to spoil a good thing - ‘Leave them wanting more’.
...................................... Thanks Mario! Over half the time when writing, I am starting with a chord progression, and if that sparks my interest, I’m off to a good songwriting start.
Same here!
Originally Posted by Andrew Dee
Maybe I should get a tee-shirt “I have a British vibe” but be careful not to wear in certain locations e.g. Boston.
Andrew
This got a LOL from me!
OK, a random thought; Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Like Noel mentioned we hear the Brit rock vibe also. Perhaps Beatlesque from their middle to late period.
That is an outstanding group of session players. They did your write, cool arrangemnt and vocals justice.
Enjoyed it!
J&B
PS Your chord/progression talk is always above our pay grade but man does it work.
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Like Noel mentioned we hear the Brit rock vibe also. Perhaps Beatlesque from their middle to late period.
That is an outstanding group of session players. They did your write, cool arrangemnt and vocals justice.
Enjoyed it!
J&B
PS Your chord/progression talk is always above our pay grade but man does it work.
Thanks J&B! I am VERY happy with the Brit badge, and even more so ‘Beatlesque’. That GRANITE style is a good one and will probably use it again sometime. The arp guitar in the mid verse were a late addition in the arranging process.
I think I’ve mentioned elsewhere that I am driven by chord progressions - if I have a good one, I have a good basis for a melody and song. When I was younger (so much younger than today), my interest in chord progressions was purely about how they sounded. Nowadays, I am highly interested from a music theory perspective about why such progressions sound good - without losing sight of the ‘unknown magic’.
Cool intro, reminds me of early punk times and Iggy Pop. The chorus is strong both melodically and chordwise and you sing its determined message convincingly - with authentic punk spirit I like the selection of rock instruments, the soloist work really well and the arp guitar adds nice variation.
Cool intro, reminds me of early punk times and Iggy Pop. The chorus is strong both melodically and chordwise and you sing its determined message convincingly - with authentic punk spirit I like the selection of rock instruments, the soloist work really well and the arp guitar adds nice variation.
Thanks Janne! ‘Authentic punk spirit’ - feels more like imposter syndrome to me! 🥹 Glad you liked the melody and chords. - it’s central for me. Thanks for listening! Andrew
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