2/3 of our way to the app, Feedback Friday (new Exercise)
over 4 years ago – Mon, Dec 02, 2019 at 10:29:33 AM

We're just €500 short!

We just crossed the half way mark of our campaign and we've already unlocked 7 stretch goals. I'd say that's pretty darn good for a first kickstarter :)

Best of all, we're just 500 bucks short of unlocking the digital version of the app, which means lifetime access for all you lovely backers and 3 months of a Songcraft pro account (which is the best songwriting app I have seen so far). If this is the first you're hearing of this, you can learn more here. 

New Exercise: Feedback Friday

This is another one of my favorites. It's basically "Pitch Please" in reverse: This time, instead of following a briefing to come up with a song, you're getting feedback to an existing song from a client. 

I haven't been shy about adding some seriously mean emails, and as with "Pitch Please", unfortunately, most of these emails are actual pieces of correspondence me or colleagues of mine have gotten over the years. So they mark a kind of "worst of" if you will. My thinking is best to be prepared for anything that might come your way, because not everyone in this industry will be kind and understanding. 

I'm still working on a couple of things in the background which I will let you know about as soon as I get a quote from panda. 

Stay gefährlich,

Friedemann

The New "Section Cards" you just unlocked are here!, New Exercise, The App, Rhythm Deck, Livestream
over 4 years ago – Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 11:17:51 AM

You just unlocked 27 new cards!

I already talked about the Structure cards in Update #10. I've since been working on a design for these new cards that sets them apart from the rest of the decks but still somehow fits. Here's what I've come up with:

So what do you see here? You see the Title of the Section and you see every other section it connects to. That way you can simply start by putting down the "Intro" or "Verse" card and build an entire song structure just by following the suggestions at the bottom. So the "Verse" card might say "Verse cont.", "Chorus" or "Pre-Chorus", and whichever of those cards you choose, you'll have a large array of new options there as well. You'll be able to build anything from a 2:30 song to an epic tale of 30 minutes with this. 

Thanks to a comment from B. Schlemmer, we're also adding energy levels to the cards. The turquoise area represents the hype level of the given section. That way, after building your structure, you can see your song's dramaturgy at a glance. Let's all say "Thank you Herr Schlemmer", what a great suggestion!

New Exercise: Pitch Please!

This is seriously my favorite exercise from the Songwriting Decks. My wife Joanna came up with this and I think it really brings these cards to life. Make sure you check out the explanation here:

Next: The App (€15,500)

You can read all about our cooperation with Songcraft in Update #12. We have to raise €15,500/$17,000 to unlock it. 

Again, you'll get lifetime access to this feature in Songcraft PLUS a three month plus membership. More in Update #12.

The Rhythm Decks

I'm currently brainstorming ideas for the next 27 cards, and explained the concept to German producer Alexander Freund yesterday (who is at #1 in the music charts right now - congrats, Alex!). He had a really ingenious idea which I'm currently brainstorming with Panda Manufacturing. It might be a little expensive to do, but if we can make it work it'll be something truly special!

Livestream today @9am PST

Anyways, that's it for now, don't forget that I'm doing a Livestream on Holistic Songwriting today. Ask me anything you want to know about the Decks and more!

Stay gefährlich,

Friedemann

New Exercise: Key Cards, App is coming!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Nov 28, 2019 at 02:29:40 PM

New Exersise: Key Cards!

It’s that time again. In today’s video, we’re taking another look at the Lyric Deck and a nifty little exercise called Key Cards:

Going Digital: The App

Seriously, way to bury the lead, Friedemann. A lot of you expressed their interest in a digital version of the Songwriting Decks and I’m happy to say, that I think we have found a great solution that isn’t gonna cost tens of thousands of $:

Songcraft Partnership

Songcraft is a freemium writing app which I like very much - picture Google Docs for Songwriters. It’s cloud based and multiple users can work on a lyric at the same time, it’s got a solid rhyming dictionary which is constantly expanding, you can add and play back chords, and most importantly for me: It looks sleek and creative. 

So what’s the deal? Well, if we reach this particular stretch goal, all kickstarter backers will get lifetime access to the digital Songwriting Decks + a 3 month pro membership with Songcraft. You can continue with the free version afterwards if you want - you’ll still have access to the decks regardless. Everything is cloud based, so you will be able to access the decks from anywhere, on any device. 

I know it’s not the same as a standalone app, but since I’m currently working with Songcraft on adding a bunch more Holistic Songwriting stuff to their software I think this will be a great solution long-term. And I do think Songcraft really is a great piece of writing software, certainly the best I have seen. Plus, we can add more and more unique cards and features in the future.

The best news is that if we reach this stretch goal, this new app will be up and running before you get your actual cards in the mail (we’re thinking March). 

What about more cards?

I’m a little hesitant to add new cards to the deck before I’ve designed at least a working prototype for the new Section Cards. All I’m asking is that you give me a little time so I can make sure the new cards meet the high standards of the rest of the deck. So let’s do this digital reward first and then we can add more cards (yes, I’m already brainstorming for a rhythm deck). 

Btw, we’re really close to unlocking the Section cards (currently €200 short). And what can you do to help unlock this stretch goal?

Share, share, share!

If you want to help, please share this campaign with your friends. Share it on facebook, in forums, whatsapp groups and blogs - every backer counts and will make these decks better in a meaningful way! 

We’ve already added tons of component upgrades, and we’re really close to adding another 27 cards and even a digital version - but with your help we can go way beyond that. I’m all for adding a bunch more cool stuff, including new cards! But it simply cannot happen without your help - we’re in this together. So please share, you’re really helping! Thank you.

Stay gefährlich,

Friedemann

2 New Exercises & Next Stretch Goals
over 4 years ago – Tue, Nov 26, 2019 at 01:35:22 AM

€700 left for our next Stretch Goal!

This is really exciting. You're already getting an absurd amount of cards, now you're getting an even absurdererer amount. The box will be so packed to the brim you could use it to kill your mother-in-law. 

For more, check Update #10. I'll also share some first designs of these cards soon. 

2 New Exercises: The 130% & Melody Writing Prompts

I just uploaded two new exercises for your decks: The 130% and the Melody Writing Prompts. It's the first time I'm showing how the prompts work, and they're specific to each deck. So the Melody Deck has Prompts that are related to melody, the Harmony Deck prompts are all about harmony, and the Lyrics Deck, you guessed it, is all about murdering your mother-in-law. Sorry, what were we talking about?

New Stretch Goals: You Vote!

I'm having a Skype call with our Manufacturer tonight and we'll talk about what else we could add to the box. Here's some ideas that were thrown around:

- Magnetic Box

- Metallic Ink to the cards

- Even thicker card stock (360 instead of 310gsm)

- Even more cards

- A poster for tracking your habits (incl. using the Songwriting Decks), similar to the Master Plan from the Tracking Journal.

Let me know which sound the most appealing to you and we'll make it happen.

Stay gefährlich,

Friedemann

Here's what the next 27 cards will look like [be a part of the design]...
over 4 years ago – Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 02:33:01 AM

First of all: We unlocked better Card Stock!

That marks the last of our component upgrades! 310gsm Ivorycore is about as premium as you can get with cards. Better card stock means your decks will last longer and they don't bend, break or tear as easily. Much more importantly though:

You Voted: We're adding "Section" Cards!

We're adding these new cards once we crack the €14,200 mark.

I've been going through a couple of design ideas in the past couple of days and I think we found a pretty good solution: As our next Stretch Goal, we're adding 27 "Section" Cards (I know I said I could do it with 8, but actually sitting down to design these has taught me I was wrong otherwise). 

These will have the name of a section on one side (i.e. "Bridge", "Outro", etc) and information about the section on the other. I'm still in the brainstorming phase but here's what I can tell you (all subject to change):

The front will tell you the name of the section, what its purpose is and which other sections it connects to. That means you can basically puzzle these cards together and make up a structure on the fly. I will provide you with several copies of certain sections so you can map out your next song with these cards. You will be able to structure anything from a 2:30 single to an epic 15 minute power ballad with these.

The back will tell you things to keep in mind when writing this section. It will also tell you which Songwriting Deck Exercises will help you write this section. 

Here's an example: The Chorus Card

Section: Chorus

Main Purpose: Hook, Wow Effect, Dancing

Connects to: Verse 1/2/3, Instrumental, Double Chorus, Solo, Post-Chorus, Bridge

Best Exercises: Madlibbin' Melodies, Key Cards, Melody Writing Prompts, Lacking Lines, The Counter-Chorus, The 130%

Notes: ???

...And that's where you come in!

So again, that's where I'm gonna pass it to you: What do you think should be in these notes? What information do you want to have at a glance when you pull out these cards? Comment below!

Stay gefährlich,

Friedemann