tanner bechtel

How a Song Ends: Whiskey and a Ring

tannerbechtel — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:16:09 +0000

A couple weeks ago, I posted “How a Song Begins: Whiskey and a Ring.” I posted the original lyrics, right out of my moleskine. At that time it was new. I had no idea where the music was going to come from or what it was going to sound like. In customary manner (completely randomly), I got it figured out.

I had a long evening with a couple old friends, N.G. Browing and Josh Kluck this week. We laughed, we played a little music and shared progressions. We even recorded an impromptu blues number, made up on the spot. The thing that stuck with me was this progression that N.G. had put together. It’s a little different than the final progression I used in this song, but its most certainly influenced by it. It was hollow, painful and definitely had country ballad written all over it. So I stole it. Thanks, G!

Tanner Bechtel – “Whiskey and a Ring” (MP3)

P.S. For those that are having trouble downloading the MP3 files (or streaming them through the browser), here’s a link to the song on ReverbNation - http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12132751

The result of my larceny is the most reflective piece I’ve written and by far, the longest. There’s nowhere to trim, though. It’s 7 minutes of pure letter-writing ballad. I loved the roll, the pace and bridge. It’s meaningful and its a story. I hope you like it. You saw it born and now you see it grow up and go out on its own. Pretty cool, huh?

One Guitar and Five People? No Problem.

tannerbechtel — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:32:41 +0000

Maybe the coolest multi-user guitar track ever recorded. I have a hard enough time playing this thing by myself, much less having 4 more sets of hands on it. Amazing piece.

Social Building Blocks: The Art of Storytelling–A Bedtime Story

tannerbechtel — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:35:24 +0000

Social Business Design and social media, at-large has changed the way we communicate with the world. If there is one baseline principle about great content, on or off-line, its that it all tells a great story. In the age of email, powerpoint and word documents, we lost that art. All our communication was one-sided. We were telling rather than truly communicating with our audience.

I have long believed that powerful content, powerful messaging is truly a story, well-told. I practice this in a lot of ways, personally and with my family. I write music to tell a story. It may not always be my own, but its someone’s. It resonates with an experience or a time in someone’s life. It’s what I think, truly, sets compelling, memorable music (and presentations, meetings, etc.) apart from the herd.

The Exercise:

Linked below is an exercise I’ve used with all my children since they’ve been old enough to talk. At night, instead of (or in addition to) reading a bedtime story, we make up our own. Most often its set to music (me on an acoustic guitar.) The reason is; music has boundaries. It has structure and rhyming forces the brain to think quickly, to tell a story within a defined space–much like our business and social lives (140 characters on Twitter, the Timeline on Facebook or the boundaries of a presentation deck.) It allows my children to think fast, create immense satisfaction with a good rhyme and tell, what can be (listen to the audio) a very funny story that’s all their own and never the same twice.

Listen to it and give it a shot with your own team, children or group. It can teach valuable lessons about how to make content powerful, timely and well-formed–plus, it’s a very entertaining way to put children to bed!

MP3 Player: Social Story Telling – Odessa’s Impromptu Bedtime Story (set to music)

“Hey Jude” Performed Live at Cosmopolitan Casino, Las Vegas

tannerbechtel — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:18:52 +0000

“Hey Jude” performed live at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV. One hell of a way to close the CT2 event. Amazing performance by the Erin Dorr (DG) band and the unbelievably awesome crowd. It’s Vegas, baby. What a great time!

“Crossed the Line”, Performed at the Cosmopolitan Casino, Las Vegas

tannerbechtel — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:56:57 +0000

The title track: “Muse” (still in development)

tannerbechtel — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:06:43 +0000

This is the title track and a song that’s very fun to sing and to play. It’s very genuine and honest and one of my favorites. This is a first run recording–in no way a final, but open for review. The album is called Muse as all of the pieces are affected songs. Songs of love; good and bad–happy and, in the case of “Someday is Tonight”… pretty determined for change.

All of you that have listened to each track, emailed me, messaged me and provide your insight: I am forever grateful. This has been one of the most genuine music experiences of my life. Enjoy the title track, “Muse.”

Tanner Bechtel – Muse (MP3)

- tann

Acoustic Serenade: Symphony for Sleep

tannerbechtel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:12:13 +0000

It’s a simple song: two mics, one picking up the piezo pickup inside the guitar and the other capturing the raw acoustic sound of the Martin DCX 1KE. It’s pleasant. It’s a song to fade out to–or in to. All depending on your mood.

Tanner Bechtel – Symphony for Sleep

#muse #tannerbechtel

New Song: Someday is Tonight

tannerbechtel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:49:39 +0000

This song is a diversion from my normal songwriting style. It’s angry, it’s raw and it’s definitely meant to stir. The title is Someday is Tonight. It’s not done, it’s messy but I wanted to share it in its rawest form–right off the board.

This song was co-written with my wife, Jody. She helped form the chorus and the dynamic levels between verses. She would also like me to disclaim that she, in fact, has not been sleeping in anyone else’s bed. Just for the record.

Tanner Bechtel – Someday is Tonight (MP3)

Probable album setlist and a new song to boot (Seeing Her)!

tannerbechtel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:46:11 +0000

I’m close to completion. I’ve written well over enough material to cover this album and another–picking the order and the list is the hard part. I’ve got my probable list, but order is still up in the air. I want the album to tell a story. Start to, well, not finish, but current state. So, in no particular order, here’s what the stable of music is and its current state (along with a link to my new piece, Seeing Her):

Shock of Red (written/recorded)
Month or More(written/recorded)
Rented Sheets(written/recorded)
Lost My Way(written/recorded) – might re-record
Lay Me Down(written/recorded)
Last Flight Out (written)
Crossed the Line (written)
Symphony for Sleep (instrumental/written)
Legend of a Man (written)
Seeing Her (written/recorded) – might re-record .. Want to listen? Click this:Tanner Bechtel – Seeing Her
There When I wake (written, needs music)
Back to Southern Comfort (written, needs music)
Whiskey and a Ring (written, needs music)
If You’ll Have Me (written, needs music)
A Chance to Start (written, needs music)
Someday is Today (written)
Muse (written, needs music)

So, end of the day, I think its going to be:

Shock of Red
Rented Sheets
Month of More
Lost My Way
Seeing Her
Crossed the Line
Last Flight Out
Symphony for Sleep
Muse
If You’ll Have Me
Back to Southern Comfort
Someday is Today

I’ve got some final things to do and a couple to finish out with music, but we’re close. Close. If you have any final insight or commentary, speak it out! Really looking forward to finalizing this thing and getting a copy to you and about 1 million other people Thanks again for reading (and listening!)

–tann

15 airports in 3 weeks = 5 new songs

tannerbechtel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:05:15 +0000

This is the Muse songbook... travels everywhere I do.

As boring as travel can be and as lifeless as airports can appear they create one key element: solitude. That solitude is enough to immerse yourself in music, mood and inspiration, apparently. I’ve been traveling like a madman for the last couple months and, muse inspiration in tow; I’ve been able to write 5 new, really nice pieces of music.

I’ve actually been brushing up on music theory and chord sequencing (very atypical for the guy who’s never taken any formal training in guitar and couldn’t read music to save his life) in the meantime as well and the accompaniment should be pretty cool. It’s a long assembly line from paper to production, but the hardest part is creating the story. And, due to my immense amount of solitude lately, I have a lot of story.

I’m having a hard time calling the ball on the Muse album. I’ll finish this bout of air warfare and see where we stand. Muse may be coming soon.