Writing a song in 3/4 time with Greg Wyard

Greg Wyard is a popular Toronto performer known for his live solo and band performances in and around the Toronto area.

He is also an accomplished singer/songwriter who has recently emerged from a few years of dormancy on that front, releasing new songs such as Suddenly Everything’s All Right and Guns and Money, which have both been featured on Song Talk Radio.

In April, Greg released his latest song, People Don’t Change, an evocative tune that examines people’s resistance to change in an ever-changing world.

Recorded by Greg in his home studio, this song enters new sonic territory for Greg, featuring Indian elements such as tabla and sitar, in a manner reminiscent of the Beatles Norwegian Wood.

You can hear People Don’t Change on Spotify, Apple Music and all other streaming platforms right now.

Download the lyrics to follow along.

We talked about:

• Greg’s previous episodes on Song Talk Radio
• The difference between 3/4 time and 6/8 time – check out our episode Songs with odd time signatures
• Odd time signatures are very common outside of Western popular music
• Start your song with a guitar lick, like David Gilmour
• Releasing singles until you have enough for a physical album release
• Letting the music you’ve written lead you to the lyrical approach
• When it’s appropriate to make a big musical shift in your bridge
• Reviving old bits of songs to create new songs (guitarists, video record yourself playing in case you forget)
• Can your song stand up with just one instrument and one voice?
• Advertising on Meta (Facebook, Instagram)