Borrowing melodies

[pchv]

Does anyone know how to work around legally when borrowing a melody? Not sampling, but taking someone elses melody, with new lyrics or the original lyrics to make a hook. Would it be enough just to credit the original composers?
Here`s an example of what I mean

Mariah Carey's Candy Bling sample of Ahmad's Back in the Day | WhoSampled

Insight would be appreciated

[paulmun]

But people borrow melodies all the time without paying or telling anyone.

I have heard countless melodies that start exactly the same as a well known melody and then change slightly so you go:

'oh that sounds exactly like... oh wait its slightly different'

This is the way to steal melodies and from what I can tell it is perfectly legal.

You just kind of asked how do you get away with shoplifting in a shop with no security guard while informing the checkout girl you're doing it.

[djchev]

Yea hes right. Melody jacking has been going on since the creation of music. Taking melodies is a lot more risky then taking chord progressions. A melody is recognizable even at different tempos or keys. But a chord progression when played at a different tempo or a different key will make a world of a difference. If you have anymore questions holla at me on twitter @djchev or hit up my blog lifewithchev.com for free sounds and random music stuff.


Xavier "Dj Chev" Henderson

[pchv]

Originally Posted by paulmun

But people borrow melodies all the time without paying or telling anyone.

I have heard countless melodies that start exactly the same as a well known melody and then change slightly so you go:

'oh that sounds exactly like... oh wait its slightly different'

This is the way to steal melodies and from what I can tell it is perfectly legal.

You just kind of asked how do you get away with shoplifting in a shop with no security guard while informing the checkout girl you're doing it.

Well I`m not talking about when melodies resemble each other like for example Shakiras Underneath your clothes to Bangles Eternal Flame. I mean songs like Puff Daddys Missing You to Polices Every Breath You Take. Sting is credited on the song because he obviously wrote the hook. Would I need to get permission from the original composer or is it enough to give him credits?

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by pchv

Would I need to get permission from the original composer or is it enough to give him credits?

Most definitely.



Ever hear of copy write.

Music by... lyrics by........

start researching:

http://www.copyright.gov/
ASCAP - Welcome to ASCAP. The worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters, composers and music publishers.



here, this may help
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html

[pchv]

Originally Posted by ritelec

Most definitely.



Ever hear of copy write.

Music by... lyrics by........

start researching:

U.S. Copyright Office
ASCAP - Welcome to ASCAP. The worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters, composers and music publishers.



here, this may help
U.S. Copyright Office - Can I Use Someone Else's Work? Can Someone Else Use Mine? (FAQ)

Most definitely what? Ask for permission or simply credit the guy?

[initialsBB]

You most definitely need permission and you most likely are not going to get it without paying big bucks. Why would the writer want to let you make a derivative work and get a songwriting credit on their melody?

[spiderman]

NEWS FLASH!!!

Future lawsuit sites GearSlutz.com in court as proof that melody was knowingly stolen by Mr. Pchv.

There is no such thing as "borrowing a melody" in court. Be a musician and write a melodic variation or else contact HarryFox to clear the rights for use.

Definitely learn a bit more about music before you become the next Vanilla Ice.

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by spiderman

Be a musician and write a melodic variation or else contact HarryFox to clear the rights for use.

Actually as far as I understand you can use Harry Fox and pay the statutory rate to record a cover version (no permission necessary) but in order to create a derivative work you would need to contact the publisher directly. And of course they don't have to say yes.

[pchv]

Originally Posted by spiderman

NEWS FLASH!!!

Future lawsuit sites GearSlutz.com in court as proof that melody was knowingly stolen by Mr. Pchv.

There is no such thing as "borrowing a melody" in court. Be a musician and write a melodic variation or else contact HarryFox to clear the rights for use.

Definitely learn a bit more about music before you become the next Vanilla Ice.

I wasn`t asking for Spidermans opinion on what makes a musician. When cats like The-Dream and Stevie J do it, it somehow gets totally irrelevant. But thanks for the Harry Fox tip, Spidey.

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by pchv

I wasn`t asking for Spidermans opinion on what makes a musician. When cats like The-Dream and Stevie J do it, it somehow gets totally irrelevant. But thanks for the Harry Fox tip, Spidey.

Cats????? groovy man

I think you were looking for the answer............

go for it ....no problem..... just write on the cd with marker or anything to "simply" give the cat credit.......
....

Well you can go for it....
Sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.


Good luck with it.

[Muser]

tell Judge Judy he agreed to lend it to you.

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by ritelec

Well you can go for it....
Sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

... and hopefully you realize that this guy is trying to set you up to look like a fool b/c only a fool would believe that mess.

[pinkheadedbug]

Unless you have a hit, probably nobody cares.

But if you have a hit they will care very much and sue your ass into last week, and take all your money. Google 'Bittersweet Symphony' and 'My Sweet Lord' and a ton of others.

[pinkheadedbug]

(The one example I can think of where someone totally got away with it was Nirvana, who absolutely LOOTED the guitar riff from Killing Joke's EIGHTIES for COME AS YOU ARE. The lawsuit had already been filed when Kurt Cobain topped himself, and was withdrawn shortly afterwards. But go to Youtube and listen to the riffs and tell me they wouldn't have won. Apparently Kurt didn't want to release the track because he knew it was a ripoff but the label overruled him).

[Rocksoff]

Noel Gallagher is the master of borrowing.
'All Around The World' I believe is almost an exact borrow of the Coca Cola theme, and 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' is pretty close to T Rex's 'Bang A Gong'.

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by spiderman

... and hopefully you realize that this guy is trying to set you up to look like a fool b/c only a fool would believe that mess.

Ah.............Spidey Sense.





(Common Sense for the rest of us normal humans)

[creegstor]

U2 stole the words, chords AND melody for the "Touch Me" part of Beautiful Day. How they didn't get sued for that one I'll never understand.

[Murphster]

Originally Posted by Rocksoff

Noel Gallagher is the master of borrowing.
'All Around The World' I believe is almost an exact borrow of the Coca Cola theme

That would be Shakermaker would it not?

"All around the world" was actually ripped off by someone else and when asked if he was going to take action he laughed, as though it would be a pretty hypocrytical thing for him to do.

[kelvyn]

Don't...

[Rocksoff]

Yeah. You're right. Shakermaker!

[daveconn]

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal.
Igor Stravinsky

[Happy Musicfan]

1) Just change at least one, maybe a couple, maybe a few of the notes in the note sequence and make it your own.

2) Once you're on your way, you won't need to employ the copy & paste crutch.