P
pentatonic scale - A pentatonic scale is a five note scale consisting of the root, minor third, fourth, fifth and minor seventh. For the guitar there are five positions of this scale. First position begins with the root note on the sixth string. Second position begins with the minor third on the sixth string. Third position begins with the fourth on the sixth string. Fourth position begins with the fifth on the sixth string and fifth position begins with the minor seventh on the sixth string. Each position offers different possibilities for hammering, pulling, bending, sliding and access to blue notes.
performing rights - The owner of a copyright of a song is awarded royalties from the performance of the song on mediums such as radio, television, movies, elevators, phone ring tones etc. as well as many live performances. These royalties are collected by performing rights organizations (pro's) like SOCAN, BMI, ASCAP and Harry Fox. These organizations usually have reciprocal agreements with agencies is other countries.
publishing - A publisher will go into contract to acquire the copyright to a song for the purpose of exploitation, usually for a limited time period and for a 50/50 split of any royalty income. In the music industry, publishing is more than simply marketing song books or song sheets. Exploitation includes all performances of a song whether it be radio, television, movies or live performances.
Here is an explanation by SOCAN.
What is Music Publishing?
Music publishing is the business of acquiring, administering, marketing and promoting musical compositions (i.e. songs).
What is a Music Publisher?
A music publisher is the business partner in a musical composition. A good music publisher has the knowledge and contacts to promote a composition. Typically a publisher enters into a songwriter/publisher agreement with the songwriter, whereby the songwriter assigns ownership and control of the copyright-protected musical works to the publisher in exchange for a percentage of the income derived from the exploitation of the musical works. A music publisher cannot collect more than 50% of the performing right. A reputable publisher never charges a fee for his/her service.
What does a Music Publisher do?
A music publisher is responsible for:
* the contractual acquisition of copyrights
* the administration of the copyrights including the registration of copyright ownership
* issuing of licences
* registering of works with copyright collectives such as SOCAN and CMRRA or SODRAQ to ensure revenue
* distribution of reproduction rights royalties to the writers
* and ensuring compensation of all usage of catalogue domestically and internationally
They may also be responsible for:
* the creative exploitation of copyrights including song pitching for cover recordings
* the placement of songs in film, television shows and commercials
* various ancillary uses including ring-tones and merchandising
Types of Publishing Deals
There are many types of Publishing deals that a writer can enter into. Some of the most common are:
Single song agreement - usually a 50/50 split between the writer and publisher for the life of the copyright for an individual work.
Exclusive songwriter agreement usually a 50/50 split between the writer and the publisher for the life of the copyright for all works within a specified period of time.
Co-publishing agreement two or more publishing companies co-own the copyright.
Administration agreement occurs when a copyright owner contracts a publisher to administer the copyrights for a percentage of the revenue for a specified period of time. The administrator does not own the copyright.
Sub-publishing agreement an agreement with a publisher in a foreign territory to represent their catalogue in that territory. A sub-publisher will collect and distribute royalties to the original publisher for a percentage of the revenue.
Do I need to start my own publishing company?
Unless you have specific reasons for doing so and have the knowledge, skills and contacts to be a successful publisher, there may be no need. SOCAN does not require that you be established as a publisher in order for you to collect all the royalties payable on a musical work you created. If no publisher is involved on a musical work, we pay 100% of the royalties to the writer.
If I sign with a publisher, do I still own the copyright in my work?
Not necessarily. Typically, you assign your copyright to your publisher in exchange for the publisher exploiting your copyright, but this is dependent upon the terms of the agreement you have negotiated with the publisher.
If you have any questions regarding Music Publishing, contact the SOCAN Information Centre at 1-866-30 SOCAN.
pull off - is a technique used generally by guitar players. You must play a fretted note with any finger and release that note by gently pulling down as you lift your finger. You can pull from one finger to another or to an open string note. You can also pull off more than one note by playing several notes, one after another.
progression - also called sequence, refers to the chords of a song. Most songs follow a basic I, IV, V chord sequence. The three chords are also called the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
passing tone - describe notes which are not in the chords of a song, but are transitional notes from one chord to the next.
producer - producing, production has to do with the creation of a complete project. Usually, the producer is responsible for the recording of the music, how it sounds, how it is arranged, how it is recorded and therefore, how it feels. The producer may record an artist with very little production, just a vocal and one instrument on a few tracks, or with a large production of an orchestra, choir, effects and use dozens of tracks.
popular music - also called pop, top forty, middle of the road. The beginnings of pop music may be attributed to the availability of inexpensive sheet music during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some of the first hit songs may have been ragtime, "rag" being used instead of "sheet music". Other early hits may have been influenced by traditional music from Ireland, Britain and Europe. Some great examples of pop music are, The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper, and Alanis Morisette.
polyrhythm - when more than one time signature is played at the same time, for example 3/4 against 4/4. Or when different note values are played simultaneously, for example triplets against eighths.
pinch harmonics - getting a great harmonic from any note takes lots of practice and usually lots of frustration so keep at it. Most guitar players use a pick held with just the very point of it sticking out between the finger and thumb. This allows you to get the pick at a slight angle to the string to get the harmonic, then turn it flat against the string to get a normal pluck. For some reason, the angled pick and the thumb touching the string just after you pick to dampen it, creates the harmonic. There are also several places along the strings that produce harmonics better than others. Having the right tone (lots of treble) with the amplifier and guitar also helps. Lots of gain and distortion also helps.
It is also possible to get pinch harmonics with finger picking. Use a combination of picking with your finger and thumb at the same time with your thumb slightly in front of the finger.
