any suggestions for getting the juices flowing?

[guttapercha]

I can always come up with guitar riffs and cord progressions- sometimes melodies, but the only time I ever put pen to paper was when my heart had been ground to a pulp.

Any advice on how to tap into the metaphorical me? I'm thinking about trying a poetry workbook.

JD

[TaoManna Don]

If you haven't already done it, you might want to follow some of the advice found in this thread:

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=113840

[Rokket]

Good stuff, Don!

[radiorabies]

Me personally, inspiration comes at odd times and for no apparent reason. What I've found is that listening to other people's music does nothing for me (on an inspiration level). My only advice I can offer is don't force it otherwise it'll show. (You might want to watch the Tenacious D short "The Search For Inspirado") And try to only write what you know, don't try to write a song like somebody else, I've stuck to this rule so closely and I think I'm a better songwriter for it (Although I'm sure there are many who will disagree.)

I tend to write about obscure things so it doesn't matter what I write as nobody can argue a point that I don't know what I'm on about. I find it hard to write 'serious songs' as my songs tends to have an edge of humour and any meaning is then lost on the listener.

Some of this post may be irrelevant but it's nice to type

[guttapercha]

Thank you all for your responses. I mosied down to the library today and picked up a couple of the books that were mentioned in Don's post. It is clear to us all that this is an art and that asking "how to" is a little dumb. I do think however, that with a reasonable vocabulary and a desire to express one's self that songs can happen. I was just listening to Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" today on the way home from work and wow - the man is a poet. I'm don't aspire to that level, but cultivating this form of expression should essentially be something that any musician can endeavor upon and improve.

JD

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by guttapercha

but the only time I ever put pen to paper was when my heart had been ground to a pulp.

Any advice on how to tap into the metaphorical me? I'm thinking about trying a poetry workbook. JD

You could date my ex-girlfriend.

[Layla Nahar]

Originally Posted by radiorabies

Me personally, inspiration comes at odd times and for no apparent reason. What I've found is that listening to other people's music does nothing for me (on an inspiration level). My only advice I can offer is don't force it otherwise it'll show. (You might want to watch the Tenacious D short "The Search For Inspirado") And try to only write what you know, don't try to write a song like somebody else, I've stuck to this rule so closely and I think I'm a better songwriter for it (Although I'm sure there are many who will disagree.)

I tend to write about obscure things so it doesn't matter what I write as nobody can argue a point that I don't know what I'm on about. I find it hard to write 'serious songs' as my songs tends to have an edge of humour and any meaning is then lost on the listener.

Some of this post may be irrelevant but it's nice to type

I like your advice - sounds really good.

[capnkid]

Does guttapercha have something to do with false teeth?

[capnkid]

I usually get a couple of good lines in my head when I wake up in the middle of the night to take a pee they come out of nowhere and knock my socks off, but I am to tired to write them down, and have forgotten them by morning.

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by capnkid

Does guttapercha have something to do with false teeth?

I would suspect it is a golf reference. Early golf balls were made of gutta-percha resin.

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by capnkid

I usually get a couple of good lines in my head when I wake up in the middle of the night to take a pee they come out of nowhere and knock my socks off, but I am to tired to write them down, and have forgotten them by morning.

That totally sucks and has happened to me. I try to always keep a pen and paper at bedside for such moments. I also keep a "memo pad" in my palm pilot for when inspiration strikes.

I agree with those who say, "don't force it." When it hits you, capitalize on it. Otherwise, be patient. Good luck.

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

You could date my ex-girlfriend.

Thanks for the offer. What's her #?

Seriously though, I wrote a song once containing the line, "I need another girl so I can write another song."

They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time, it works, everytime.

[Rokket]

I have great tunes running through my head when I first start waking up. By the time I am fully awake, they are gone...
I can only remember bits and pieces, and try to jot them down, but most of it is gone...

[dgatwood]

Ditto on the making up songs while half asleep (or completely so).

What I've found works well as a pianist (and I have no idea whether this will work for anyone else) is to turn off the lights. Make the room as dark as possible---you should not be able to see the keys---and then sit down at the piano and play. Start with a single note, then start adding notes slowly. Start building the complexity until it turns into something seemingly random, yet interesting.