Recording with a plan?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CMiller
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I usually get a sound going-a bit of rythum and then see what lyrics come out-the more you dwell on it the harder it becomes. As soon as you have the foundation it's easier to fill in the gaps (and sometimes there are a few gaps!!!!!!)
 
Although I generally write instrumentals, I have written a bit of poetry and it is harder for me than writing music. I know the feeling about sleep though, as I am in the "hypnogogic" cycle---just before sleep starts--I often think I have these great ideas, but in the morning they are gone!!
 
Composing music is second nature to me. I wrote my first song on piano before I ever played a cover. Ok, it was crap, but you get the idea. This being said, I'd rather leave my mark as a top-notch lyricist than composer. Don't ask me why, but I've got this insane ambition of ending up as one of the literary pillars of our generation. Problem is, that's exactly what's kept me from publishing anything: I won't be content until I've got material worthy of Dylan, Cohen and DiFranco and frankly, I don't see that day coming anytime soon... Still, it keeps me busy - and makes for alot of recycled paper... BACK TO THE PAD!!!
 
That's a good question. For me it's funny because I find that the times when I write good lyrics (at east what I consider my best lyrics) it comes fairly easy. They know what they want to do. I just make sure they fit in the areas they want to be in. But the bad ones just don't work on any level.

For me I think it has something to do with feel. I feel my music, but I don't necessarily feel my lyrics. If I wrote a song about racism for example, the lyrics would be really superficial because I don't have a real connection with the topic. I believe it's wrong, but I've never been a victim of racism, so I can't feel the power of writing about the effects of racism. Whereas my music is a direct result of me feeling something...who knows what. Did that make sense?

For me to be an honest story teller, or give an honest emotional lyric, I have to actually feel the power of the lyric. I have a difficult time becoming my subject. I might be too hard on my lyrics, maybe there're just fine, but to my ear they are hollow.

Music to me is all emotion whether I'm consious of it or not it's omnipresent.
 
CMiller-you said it-it's about emotion. If you don't know about racism then don't write about it. If you get up on stage to perform and start singing about something you either don't know about then that emotion will not be conveyed. Furthermore you will be patronising the people listening. (look at Bono singing sunday bloody sunday on the Rattle and hum video and you'll get it-if you don't already).

rjt-try and turn your poetry into songs. It can realy work-although I now prefer to write lyrics after I used to write lyrics first. All you have to do is to cut out the longer words and replace them in a content that sounds great to sing. Just make sure you have an idea in your head on the tempo and the basic structure and you should be fine-I've done this many times.

Qasper-until you actually get out thier and get your adequate songs out there you won't be able to make the transition to be an all time great. I believe that once you get a bit of support that can push you a great way. I mean Dylan and Cohen have produced lots of great stuff but some of it's shit. You may put yourself down with your work and may not actually realise when you do indeed produce something great. Like I said in my last post the more you dwell on it the harder it becomes. You are allowed to make mistakes in this life and as long as you don't make too many you'll be remembered for the good stuff.

Let the emotion flow.
 
Did he just say Dylan and Cohen have produced some shit? *shudder* ;)

You wouldn't happen to have a couple' examples, would ya? Y'know... Just to keep as reminders that we are all mortal? I could really use some sappy Dylan right now...

As for the rest, I guess you've busted me Krystof01. I've known I need to get out there for some time - and I will, soon enough, I'm just scared shitless of being unanimously rejected. Obviously, not everyone is going to like my material. But I'd hate for it to be a concensus, y'know? I guess I'm just your average, insecure, wanna-be. Just... *as tears swell up* scared... *now sobbing* Excuse me... *runs out of room*
 
I'd probably do it the same way if I could get my settings to record down right. Till then, it's up in the air.

I've thought about it and usually I have some idea where a song is going when I first come up with it. But when I record, well, that's in the ozone for me. Ain't been there yet.
 
Wow, this is an old thread! I'm glad its back though. We have a lot of newer folks on the site now and it would be interesting to see where they are coming from when they write music.

I wouldn't worry too much about the recording end of it while writing. Don't get me wrong, if you can pop something off recorded perfectly while composing, great! But that is the last thing on my mind usually. I don't begin to fuss about recording quality until I've got a plan.

We've talked about this before as well, but the Beatles "Anthology" collection is interesting because you get a chance to see these great songs develop into the legendary songs we all recognize. One of the more interesting cuts on the album are "Strawberry Fields Forever" takes from Anthololgy 2. You can really get a sense of how the creativity was allowed to flow in the Sgt. Pepper sessions. Great stuff!
 
I start with a simple melody on guitar and add to it.....
Almost always too much and too soon.

I have read advice given that you should spell yourself inbetween sessions and reflect on what you have done.....to maybe hear it in a different way......to come up with a new approach.

I always have a starting point.....
Where it goes from there is up to chance.
 
For me , writing and recording are two different processes. Wjhen I write, usually I will start out warming up on guitar. Sometimes an interesting riff , rhythm or chord progression will emerge after 15 minutes or so. Usually not, though. If I can manage to spend enough time without interruptions, I will work it into something. at this point I will put it down on MD so I won't forget it. After a few days I will listen to it and decide whether or not to keep it. It can take weeks or even years for some of these frags to take shape, sometimes I will merge two or more ideas together and come up with something I can stand to take further. Other times complete songs will pop out, and I will be able to hear the whole arrangement. You never can tell which way it will go.
When I record, I usually start with drums and Bass. I sequence them on a Boss Dr-5 and assemble them as MIDI files on my sequencer. From there I will add MIDI instruments using my guitarand a GI-10 with various midi sound modules. I can spend a lot of time on this before I ever go to MD If I had to pay for studio time to do this I would be out of luck and money. The reason I stay on the seq. for so long is that it gives me edit functions that MD can't provide. Eventually I will lay in vox tracks till I am satisfied (never satisfied) I usually have several songs in various stages of production and work on them as the mood and the muse directs.
writeon...chazba
 
When I am composing, I usually just sit at my computer, and play for an hour... just whatever pops into my head... and then I will sift through it for about 4 hours... find the good riffs, and duplicate them... Then I mix them all together... and if they dont fit well ... Ill just throw in a technoey sample from fruity loops like an explosion or something to cover it up.

As for lyrics... I usually just whine and bitch about things that really dont bother me at all... and I like to mumble about Reality and Non-Reality and all that fun philosophical stuff that makes it sound like I actually put some thought into my lyrics.

anyway... Thats my formula for the most part.... If its good, its good... If not...I claim its not mine... and either way Its still recording practice.


Demensia.
 
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