J
Jack Hammer
New member
My best ideas come tom ewhen I am walking alone. For some reason, the act of walking helps me create a sense of rhythm. So, how 'bout you. Where does the muse hit you?
joro
The Pie Guy
Recycled deja-vu....
If I am writing lyrics first, I establish the mood by conjuring up the spirits of late and great songwriters.
Once I have established contact with them, (Croce, Chapin, Morrison et al.) I draw blood from my left arm in order to have the appropriate shade of red while scribing (I am right handed.)
This helps to cut-down on errors (I don't want to waste any....ya know?) Once "inspired" to write, I chose the appropriate substrate. For instance, a love song would be written on the inside of a label of a can of Hormel chili (makes absolute sense n'est pas?)
For music, I start by bashing my head against a hard, rough textured surface to the desired beat I am looking for. This establishes what I call the "Throb "TM method. Once established, I have a constant beat to follow (I could buy a metronome....but, why bother.)
Others on theses boards have made reference to using illicit substances to augment the creative process.
Can you believe it? Why? When there are simpler, more natural ways of establishing the mood.
Oh well, to each his own. I suppose everyone is different.
If I am writing lyrics first, I establish the mood by conjuring up the spirits of late and great songwriters.
Once I have established contact with them, (Croce, Chapin, Morrison et al.) I draw blood from my left arm in order to have the appropriate shade of red while scribing (I am right handed.)
This helps to cut-down on errors (I don't want to waste any....ya know?) Once "inspired" to write, I chose the appropriate substrate. For instance, a love song would be written on the inside of a label of a can of Hormel chili (makes absolute sense n'est pas?)
For music, I start by bashing my head against a hard, rough textured surface to the desired beat I am looking for. This establishes what I call the "Throb "TM method. Once established, I have a constant beat to follow (I could buy a metronome....but, why bother.)
Others on theses boards have made reference to using illicit substances to augment the creative process.
Can you believe it? Why? When there are simpler, more natural ways of establishing the mood.
Oh well, to each his own. I suppose everyone is different.
E
EpiSGpl8r
Guest
songs usually come to me when i'm frustrated or just when i need to get something out. When i'm mad writting a song helps calm me down.
zer0sig
headpiece full of straw
i walk to the beat of music in my head, not the other way around.
most of my music comes from pain/indignation as far as structured songwriting. when jamming, it seems to come from the ether. those humors are whizzes at ecstatic input.
most of my music comes from pain/indignation as far as structured songwriting. when jamming, it seems to come from the ether. those humors are whizzes at ecstatic input.
powderfinger
New member
when i write based on pure emotion or a specific incident, my lyrics come out as preachy and pretentious and almost always suck.......i hardly ever use these.......i can't write good songs when i'm feeling overly emotional
none the less, i write those anyways just to grasp the emotion that i'm feeling........those feelings then seem to subcontiously work their ways into my better works in a less direct fashion
i usually work on a progression until i feel really comfortable and happy with the melody.......then i take the melody w/ me everywhere and kind of keep that melody in my head until the right lyric kind of randomly finds it's way into the melody.....a trigger so to speak.......once i find that one line, i'm off and running
none the less, i write those anyways just to grasp the emotion that i'm feeling........those feelings then seem to subcontiously work their ways into my better works in a less direct fashion
i usually work on a progression until i feel really comfortable and happy with the melody.......then i take the melody w/ me everywhere and kind of keep that melody in my head until the right lyric kind of randomly finds it's way into the melody.....a trigger so to speak.......once i find that one line, i'm off and running
badgas
New member
When a burst of creativity strikes somewhere around me, it usually happens when I'm playing my guitar.
I'll happen on a new progression or riff and a melody will come to mind right then to add to the music. Usually the lryics follow at that time, or the basics of the lyrics. I usually go back and redo them or edit them.
My problem, and one I'm having now, is adding lyrics to music. I still feel like I need to do it all at the same time to capture the mood of the song, to make the music and lyrics fit.
This is my obstucle on that song, Joe.
Sometimes walking, as you said, brings out the bpm thing and lyrics, riffs, melodies flow. I carry a mini-cassette recorder with me for these moments. I can never remember them, no matter how killer they are.
It seems though, the only killer ideas I've had have been when I don't have my recorder with me and I've forgotten them. Everything I save seems to me ~~~~~~ so-so.
I'll happen on a new progression or riff and a melody will come to mind right then to add to the music. Usually the lryics follow at that time, or the basics of the lyrics. I usually go back and redo them or edit them.
My problem, and one I'm having now, is adding lyrics to music. I still feel like I need to do it all at the same time to capture the mood of the song, to make the music and lyrics fit.
This is my obstucle on that song, Joe.
Sometimes walking, as you said, brings out the bpm thing and lyrics, riffs, melodies flow. I carry a mini-cassette recorder with me for these moments. I can never remember them, no matter how killer they are.
It seems though, the only killer ideas I've had have been when I don't have my recorder with me and I've forgotten them. Everything I save seems to me ~~~~~~ so-so.
badgas
New member
!Quote from PowderFinger:
when i write based on pure emotion or a specific incident, my lyrics come out as preachy and pretentious and almost always suck.......i hardly ever use these.......i can't write good songs when i'm feeling overly emotional
Yeah, Same here. I find I can write a chapter for a romance novel. I always end up redoing it, sometimes more than once.
I'm not a very emotional person anyway.
when i write based on pure emotion or a specific incident, my lyrics come out as preachy and pretentious and almost always suck.......i hardly ever use these.......i can't write good songs when i'm feeling overly emotional
Yeah, Same here. I find I can write a chapter for a romance novel. I always end up redoing it, sometimes more than once.
I'm not a very emotional person anyway.
P
Peter D
New member
For me writing goes in cycles; sometimes it's something I've read or heard that caught my attention enough to want to write a song around it. A lot of times, it's simply listening and watching people, trying to decribe gestures or looks and what they might mean. Then, I occasionally have periods where all I have to do is wake up and start writing.
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm with you, Peter.
Song writing inspiration comes to me from just being alive and alert. Just about anything can stir up feelings that want to be expressed.
Just today I was shoe shopping at the Mall. I'm new to the area here and my awareness was piqued as I wandered with my friend in the new place. I default to people watching a lot- especially when I'm in a new place. 2 things happened that are stirring some song writing creativity for me.
1) I saw a young mom and dad taking pictures of their absolutely adorable 3 children- possibly triplets, and all dressed up. The first picture the kids were all sitting side-by-side and smiling at the camera. Then dad fussed with the camera and refocused it while the kids horse-played a little. They were laughing, grinning, and just loving being kids with each other. Dad finally decided it was time to snap the next picture and told the kids to stop fooling around, smile, and look at the camera. They stopped laughing, put on their fake-look-at-the-camera-smiles and he snapped pic 2.
What?! The ass TOTALLY missed a picture of a most beautiful moment of love and connection with his children in order to get a "say cheese!" portrait. What ELSE is he missing with his children and with life in general? I mean, that's like grinding up a grade A steak to make a McBurger.
2) Still people watching, I noticed that everyone who walks by is completely different. I live out in the woods now and I work with a fantastic, intelligent, whitty, but small group of people. I noticed today that I live in a completely different world than most of the people I meet.
It is painfully obvious to me that people who live where all the sidewalks and streets are perfectly flat and safe, where all the doors are exactly the same size, where everything is pasturized, sterilized, and standardized, and who don't have to worry much about slipping on wet leaves or getting stalked by a cougar- they don't pay attention to much of anything OUTSIDE of themselves and tend to wear what is going on inside of themselves on their coat sleeves.
I then noticed that they are each living in completely different worlds themselves. They all have different ideas, goals, experiences, challenges, etc. I realized that life a amazingly complex and rich and...
...most people don't notice it. We gloss across the surface of ourselves and each other while stuck in our own headful of thoughts like 350 million broken records playing through headphones. I mean, I listened to 2 people talk about politics and they spoke AT each other instead of TO each other. It was like random statements:
"The sky is blue, you know."
"Indeed, but my belt is getting worn out and something needs to change."
"I couldn't agree more, BUT...you are completely ignoring the fact that blue is a primary color."
"Really? Then why is the escalator going up moving faster than the one going down?"
"Well, obviously because sky is blue, like I said before! Weren't you listening? You never listen to me!"
I'm not kidding. Those two were so completely wrapped up in whatever bullshit drama was going on in their heads that they completely failed to hear what the other was saying. The dad completely failed to notice how happy and magical his kids were- and told them to settle down for a "good picture."
I don't want to be lying on my death bed realizing that I spent the entire movie of my life waiting in the lobby for the usher to come, take my ticket, and let me in...
Sound like good fuel for a song?
Take care,
Chris
Song writing inspiration comes to me from just being alive and alert. Just about anything can stir up feelings that want to be expressed.
Just today I was shoe shopping at the Mall. I'm new to the area here and my awareness was piqued as I wandered with my friend in the new place. I default to people watching a lot- especially when I'm in a new place. 2 things happened that are stirring some song writing creativity for me.
1) I saw a young mom and dad taking pictures of their absolutely adorable 3 children- possibly triplets, and all dressed up. The first picture the kids were all sitting side-by-side and smiling at the camera. Then dad fussed with the camera and refocused it while the kids horse-played a little. They were laughing, grinning, and just loving being kids with each other. Dad finally decided it was time to snap the next picture and told the kids to stop fooling around, smile, and look at the camera. They stopped laughing, put on their fake-look-at-the-camera-smiles and he snapped pic 2.
What?! The ass TOTALLY missed a picture of a most beautiful moment of love and connection with his children in order to get a "say cheese!" portrait. What ELSE is he missing with his children and with life in general? I mean, that's like grinding up a grade A steak to make a McBurger.
2) Still people watching, I noticed that everyone who walks by is completely different. I live out in the woods now and I work with a fantastic, intelligent, whitty, but small group of people. I noticed today that I live in a completely different world than most of the people I meet.
It is painfully obvious to me that people who live where all the sidewalks and streets are perfectly flat and safe, where all the doors are exactly the same size, where everything is pasturized, sterilized, and standardized, and who don't have to worry much about slipping on wet leaves or getting stalked by a cougar- they don't pay attention to much of anything OUTSIDE of themselves and tend to wear what is going on inside of themselves on their coat sleeves.
I then noticed that they are each living in completely different worlds themselves. They all have different ideas, goals, experiences, challenges, etc. I realized that life a amazingly complex and rich and...
...most people don't notice it. We gloss across the surface of ourselves and each other while stuck in our own headful of thoughts like 350 million broken records playing through headphones. I mean, I listened to 2 people talk about politics and they spoke AT each other instead of TO each other. It was like random statements:
"The sky is blue, you know."
"Indeed, but my belt is getting worn out and something needs to change."
"I couldn't agree more, BUT...you are completely ignoring the fact that blue is a primary color."
"Really? Then why is the escalator going up moving faster than the one going down?"
"Well, obviously because sky is blue, like I said before! Weren't you listening? You never listen to me!"
I'm not kidding. Those two were so completely wrapped up in whatever bullshit drama was going on in their heads that they completely failed to hear what the other was saying. The dad completely failed to notice how happy and magical his kids were- and told them to settle down for a "good picture."
I don't want to be lying on my death bed realizing that I spent the entire movie of my life waiting in the lobby for the usher to come, take my ticket, and let me in...
Sound like good fuel for a song?
Take care,
Chris
Buffalo Bob
New member
"Where do you get your best song ideas"
I'm bipolar. The "other" guy gives them to me.
I'm bipolar. The "other" guy gives them to me.
bdbdbuck
New member
I have had a great tune written for about ten years now, the lyrics I wrote originally just don't do justice to the tune, so I have thrown them out....ten years later, still no lyrics. I usually write my best stuff while driving. No interuptions there except the occasional asshole cutting me off while I'm trying to write something down on paper with a cigarette in one hand, coffee in the other, cell phone to my ear....you know, the usual stuff. This too I find inspirational.
zer0sig
headpiece full of straw
i find every vice i indulge in, every gesture i observe, every event i observe to be inspiration-it just happens that my forte (at least as far as lyrics are concerned) seems to be expression of negative energy, or appraisal of such. which is odd, because i'm totally against piping out negativity, but in the end, my songwriting is meant to show something to relate to, something to rise FROM.
M
monstertruck
New member
when i have a good day or night with the ladies i always come up with great ideas or any time i feel good
M
miracle whipkey
New member
for me its driving, and sometimes .. ahem... on the pot. those are usually times when there are very little distractions. you have a specific job to do, and your body kind of goes into autopilot to do it, so your brain is freed up to really deepen its thought process.
I think of so many songs in my head while driving, but then its on the way to work or something, so I don't get a chance to play it on a guitar or anything, so I end up forgetting it.
I think of so many songs in my head while driving, but then its on the way to work or something, so I don't get a chance to play it on a guitar or anything, so I end up forgetting it.
R
rayn_man
New member
listening
Listening to great songwriters gets me going. analyzing their style of expressing Ideas helps to analize my own. kind of gets me in the mind set and is very motavational. listen to Simon and garfunkle or Nick drake, or some Bob dylan or Odeta or leonard cohen. Or whom ever makes you wanna work your ass off on some kick ass songs.
Also screwing up my sleep schedule seems to help. I go every week waking up at a different time. one week I wake up at 8 am. the next week or even later the same week I will be waking up at 8 pm. It is the struggle to stay away from other people then seeing them all day. then also struggling to see the sunlight. you stay up day after day, later and later, till eventually you have longer and longer days. you only realy need to sleep 8 hours for every 24 you are awake. it leaves more time to work. and play and do all the things people complain about not being able to do due to time constraints.
Good thread.
Listening to great songwriters gets me going. analyzing their style of expressing Ideas helps to analize my own. kind of gets me in the mind set and is very motavational. listen to Simon and garfunkle or Nick drake, or some Bob dylan or Odeta or leonard cohen. Or whom ever makes you wanna work your ass off on some kick ass songs.
Also screwing up my sleep schedule seems to help. I go every week waking up at a different time. one week I wake up at 8 am. the next week or even later the same week I will be waking up at 8 pm. It is the struggle to stay away from other people then seeing them all day. then also struggling to see the sunlight. you stay up day after day, later and later, till eventually you have longer and longer days. you only realy need to sleep 8 hours for every 24 you are awake. it leaves more time to work. and play and do all the things people complain about not being able to do due to time constraints.
Good thread.
Jamal Bucket
New member
books ...i read lots of books...great way to see how other people voice things in an interesting way......books books books ..doesnt even matter what kind im partial to steven king but "popular mechanics" would prob work just as well..
j
j
C
Chrisjob
New member
The discussion section for my Philosophy 312 class....
They just keep coming!
Gets me out of reading the material, I guess
They just keep coming!
Gets me out of reading the material, I guess
Jagular
Active member
Re: Recycled deja-vu....
ROFLMAO
joro said:If I am writing lyrics first, I establish the mood by conjuring up the spirits of late and great songwriters.
Once I have established contact with them, (Croce, Chapin, Morrison et al.) I draw blood from my left arm in order to have the appropriate shade of red while scribing (I am right handed.)
This helps to cut-down on errors (I don't want to waste any....ya know?) Once "inspired" to write, I chose the appropriate substrate. For instance, a love song would be written on the inside of a label of a can of Hormel chili (makes absolute sense n'est pas?)
For music, I start by bashing my head against a hard, rough textured surface to the desired beat I am looking for. This establishes what I call the "Throb "TM method. Once established, I have a constant beat to follow (I could buy a metronome....but, why bother.)
Others on theses boards have made reference to using illicit substances to augment the creative process.
Can you believe it? Why? When there are simpler, more natural ways of establishing the mood.
Oh well, to each his own. I suppose everyone is different.
ROFLMAO
Jagular
Active member
All kinds of different places for me. Could be from personal experience. Could be just an idea for a story line totally out of nowhere. I usually get ideas when I am alone and have some quite time. That could be in the woods or while I’m trying to get to sleep at night or when I’m first waking up in the morning or during my early morning walks/jogs (which I will be starting up again now that the weather is turning a little nicer). Trouble is I don’t get enough of those quite alone times so I don’t get that many songs fully written. But I keep on plugging away.
L
Layla Nahar
New member
I was going to write "when I'm walking (alone)" even before I cliked on your thread.
I definately get mossy like Kramer when I'm out walking alone. In fact, I'm often out walking alone. ...
ps: Do you have a little notebook with you so as not to lose yoiur ideas?
I definately get mossy like Kramer when I'm out walking alone. In fact, I'm often out walking alone. ...
ps: Do you have a little notebook with you so as not to lose yoiur ideas?