Wondering about this

[Agtronic]

I posted this in the songwriting forum, but I'm wondering what you guys thought as guitarists and what some of your experiences are with this.

Thanks!

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Hi,

I've been a guitarist for as long as I know, and I'm pretty much at a professional level at this point.

But one thing I have never thought about or even cared about is songwriting. I don't mean just lyrics, but musically too. I'm 24, have been playing guitar for probably 15-16 years, and I have not written one single song or melody or anything that is my own. This is why I will never make money with my playing, 'cause I don't have my own material.

Do you guys think that if I've been playing for so long and have not written anything that it simply isn't in me? Is it something you have to just have? I've met many musicians in my life, and even the really bad ones who have no physical skill on their instruments still had something to show that they had written, and most of the time it was impressive to a certain degree.

I have been trying to come-up with catchy melodies or chord progressions and it just doesn't come out from me. Everything sounds so fake and soul-less.

Anyone have an opinion on this? I'd appreciate any input, and don't hold back, let me have it, just watch the hair.

 

[stonepiano]

whoa!

This is why I will never make money with my playing, 'cause I don't have my own material.

Ok. This is a major incorrectitude. In fact, it couldn’t be farther from a truthitude.


The VAST MAJORITY of people who make money playing music do so BECAUSE they play other people’s music. Songwriting is as hard a racket as there is to be successful in, and if you don’t feel it, there are better things to worry about.
Possible ways to make money w/o writing songs.
-studio guitarist (Got a friend in LA working on some hip-hop chick’s album making a $100 an hour. Granted, he works 6 hours a week but that's not bad.)
-playing in cover/tribute bands (Hello? Wedding bands? Tribute bands? If you’re playing at a professional level, picking up the popular music required by these acts should be a breeze. It won’t get you on MTZ or whatever, but it will definitely make you dough.)
-teaching (Again, if you’re as good as you say you are, there are always teaching opportunities. It’s a little different because you’re no longer performing but this has nothing to do with songwriting and it makes cash.)
So there you go. Personally, I’m 25 and I’ve been playing for 13 years so I can see where you’re coming from. The question you really have to ask yourself is; do you really want to write songs and don’t know how or do you just want to know why you don’t want to write songs? Answer that, and you’ll be on your way somewhere.
~Stone

 

[toyL]

...just because you have yet to write "anything", doesn't mean that you're incapable or that it "isn't in" you...thus far, you have simply chosen to do other things...when you choose to write, you will write...or, maybe a melody will come to you some time and you will decide to develop it into a song.

 

[6gun]

Anyone have an opinion on this? I'd appreciate any input, and don't hold back, let me have it, just watch the hair. [/B]

i switched to guitar from drums about 19 years ago. luckily i played with some phenomenal guitarists early on & i learned a lot from them. oddly, the one thing that none of them could do was write a good song. i noticed early in my songwriting a strange interest in my music from far better guitarists than myself. i thought 'how bizarre, they have all the chops in the world'. now i know, they couldn't write.

if you want to write you have to start from the beginning, like everything else. just throw it out there and see what happens. if you think you suck then keep trying. don't quit. maybe you'll get good, maybe you won't, but if you're banging your head against a brick wall in a few years of trying maybe it's not meant to be.

i do know that i fuel my writing & i'm my biggest fan in that regard. so it's easy and fun to write music. maybe that's the key, who knows.

good luck.

 

[Outlaws]

i don't seem to have a problem writing music as I only play my own stuff....I never play other peoples music. My problem is short-term memory loss. I think it has something to do with the drugs I did a while ago but I forget......

 

[Richard Monroe]

Don't worry- There's plenty of front men with original material, like myself, who really can't play lead guitar. I am as dependent on you as you are on me. Not all good songwriters are great musicians. Maybe you need to collaborate with someone, so you can gussy up a simple songwriter's material, and get a little involved in the creative process.-Richie

 

[lesterpaul]

I Concur with Monroe...

i always had ideas and little hooks but never wrote something all the way through till a few years ago, and, i started when i was 14 and i'm 37 now (late bloomer) but i got together with a singer and we started writing had about 5 songs in no time i would have a hook and he would finish it by doing the verses or i would have a verse and he would write a chorus and verse it's a good deal... also i always thought,when i saw ads, how can you teach songwriting ,but i think there is something to say for reading up about how different writers come up with there words or ideas ,one book i read i think it was "6 steps to song writing success" and it opened up alot of writing ideas i'm not syaing buy it but check out some teaching tools, who knows ...peace out

 

[Agtronic]

Thanks for the replies. I think it's more clear to me now. The main reason I never really wanted to write songs, even when I tried to force myself, is it always felt so fake, like I was doing it only 'cause I should be. And whatever words I came up with were bullshit stories or whatever, nothing that means anything to me. I guess I'm a shallow guy.

As for musical ideas, I don't know. I just don't have any. When ever I try to come up with something, it always ends up sounding like one of my favorite songs ... always sounds copied.

I guess I'm just going to start working on it slowly.

Thanks a lot guys, you've all been very helpful!