writers block

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimini2001
  • Start date Start date
Tommy,
it's strange you brought up o'brother where art thou,i just plugged it into my cd player last night and learned a couple of the songs there.you are right about getting back to roots also.i think i've gotten into the recording mode so deep that i've gotten every thing tangled inside.i've decided that the best thing for me to do is to just sit back with my ole six string and play for my own pleasure.i'm going to play some of those cowboy chords that i played when i was first begining.i'm going to do my best to just have fun with my guitar and stop working at playing.i'm also going to check out the cards you mentioned.i don't think i'll be using them for a while but i'm always seeking knowledge.thanks for the help.hope if the time comes i can return the favor.(i hope for you that i never have to.
jim
 
more inspiration...

hey jim,

funny coincidence but that's typical of life eh? If you're going down that road anyway, i'd like to suggest a few albums... one would have to be the shattering "Wrecking Ball" by Emmylou Harris, produced by Daniel Lanois... and if the open-tuning stuff interests you (or even if it doesn't) I think Daniel Lanois's first album "Acadie" is a must-have, and his second "The Beauty Of Wynona" is really inspiring as well... and if you wanna get stark, the latest Gillian Welch album "Time (The Revelator)" is pretty bold...

Keep in touch, please send a post to tell how things are going!

rock on /Tommy
 
Tommy came up with some great advise. Many of those ideas have worked for me.
Some other suggestions:
The capo thing works - do it.

Take several cover tunes, but play the cords in reverse order. You might be surprise what original stuff you'll come up with.

If you recorded any original stuff on cassette, play it backwards in the machine. You might be surprise how many new ideas you come up with.

Jam with new people. I always find that inspiring.

Take a cover song & re-write the words.

Take some cover words & re-write the melody.

Listen to some type of music you hate & you'll realize just how easy it would be for you to write something better.

Never give up on a piece of a song you like. Record it, save it, store it, and come back to it later. I recently finished a song I started over 20 years ago.

Don't force it. Sometime when you least expect it, a song will just show up. The muse is whispering in your ear or the song just comes out of you. I used to laugh when I heard songwriter say this, UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME. A song just shows up uninvited, but very much welcomed.
\
Hope this helps.

cj
 
The Block!

Guys!

To kill the Block.

Pick up your guitar. (An old basic Acoustic is best) Put it on. Stand up. Finger a 2nd fret A (3rd finger only). Strum to suit your mood. Let left leg shake slightly with beat.

Hum the A chord....mmmmmm....(at another thread a guy in Germany has written a lyric about being in prison. He asked for a bit of advice re: writing in English. His lyric is good, and I was thinking re: prison...back to the A chord, the strum, the shaky leg)....

I'm stuck in this prison,
it's bars crushing me. (E chord)
You left my life,
you were my key. (A chord)

(Try any 'country' tune for a melody, or fit your own.)

Repeat the process for a while. You'll 'hit' after a few minutes!

rhs2000 writing 43 years.
 
RHS2000,
you probably are weird.i mean after all you are a musician.you probably think you are normal because all of your friends tell you that you are.well you see,...er,....that's because they are musicians too.man i hated breaking it to you like that all at once and all but,well that's how it was handled with me and as soon as the pain ebbed the healing began and if you will just put your hands on your monitor,and send a very large donation in unmarked bills..........oh,i remember,thanks for the support,one and all.i am begining to have fun with my music again.i think i see a light way down this tunnel,but,...what's that chugging sound?
(the thanks were sincere)
(just kidding rhs,had to do a take on the post after yours.)
 
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