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psychodelia
Not a cop


Registered: 11/29/12
Posts: 2,284
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Song writing methods
#18952717 - 10/09/13 02:49 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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There must be a few musicians roaming the pub, so i was wondering how you guys write your songs? Do you have formulas, or particular ways of thinking when you write? I personally just sit down with my acoustic and my ipad and just play random progressions until something sounds good. But I want to get deeper into song writing, so please tell me your song writing habits, and how you came about them.
Do you record as you jam and then use the best parts you find when you listen back to it? Or do you do something else? What's worked and hasn't worked? I know i'll eventually find my own preferences but i want to see what others musicians are doing.
-------------------- don't be nervous
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Seriously_trippin
Cosmic Guru Ganesh



Registered: 07/12/13
Posts: 14,471
Last seen: 14 hours, 36 minutes
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I am a singer and I have come up with a few songs that were actually pretty damn good.However I was just jamming with my cuz because he is a dope guitarist and we never recoreded it,therefore lost the lyrics and notes immediately. So I say find a guitarist that can make jams up and kind of freestlye it and RECORD the whole jam session. Delete it if its crap
-------------------- R.I.P Zombi3, Blue Helix Modest Mouse Zappa Slothie That Kid With The face ShLong Le Canard split_by_nine & Big Worm Forever Etched in the sands of time in the shroomery and ever so beloved and deeply missed by many
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Shroomopotamus
Happy Mushrooming




Registered: 09/27/09
Posts: 18,757
Loc: Funkotron
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just write
-------------------- * Live by the mushroom, die by the mushroom
    This is a trap! A trap! You are all busted! Busted! You fools!
If a time comes where I fail to appear I've been abducted and I will miss you all Please smile and pet puppies as often as possible Be happy Be nice (<3);}
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Personally I let the songs write themselves, figuratively speaking (obviously I'm consciously doing the writing but its all done during improv which is much more intuitive than thinking mathematically).
I'm assuming you know how to transcribe and have transcribed / memorized a few dozen songs or more by now, otherwise you'll have a long way to go in order to follow this method effectively. Anyways what I do is transcribe a song and then immediately jam, recording the jam - then I'll transcribe the jam. And that's that.
Even after learning how to play, transcribing brings out the best in me. After working out a song I find my connection with music heightened and the first jam of that day will work well for its own song. Everything falls into place over a few weeks, working out the chinks and shaping it into a cohesive picture. Its odd but generally speaking I can write a new song a day, usually writing two they'll be too similar to each other. As it stands though I've written too many songs to memorize and only play a few dozen, actually cut my repertoire back recently even further so I can refresh it with new material (my own as well as covers).
Have fun
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psychodelia
Not a cop


Registered: 11/29/12
Posts: 2,284
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said: Personally I let the songs write themselves, figuratively speaking (obviously I'm consciously doing the writing but its all done during improv which is much more intuitive than thinking mathematically).
I'm assuming you know how to transcribe and have transcribed / memorized a few dozen songs or more by now, otherwise you'll have a long way to go in order to follow this method effectively. Anyways what I do is transcribe a song and then immediately jam, recording the jam - then I'll transcribe the jam. And that's that.
Even after learning how to play, transcribing brings out the best in me. After working out a song I find my connection with music heightened and the first jam of that day will work well for its own song. Everything falls into place over a few weeks, working out the chinks and shaping it into a cohesive picture. Its odd but generally speaking I can write a new song a day, usually writing two they'll be too similar to each other. As it stands though I've written too many songs to memorize and only play a few dozen, actually cut my repertoire back recently even further so I can refresh it with new material (my own as well as covers).
Have fun
Thanks, that's really helpful I just need to be consistently writing and find what works for me Any other shroomery musicians want to add something?
-------------------- don't be nervous
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ganjfather
uncle randy



Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6,342
Loc:
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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You don't write songs, you play them.
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said: Anyways what I do is transcribe a song and then immediately jam,
Should probably clarify that the song being transcribed and the jam are not the same, transcribe another person's song then improvise something else. That's the idea which didn't seem very clear the way I wrote it last time
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Snotfish
Striped


Registered: 02/27/10
Posts: 2,082
Loc:
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
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I usually write chord progressions first. This includes having the motivation and sitting down to put chords together when I'll have no idea what they will sound like. Occasionally I will get inspiration from learning a song and trying those chords out.
The lyrics are then based off things that I'm going through in real life. While I can relate to them, nobody else can because I make them surreal, fun, and seemingly disconnected. This part is somewhat hard to describe.
google: yule cat bandcamp
see if you like the direction I take (I'm the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter for that one) and shoot me a PM. I'll do what I can to help you in technique because writing music is one of the few things I take seriously.
edit: my favorites on my own would be 'Nobody On My trail', 'Make My Day', and 'Paint Me A Face' off the first. Then 'By The Hand' and 'Nine Point Nine' off our second and newest.
--------------------
Edited by Snotfish (10/13/13 01:24 AM)
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: Snotfish]
#18970847 - 10/13/13 01:34 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Dankfish said:
google: yule cat bandcamp
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Oeric McKenna
LIFE CAPS


Registered: 06/15/12
Posts: 5,318
Loc: Babylon
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I just write what feels good . What "gets me off" so to speak
the say "verse chorus vese"
But it was also said " If it sounds good, it is good"
- Duke Ellington
Just put emotion into the music is my advice
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healing
Strangest



Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 6,565
Loc: the universe, the milky w...
Last seen: 6 years, 6 months
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I once wrote a song composed entirely of the sequence of numbers 412441244124...
Sometimes I'll find a word with many definitions, like mercurial, and incorporate all of the definitions into a single narrative.
There are many ways to write songs. If you need help, you're not thinking creatively. And if you're not being creative, why bother?
-------------------- Open mind, open heart, open book.
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: healing]
#18971133 - 10/13/13 05:17 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
healing said:
There are many ways to write songs. If you need help, you're not thinking creatively. And if you're not being creative, why bother?
I've studied a dozen genres of music, whenever I meet a new musician I'll pry their minds to see if there's anything to be learned from them. While jamming with anyone I'm always careful to listen and observe the way they approach the piece.
That's just the way of it, learning is like eating it never stops
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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The best stuff I have ever written was spawned from free-form jamming with others you are well connected to musically. The best inspiration comes from improvisation in my opinion.
Other than that, usually I will compose something in my head, and then learn how to play it and try to get it like it sounds in my head.
--------------------
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Oeric McKenna
LIFE CAPS


Registered: 06/15/12
Posts: 5,318
Loc: Babylon
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: Shroomism]
#18971946 - 10/13/13 11:57 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I've also had genuine inspiration from low to mid level doses of LSD. Superhuman playing abilities too
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g00ru
lit pants tit licker



Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 21,088
Loc: georgia, us
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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best way to go deeper ime is just to do it more often
-------------------- check out my music! drowse in prison and your waking will be but loss
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evenlock
Stranger


Registered: 05/21/13
Posts: 52
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: g00ru]
#18971981 - 10/13/13 12:11 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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When I'm under shower or in a bus, or I'm driving many times jingles come to me and I record them singing with my smartphone...
Many years ago many musicians (like jordan rudess) call their own ansaphone (answering machine)and sing 
An original method could be: starting from the end and go backward...like cliber study the way of the mountain.
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healing
Strangest



Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 6,565
Loc: the universe, the milky w...
Last seen: 6 years, 6 months
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said:
Quote:
healing said:
There are many ways to write songs. If you need help, you're not thinking creatively. And if you're not being creative, why bother?
I've studied a dozen genres of music, whenever I meet a new musician I'll pry their minds to see if there's anything to be learned from them. While jamming with anyone I'm always careful to listen and observe the way they approach the piece.
That's just the way of it, learning is like eating it never stops
I prefer individual exploration. I compose music singularly, so my improvisation and experimentation is the equivalent your jamming and observing. Writing music with others does not mean that each individual cannot be creative, but it does shift the burden. At least one member must be thinking creatively. Otherwise, why bother?
-------------------- Open mind, open heart, open book.
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


Registered: 08/28/09
Posts: 82,455
Loc: Onypeirophóros
Last seen: 4 years, 30 days
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: healing]
#18973087 - 10/13/13 05:10 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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yeah.
try new things. keep trying new things. transcribing other pieces like Repertoire said is one good way to expand your sound palette. explore different genres of music you like... use your math skills. use your tonal ear for sweeping changes in key or pitch. tonality at the right spot, in the right time; to change things up; makes the song more interesting, depending on what you're trying to do.
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tripp23
Kratom Freak



Registered: 05/21/08
Posts: 4,030
Loc: Florida, US
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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not too long ago i wrote a really bad ass song, everyone loves it from what i know. the thing thats weird is.. i wrote it literally in like 10 mins.
laid down the guitar verse. then.. just played what i felt was right. matched the rythem verse drums wrote the lyrics literally in 10 mins my first thought was.. "just write something" so i did cymbals bass mixed it alittle and done
i still can't figure out how i did it.. its like beyond my comprehension lol ive tried others since and they just don't click like the one i wrote prior.
main thing is pick a title and write off that. it helps immensely.
i just wish i could do that to every song.. how i did it the first time.. 
ugh i need help, song writing is so difficult. its like a living relationship sometimes lol
-------------------- Experience my nightmarish first time of smoking Ganja!

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Snotfish
Striped


Registered: 02/27/10
Posts: 2,082
Loc:
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: tripp23]
#18973262 - 10/13/13 05:50 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Do you mind sharing the song? I want to hear something where someone came up with every track on their own.
--------------------
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propensity
۞̷ ̶۞̷ ̶



Registered: 01/06/10
Posts: 11,056
Loc: Bedrock America
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: Snotfish]
#18973470 - 10/13/13 06:45 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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My songwriting process pretty consistently starts from sound design. I'll start with designing drums or a synth sound or whatever I want to mess with at the time. Then the vibe snowballs from there and everything grows around it.
I also smoke a lot of weed, I find it essential to my music making.
Beyond that I just try to flow with wherever the vibes I'm feeling take me.
With things I've written on guitar, it's all spawned from improvisation. I just play, and certain patterns become more prominent as I'm drawn to them. These patterns evolve into what could easily be recorded songs but I'm pretty lazy about doing that. Lately guitar has been for me a solely in the moment expression type biz, but I've gathered many different things I want to flesh out into actual compositions so I think I'll start doing that soon.
Here's my most recent work in progress, I made it right after watching Ghost in the Shell for the first time.
Needs a lot of work but yeah
[flash=480,81]http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=[flash=480,81]http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=[/flash][/flash]
Edit: Also click my sig for full albums. Get em in flac. They free.
--------------------
۞̷̛̗̗͉͇̰̅͒ͯͩ̆ͯ̑͘ ̶̖̭ͧ͛ͬ͑ͣͦ̍ͧ͐͟͢ www.cactophage.com ۞̷̛̗̗͉͇̰̅͒ͯͩ̆ͯ̑͘ ̶̖̭ͧ͛ͬ͑ͣͦ̍ͧ͐͟͢ ̸ۨ͜۞̷̛̗̗͉͇̰̅͒ͯͩ̆ͯ̑͘ ̶̖̭ͧ͛ͬ͑ͣͦ̍ͧ͐͟Dolphins of Dank۞̷̛̗̗͉͇̰̅͒ͯͩ̆
Edited by propensity (10/13/13 06:48 PM)
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Not Responding
Busted Liar...


Registered: 09/17/13
Posts: 6,755
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i come up with all my shit when im not thinking of lyrics to begin with.
see what i did there...
music shouldnt be forced... the most brilliant ones in our music history are the ones who can tell amazing stories through music!

ive been high all weekend and i havnt smoked in years... ya dig!?
-------------------- Dear Kratom, I've been numb for so long that I forgot how to feel So I don't care if it will break my heart, Just fuck me till I disappear
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King Klick
That Guy Everyone Knows



Registered: 11/13/11
Posts: 7,267
Last seen: 6 months, 30 days
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If you're writing songs for the sake of writing songs, you shouldn't be writing songs. If you have nothing to say don't say it. Just putting that out there.
-------------------- Your god is dead, and I killed him. When you’re lost, here I am. Forever with your soul
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x Ju x
Aubergine Of The Sun



Registered: 10/07/08
Posts: 6,511
Loc: Shpongleland, Canada
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: King Klick]
#18973924 - 10/13/13 08:52 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I don't write the traditional way. I record everything so my process is different.
Usually I'll have something in my head that I want to produce, so I'll try to replicate that the best I can. If I have a bass line, drum line, guitar riff, or anything that I want to work with I'll record it and then jam off it to see what it becomes.
--------------------
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: healing]
#18974910 - 10/14/13 01:01 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
healing said:
Quote:
Repertoire89 said:
Quote:
healing said:
There are many ways to write songs. If you need help, you're not thinking creatively. And if you're not being creative, why bother?
I've studied a dozen genres of music, whenever I meet a new musician I'll pry their minds to see if there's anything to be learned from them. While jamming with anyone I'm always careful to listen and observe the way they approach the piece.
That's just the way of it, learning is like eating it never stops
I prefer individual exploration. I compose music singularly, so my improvisation and experimentation is the equivalent your jamming and observing. Writing music with others does not mean that each individual cannot be creative, but it does shift the burden. At least one member must be thinking creatively. Otherwise, why bother?
I've never written music with someone else and never will, but the way I personally write things anyone who would want to play with me has to compose their own parts or at least improvise them. Not very complicated, just a melody with some lyrics / chords strung over but past that its all improv. Tried writing with other people, was just a big headache. What was suggested above is studying with other people, settling with the first genre one learns is like staying in one's hometown when there's a whole world to explore.
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


Registered: 08/28/09
Posts: 82,455
Loc: Onypeirophóros
Last seen: 4 years, 30 days
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: King Klick]
#18975125 - 10/14/13 03:12 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
King Klick said: If you're writing songs for the sake of writing songs, you shouldn't be writing songs. If you have nothing to say don't say it. Just putting that out there.
tell that to Bob Dylan.
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healing
Strangest



Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 6,565
Loc: the universe, the milky w...
Last seen: 6 years, 6 months
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: King Klick]
#18975134 - 10/14/13 03:18 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
akira_akuma said:
Quote:
King Klick said: If you're writing songs for the sake of writing songs, you shouldn't be writing songs. If you have nothing to say don't say it. Just putting that out there.
tell that to Bob Dylan.
As if notoriety meant anything in the world of music.
Quote:
King Klick said: If you're writing songs for the sake of writing songs, you shouldn't be writing songs. If you have nothing to say don't say it. Just putting that out there.
Tell that to Taylor Swift.
-------------------- Open mind, open heart, open book.
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


Registered: 08/28/09
Posts: 82,455
Loc: Onypeirophóros
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: healing]
#18975169 - 10/14/13 03:48 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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my point exactly.
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MycoPirate


Registered: 09/06/13
Posts: 119
Loc: You Kay
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: ganjfather]
#18975298 - 10/14/13 05:02 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Blend
afferent orchestra


Registered: 08/16/06
Posts: 2,949
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There are many methods. A new method for each song is something to strive toward. The song writing process is just that - a process. There are many parts to it, and it shouldn't always be the same.
I am a musician and many of my friends are. We have all played in different bands together, but we're each very different in our approach to writing. I have a friend who is very reclusive in his style. He will hear something in his head. Just a couple of notes that connect a certain way. And he'll let it linger there a while. By the time he reaches for a guitar he has an idea of how we wants a part to go. He figures it out, records it on something, and then he listens. While listening he will hear what he calls ghost notes. Which are different variables that could fit around/behind/within the part. Eventually something drowns out the rest. And he figures it out. And goes through this entire process until the song is written. And by written I mean the song is set. He's a hard person to play with because he's a perfectionist. But his songs are beautiful, organic pieces. I'm now trying to play drums for him to get a demo together.
I work best with others. I'm good at building onto things. Filling in. I'm also a perfectionist in a certain way. I don't feel like anything is mine, but I want to make music that has such depth that no matter how loud it is or how closely you listen you can't possibly hear every single thing. I write my own songs too, but not so much that I feel as though I have a set process. I like playing with different people and feeling out our overlaps. When I play with the friend mentioned above, we sound similar to the band Red. But with others, my approach is different.
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


Registered: 08/28/09
Posts: 82,455
Loc: Onypeirophóros
Last seen: 4 years, 30 days
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: Blend]
#18975341 - 10/14/13 05:31 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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music is play, MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA... *insert long...*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA... *inser...* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Song writing methods [Re: Blend]
#18975555 - 10/14/13 07:27 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
deadendeavor said: There are many methods. A new method for each song is something to strive toward. The song writing process is just that - a process. There are many parts to it, and it shouldn't always be the same.
I am a musician and many of my friends are. We have all played in different bands together, but we're each very different in our approach to writing. I have a friend who is very reclusive in his style. He will hear something in his head. Just a couple of notes that connect a certain way. And he'll let it linger there a while. By the time he reaches for a guitar he has an idea of how we wants a part to go. He figures it out, records it on something, and then he listens. While listening he will hear what he calls ghost notes. Which are different variables that could fit around/behind/within the part. Eventually something drowns out the rest. And he figures it out. And goes through this entire process until the song is written. And by written I mean the song is set. He's a hard person to play with because he's a perfectionist. But his songs are beautiful, organic pieces. I'm now trying to play drums for him to get a demo together.
I work best with others. I'm good at building onto things. Filling in. I'm also a perfectionist in a certain way. I don't feel like anything is mine, but I want to make music that has such depth that no matter how loud it is or how closely you listen you can't possibly hear every single thing. I write my own songs too, but not so much that I feel as though I have a set process. I like playing with different people and feeling out our overlaps. When I play with the friend mentioned above, we sound similar to the band Red. But with others, my approach is different.
Yeah I'm no perfectionist at all, after playing Classical and Indian Classical as well as Jazz, I much prefer an old school folk style of playing. By folk I don't mean American folk, just folk. Chords are third string in my mind, its all melody and rhythm, no pre-written parts, I reduce whatever I learn to a simple vocal format resembling just-tempered musical forms.
Still respect more precise methods, hundreds of my favorite musicians are very exact.
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