songwriting method - what works for you?

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:52 pm

Hi all, boards didn't seem too busy today, so I wanted to throw out a general topic for discussion. How do you write your tunes? how do they come to you? what comes first - the melody, riff, lyrics, or all at once? if you're in a writing rut, what brings you out? basically - what brings the music out of you?

I'll start with this - I find a nothing works for inspiration like a drum loop for bringing out a cool guitar riff or chord progression. For me that's where most songs start and build up from there. Usually songs won't come quickly - parts will come over the course of weeks or months, as riffs slowly evolve - or sometimes Il find I"m playing something that I think is an unrelated riff/tune and the different riffs occassionally meld into a single tune... anyhow, that's how it usually works here.

Interested to hear "where it comes from." I've always found this interesting.

smili

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:42 pm

Great thread smili....

I find inspiration usually through lyrics. There's nothing (that I know of) that sparks it. I can be doing almost anything and out of the blue.....A lyric appears in my head. Once I get started I usually finish the song within an hour or so. Musically I usually 'hear' a soundtrack with the lyrics as I'm working them out. Then it's just a matter of putting the two together. I usually go dry for long periods of time, then I'll write 3 songs in a weekend. Strange how that happens....

ron

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:56 am

Tends to be stuff that pisses me off....remove the names, places and exact details, distill it down to what's actually going on, put it into a tune which feels the same way and hey presto - a really bad song which the geniuses I work with then whip into something someone other than my mum may actually like! I find drugs help too! Wink

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:08 am

electronic music doesnt really have lyrics..so that has never been a form of inspiration for me. Before i start writing a song i will think about for many days. Then i usually forget everthing i tried to remeber and get my mind right and just go (usually at night). Then in many hours i go to bed.I can usually take a song to about 3 min in oh..say 8 hours. Repeat.Then, next session I master everything. Add pauses and tweaks (usually in the daytime). I only write songs when i can completely clear my schedule for at least 12 hours.

The process is complex..and staring at a computer screen sucks. Beer, smokes, and several other things are a must have

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:19 am

I write in many different ways. Usually I mess about with a guitar or piano until I find a tune I like and start singing random words to help find a good melody for the vocals. When I have all the music and the idea for the vocal melody for the vocals I write a simple set of guide lyrics. I usually go back and rewrite the lyrics but sometimes I stick with the guide lyrics.

I find the best times to write lyrics are when I am doing something. I find it quite hard to write lyrics in an empty room where nothings happening and there is nothing for inspiration. I go for walks alone or just get on a bus and travel through the city listening to thing's people are talking about or looking out the window as different things roll by like movie scenes jotting everything down in a notepad.

Other good times to write songs are when you are at an extreme in your life good or bad. When I writ Deluge I was at a very low point. I was drinking very heavily, got the sack from work, too sick to get a new job, my band had split up, I was due up in court and I believed I couldn't write anymore. The whole song came together in about 20 minutes. Not bad for a song partly about not being able to write songs anymore.

I never sit down and think, " right now I'm going to write about this". I never plan what I'm going to write about. It might work for others but for me it makes it sound to ridged and unnatural. I just try and let it flow out.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:17 pm

Our band RadioDazed collectively writes the songs together (music and lyrics). When you tour and constantly play the songs, you'd hope that everyone likes the songs and won't get sick of em'. The songs therefore have input from each member and often deal with themes that are common in the band. Themes like life experiences and thoughts on several issues...morally, socially, relationships, politically, etc...Obviously, someone comes with an idea. These ideas might have jotted down on a napkin, a stickey, a paper plate, a whatever is around and music writting starts.

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:52 am

hmmmmm.....

first i create sounds with keyboards and soft like reason.....
I can stay 3 or 4 days just creating drums loops....I do the same for sounds mostly done with yamaha ys-200 and korg prophecy.....i create sounds , and sounds, and sounds.....then....(but all this can be on differents weeks or months....) i create music loops......all this at night.....

Then....I open my soft and listen to the drums loops i created.....I used to listen to 5 or 6 at the same time, mixed and EQed....I always do the drums part before......
When i'm happy with the drums part...i create the bassline ( this is the only part I don't create before)...and all the sounds i want appears in my mind......
"building" the track goes easy and quick

then i listen to it.....a lot ( argh, till i hate it generaly lol) and make the cuts, breaks, add the effects......and then try some different mastering......then i let the track into a folder and come back again monthes after to make the mastering

i.e "brazil" finished on last sunday and uploaded here was done on september...but I just found how I wanted it to "sound" last week!

building the track take one hour...but from the first created drum loop to the final mastering it takes me monthes lol....

I generally make around 10 songs with the drums and sounds created ......and then, i do news drums lopps, new sounds........blah blah blah....

peace

Alek Cool

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:37 pm

i used to do like u4ea, 8 to 12 hours to make one 3 or 4 minute track. The crucial part was picking the sounds i use, trying them against each other, tossing some, etc. then the real arranging begins, making the structure of the track with the sounds i have chosen. once that is done its just mix, mix, and mix, which usually goes fast but can really wear out the ears. my friends and neighbors love when i listen to the same song 40 times in one afternoon just to get the reverb right.

now i find it goes much faster, cuz i know what i want to use, i strive for a certain sound that is djkillwill, i arrange much quicker, and i know my equipment better when it comes to the mixdown. still gotta play it over and over though Cool

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:29 am

I get the basics in a night usually after something I've seen or heard or thought.. Then add to it for some more nights.

Then strip it down to it's barest and add more.

and over and over and over again until it's right.

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:33 pm

with the whole rock thing though I have to say I'm of the opinion that if it don't work with you and a guitar, then there's no point it gift wrapping a turd - still going to be a turd - just shinier! Wink

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:17 pm

Listen to Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Mr Bob Dylan....I suddenly get the urge to write something incoherent.
I used to listen to the wife, but I kept falling asleep. Shocked

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:33 pm

Here's what works for me: The inspiration comes from experience, and if I feel inspired to write a song from that experience, I write it. However, if I'm not in the mood to write about my experience, I will not write it. I used to do that, but I don't do that anymore because that's an easy way to get a headache. Another good way to get inspired is to listen to music all day long or watch the news. That's all I have to say.

LATER

www.purevolume.com/nomercy

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:02 pm

usually i'll write lyrics first then come up with the music..but i've done both ways before.. I guess it depends on how i feel at the moment

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:16 pm

so there are people that start with the words first! I've heard of people like you Very Happy

I've only done 1 tune that way and it was laborious. I guess it works for some though.

smili.

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:32 am

basically i construct my songs as short stories and try to create an overall feel or mood and then back into lyrics and arrangements. once i have the construct of the song, the lyrics (or in some cases the form of the lyrics) i'll put together a reference track along with the drums. ever try to perform a piece without locking in the tempos and then trying to add automation? :-) yes? then i'll work through additional parts: bass, guitars, keyboards, pads, background vocals. finally i cut a copy to CD and practice vocals in the car... this way i can do all the experimentation i need to without wrecking the household (only moderately offending the other commuters -- yes! i have a day job...) and eventually those practices will pay off in being able to get a good vocal take in only one or two tries... it's my theory that more than a couple of attempts on the vocals means waiting til the next day to try again... otherwise they just never capture the right feel...

songwriting method - what works for you?

UBW Resources

Music Forums

Music Forums

Partners