JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum what do you do?

hey i was writing today and thought of a cool idea for a thread.

when you get stuck in a song and can't seem to move forward, what do you do to get the ball rolin' again?

one of my fav's is to change keys. sometimes the switch will prompt me for more powerful lyrics to sing. i almost always go up. just slide that ol' capo.

have fun
jt

Well...........
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 that I know....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.

Hi jt
I usually decide forget about the song, but most of the times, some days or weeks later, a new approach comes to my mind and I'm able to finish the song.
Sometimes, of course, I never finish the song, which probably means it wasn't going to be a good one anyway.
Keep on tryin'!

Juan

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http://www.musicbuilder.com/Juan_Manuel_Albarran_Garcia/

Interesting post Wojan.
Usually my subconscious does all the work for me and my hands just hit the paper and my voice hits the tape recorder at the same time....words and music.
If I first write the words only then my songs remain unfinished. In fact I have 100 lyrics only waiting for the melody.
Usually when I least expect it... and am off to bed I get the first line in my head with the melody....I say to myself...this will be with me when I wake up....I know it won't...so I get up...usually it's 1 am and start writing either on my minidisk or at my computer or with my guitar in hand until about 4 am when the first draft is finished!
Very tiring but very excting.
Usually it comes in streams too....like 3 songs in one week, or 5 songs in one month then nothing for a while...!
That's how I work.
Ingrid

JT,

Hmmmmmmm. I have a horrible habit of writing partial songs it seems. I actually have a chorus with a pretty strong hook that has been floating around in my head now for like three or four years. Now that's pretty bad. I keep trying different things with the veres. The funny thing is that I came up with a good verse to go with the chorus but then decided to write an entirely new chorus. So, I still haven't finished it!

Anyway, I have a strange way of writing though, it seems. I don't usually put any songs on paper unless I can sit down at the piano and remember the "hook" a few days or weeks, (or as in the case of my incomplete chorus above) years later. If I can't remember it, no one else will. And if no one else will, that song just won't make it. Of course, not every song needs a strong "hook." But I just want to write songs that do.

Marla

When I get stuck for words when writing a song I just walk away.when I return to it my mind is fresh and the words just come,if they still don't come I will again leave it alone and try again later until the words do come.If you force yourself to finish a song in one sitting you will most likely not be happy with it and will have to rewrite most of it again.

Hi guys,

My problem is not getting stuck...if I did I'll take a long walk by the lake. Keep humming or repeating the lines, and I will usually get something going.

My problem - is I am getting stale in my style. Versatility seems to be seeping away. I am told that I write in a 50s/60s country styles. How do I write in more up-to-date styles? I listen extensively and widely. I even try collaborating with other lyricists.

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Having Fun!!!!
http://www.mp3.com/stan_loh

I am Very lucky,,,,,All I have to do is ask Buddy! He either gives a clear way ahead, (music or lyrics), or says it's not that original anyway, and that's that, on to another song another day. Either way, problem solved! Good to have a decisive collaborator!

John

Hi all,
I'm like Marla in the sense that if I can't walk away from something I've written being able to remember it and sing it, chances are no one else will either. That being said, I have written, half written, and completed songs in all kinds of ways. Some of my best ideas have come when I'm nowhere near an instrument, other times, all it takes is a certain chord voicing or progression to get the ball rolling. As you said earlier, the old capo is a life saver. Trying things on an instrument different from one you play regularly helps sometimes as well. Right now I'm in what I call a "scrapbook" period. I have all of these ideas for lyrics written down on paper of various sizes. It actually helped me to finish a song last week. I was stuck on the bridge (traffic was really heavy at that time of day!!! LOL), and I remembered a line that I was going to use as the start of another song, and it worked perfectly for the bridge, and the rest of the song rolled on. Writing blocks are a very frustrating thing. It's easy to wonder if the spark will ever come back. Of course, when the block is gone and you write a great song, the first thought is usually, "I knew it was there all along, I never doubted it for a minute!!!" Anyway, just some thoughts...
Take care,
davey O.
davey O music (ASCAP)
davey3o@cs.com
http://daveyomusic.freehosting.net
www.cdbaby.com/daveyo1
www.cdbaby.com/daveyo2

Like has been said, I leave it alone, and come back to it later...sometimes months later. It has worked for me a few times. I've come out with something I really liked afterall.

Ashleigh

MusicInCider
MusicInCider Magazine We Are Here To Speak The Truth For The Musician and The Fan Posted 9-16-2002 13:47

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Hi All
Are You Tired of reading the something over and over into today's top music magazine, for example
are tired of hearing about the same ole boy bands such as the backstreet boy or en-sync or even tired of hearing Britney Spears ! Good God I know I am I know I am tired of opening so called major magazines that cover the music world and hear the ranting and raving of groups like these known as corporate acts, I wonder if these kids would of ever made it if was not the Mickey Mouse Club and MTV. And I am not saying these kids are not talented but I wonder everyday if these kids would of made it if they did not have the breaks they had and yet everyday you hear these kids on the radio or reading about them. Can someone tell me where the real music has gone such as Glen Danzig who never gets any real play who has busted his ass to make it to the top and yet there are major radio stations across this great country of ours and will not even play him whether it be a class rock station or a non classic station and yet they do not give Glen Danzig or any other musician like him with real talent the chance to hear their music played. for instance the little garage bands who started out playing in their mom and pops garages or cellars and have real talented and wait to be heard and bust their ass's at local clubs just to play their music and hope their this a major record rep their listening to them and if these bands have a bad day or night before the show, it shows in the performance and the record rep will not even give them a second chance and that is wrong ! or it is because they are not wearing the tight clothes or do not have tight ass or a set of tits as big as Jupiter and mars. People have to remember it is not the clothes or the stage act that counts it is the music, it is the lyrics the chords, the message that the musician is trying to send out to the world, most people don't see that anymore the truth the music counts more! for example Jim Morrison who was one of the greatest performers to date, Once they became famous with their solid hit light my fire, When they would perform in concert that's the only song they wanted to hear and yet Morrison had many other great songs he had written that had went to the top and at the end all they wanted hear was that was one song ! and that is sad and if he is alive yet like some people including myself he did the right thing he got out when things got out of the control, when he realized the corporations were controlling him and his band and his lyrics and he did not want that anymore, I give him credit when the Ed Sullivan show wanted him to change the line in let my fire to another word and he refused it and he did the show and never invited to appear again on the show, he stood up for the lyrics that Robbie Kreiger wrote and he sang the song the way it was written so matter where Morrison is dead or alive I give this man credit for standing up for what he knew it was the right thing to do. Just like Frank Black formally of the Pixies does the music world today give him the recognition he deserves hmmm does it ever make ya wonder why maybe because he is not wearing spandex and eyeliner and because his music speak the truth on what he feels deep down inside and yet even though he does not the recognition he deserves he is one of the best dam artist out there yet today.
So if your wondering who we are ? we are MusicInCider Magazine and your all probably saying just another fly by night magazine and we are not at all. We are a magazine for the small garage bands who want to be able to feel free to speak the truth about they feel about themselves and the industry itself and yet it is also for bands who have already made to the top and let them speak on they how feel about themselves and the industry and yet if they want to give tips to younger groups who are just starting out or have been around for awhile and have yet gotten the break they deserve. and yet the magazine is also for the fans who want to send to send in their letters to their favorite band or know a band that is not getting noticed and want to help their friends and yet speak the truth about what they feel about bands in the industry today and known of their words will not be edited if they say **** or [naughty word removed] in it.
I really feel the musicians of today whether it Britney to Pantera these bands want to hear the truth about what their fans want to see and how they feel about their music. Our issues will not just be covering major acts like stones or the hives but also the local bands whether they are performing in this great country of ours and we want the truth to come out from the fans, the musicians and the music industry itself. So welcome to the world of MusicInCider Magazine where the truth will always come out and we hope you the fan and musician don't feel like they cannot ever speak the truth cause the truth will always be spoken, So if you feel like writing us please feel free to do so whether your a fan or musician or a record label, I wonder to this day where would the world be without the three following letters in the alphabet and they MTV cause they are the ones making the stars ! I wonder where Britney and her little friends would be today without the world of the Video technology. So as I said earlier if you want to send something in about your favorite act send it in and we will put it in our magazine and please don't worry nothing you write will be changed. I just had another great thought and hears is something to ponder about why are most bands today going with independent labels we would live to hear what you have to say, my feeling on it is because the independent labels are letting them be them and they not being controlled and being told what they can record and what they can't record please lets hear what you have to say !!!!!
So Again let me welcome you to the world of MusicInCider Magazine and we do hope you enjoy it
from our first issue on the road of the rock and roll highway where the truth be will always be spoken !
If your in the Atlanta Georgia area for the candler fall fest will be there to and if your a band wanting to tell us how us you feel we will be their with bells on our fingers and rings on our toes. Below are the dates where will be hanging in Atlanta GA area in the month of October ! and until we speak again we all wish a happy and safe Halloween !
Sincerely
Barbara Fara
Editor and Chief
of
MusicInCider Magazine
Dates Where will be appearing in the Month of October are listed below.

October- 12th and 13th Candler Park Festival
Web Link about the Festival http://www.cpfallfest.org

Our Address's
MusicInCider Magazine
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Atlanta GA,30307
Phone # 404-588-2809\
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New York Address
MusicInCider Magazine
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Hartsdale,NY 10530
or
MusicInCider Magazine
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Please remember we taking calls in both of our offices but we are an Atlanta based Magazine, Which Cover all types of music.

Learn some proper grammar and I might feel inclined to read your magazine. In the meantime, good luck! I am sure you might find one reader who can see past the lack of effort in editing.

Further more, your ramblings run on and on and your idea of marketing is kind of blase. A few sentences about who you are and a link to your site would have been efficient. You wonder why the artists you mentioned have been so successful? It's because their labels take the time and effort backed by a lot of money into their marketing and promotions. You could learn a lesson or two from them.

How ironic to be an editor when you can't even use proper grammar eh?

[This message has been edited by A1CWatton (edited 09-17-2002).]

Ditto!

Jeff

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"Don't forget to dance." The Kinks
javamusik.com

Are you trying to tell me that NONE of you have the new MicroSoft SonGEN software!!! Incredible -- and you call yourselves songwriters.

When I get stuck with a song and can't move it forward, I simply import it into SonGEN. The program breaks down the lyrics and music into a series of digital numbers and colors and analyses the pattern. Then, utilizing the patterns of over 7500 finished popular songs in its memory, the program will complete the song for you.

It's great. Why, just the other day I was stuck after two lines and SonGEN finished the verse for me. It goes like this:

My first two lines:
I loved you lots, yes I did
But I couldn't stand your bratty kid

And the SonGEN lines to complete the verse:
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in Yesterday.

It's a brilliant program!

BB

Bangarang!

Hey - where can I get one a dem dere GEN things?

I got an unfinished song that needs a killer familiar sounding ending to help finish it off.

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"Don't forget to dance." The Kinks
javamusik.com

I bet at neast 15 of the songs I critiqued today were done in that gen thing.
They all had take my breathe away, and/or wind beneath my wings, in them.
Anybody got a pirate copy and the crack for that thing.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm