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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 223
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 223 |
I'd like to share a little idea / story that comes from my own experience.
I'm a guitar player. I've been playing since I was a kid, which means about 40 years ago. I'm 50 now. And I've written several hundreds of songs. Songwriting has always been my true passion, even though life took me to other directions other than music. I'm not an english mother tongue by the way, so please forgive my English.
Anyway, I always wrote my songs with a guitar in my hand or - occasionally - with a piano. That's been fine.
But some years ago I discovered the ukulele. That was well before Eddie Vedder's album and ukulele-mania. I loved the uke, right away. And one of the reasons why I loved is that it increased by orders of magnitude my songwriting "productivity", so to speak. I started writing dozens of new songs in a short period of time. Songs I liked. Over time, this "productivity boost" slowed down a bit, of course, but not too much. I am a MUCH more prolific songwriter with a uke than with guitar and piano, even though I am surely a much better guitar player than a uke player.
Why is that?
I am not sure, but here's my theory.
Being a pretty decent guitar player, when I pick up my guitar and try writing a song, I get "carried away" and "concerned" about the guitar arrangement. And that concern sometimes interferes with the pure songwriting process. Sometimes, I tend to think too much about the guitar arrangement, and less about the fundamental elements of songwriting (melody, harmony, lyrics). Also, guitar is a complex instruments, it has a wide range of octaves from bass to highs, it gives you many possibilities, so I get "lost" in that large amounts of possibilities.
A uke, on the other hand, only has 4 strings, as you know. Just 4 strings. No bass. Not many arrangement possibilities (unless you are a virtuoso, which I am not, but even if you are a great uke player, for example, still you don't have the wide range of arrangement possibilities that a guitar or a piano will give you). So, just 4 strings. And 4 srings is JUST enough to play harmony. That's it. Just one chord. A few embellishments maybe, but not much at all. I am OBLIGED to focus on the BASIC elements of the song. I don't get distracted by anything. Pure songwriting. Pure focus on the song. So, the uke seems to put into practice the idea that "less is more", in the songwriting process. Less about arranging, less about tweaking details, more about creating, more about writing THIS song, HERE and NOW. More about pure musical ideas, less about technique. More about honesty, less about hiding behind an instrument.
Then, of course, once the song is finished, I may decide to arrange the song with guitar, or piano, or a full band. It doesn't have to remain just a "uke song" (occasionally it does of course).
So ... what can I say ... try a uke (a tenor uke is easier, if you are a guitar player). Maybe you dont like it as an instrument, and that's absolutely fine. But it may help you to increase your focus on the creative part of songwriting. It did for me.
Cheers!
Last edited by Jon Thomas; 08/06/17 03:15 AM.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 728
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 728 |
Interesting article, Jon. I think every new instrument we learn to play has some song ideas built right in, it seems. I played acoustic and electric guitar since I was a kid. But when I was about 22 I took up bluegrass (5string)banjo. The style of playing is VERY structured, so at least initially I was relegated to playing simply. I got tons of great songs ideas. Later, as I got deeper into bluegrass music I took up playing the Dobro. Six strings but a very simple tuning (GBDGBD) and a BAR to make chords and individual note melodies. Even more restrictive than the banjo initially. I got new ideas for songs from the Dobro too. Perhaps each instrument taps into a different portion of the "musical brain" and so makes us think about the music and songs we can create in a different way. Many years later I took up pedal steel guitar, anything but simple: two necks, twenty strings, 8 foot pedals, 5 knee leavers, and...a volume pedal. Goodness gracious it's complicated. But oh what beautiful sounds come out of it. Anyway, I got some new song ideas from the steel too. I think each instrument we learn makes us think differently. And of course you take that thinking back to the other instruments you can play. For example, learning to play banjo with fingerpicks made my acoustic guitar playing SING with extra volume and a more detailed sound. The musical mind is an amazing instrument all on its own. Enjoyed your post. Thanks. Bob 
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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 223
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 223 |
I agree 100% with you Bob. The same thing happened to me. For example when I started "playing" (more or less ...) keyboard and piano, years ago. Or, more recently, when I tried the banjolele and the mandolin. A new instrument always brings out new ideas, as you said so well. And complex instruments also work, in that respect.
But I was really surprised about what a really, really simple instrument like a uke, probably the simplest of stringed instruments, did for my creativity. I was amazed. And I think that 4 is the key number here. Having 4 strings allow you to play a wide range of chords, but not too wide (jazz players will disagree with me, I'm sure .:-). 3 strings would be too limiting, I think. And 5 and 6, it would be too "tempting". 4 seems to be just right ... to me. But I still love guitar of course, I still write songs on guitar, it's still "my baby" :-)
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
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