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Joined: Feb 2006
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I love hearing my songwriting 'idols' talk about their process. Also, idols or not - people just into the art of songwriting. Also, what inspired particular songs.
As always - thanks in advance.
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Song exploder
Sodajerker
Tuner (this one is analysis only )
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Inspiration comes from a lot of places. The only limit is your imagination.
All it takes is someone to say something or for me to hear or see something that makes me think or brings a certain idea to mind....and I have the beginnings of a new song. Sometimes people send me ideas and partially written song verses and I can take some of them and finish them one way or another. And sometimes, the ideas seemed good but languish in my computer and mind for a long time. Ask David. He sent me the basics for Whiskey for Breakfast..... I don't think that was the name of it... and in a short time we had a finished song. A few days at most. Then there's the other idea he sent..... I think that one's still on the back burner after over a year..... maybe I'll get it done eventually.
A recent short story/example. In a facebook group I'm in, there's a planned 2nd reunion of the folks who were active in the business of music back in the 70's and 80's in a certain military town we all lived in. This group includes the store owners, the bar owners, the musicians, the tattoo shop artists, and even the police officers who were in the midst of it all. Musically, the town was extremely active with dozens of places hosting live bands. There were at least a dozen full time or part time bands in that town at any given point over that time frame. Everything from the disco bands to the rock and roll bands to the country bands. I was asking about a certain hole in the wall we played a lot when our band was getting started. It was a cowboy hangout. Some of the guys there were active rodeo participants with the buckles and scars to prove it. From that memory, I came up with the idea for The Road To Cheyenne. I have written several other cowboy rodeo songs in the past, but there's always room for another.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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Their inspirations are likely no different from yours, Joe. Every song starts with an idea. Whether it's Todd Rundgren, Sting, Roger Waters... they all started with an idea. Make a habit of always having some way to commit your ideas to paper or phone recording. You may get a line that would make a good hook, an event of the past that pops into your head, someone who broke your heart, or taught you something, or as is often the case, both. I think a lot of us have one thing in common, and that would be napkins, envelopes, the back of receipts and such with a lyric phrase. I did a throwaway song about 3 years ago (meaning I wrote it, hated it, and jettisoned it) based on someone posting a meme on Facebook that said "Now would be the time". That grew into "if we're gonna fall in love, now would be the perfect time". That sat in a text file on my computer for over a year, and slowly I added lyrics to make verses, came up with a chorus with that hook, and then decided it was a pile of crap and just killed it completely.
BUT... that's how inspiration starts sometimes. With an offhand comment, some catch phrase that pops into your head.... There's really no magical moment that is any different for the big time songsmiths and the little time songsmiths. The big time songsmiths just have paths for their songs to find artists that we don't have. Those Nashville writer types in the jeans, boots and blue blazers who sit in cubes and churn out songs that sound the same all day (from 9 to 5, and every song exactly 3:34 in duration) just have their toes in elite water. We don't. We have the muddy "crick" out yonder....
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Those Nashville writer types in the jeans, boots and blue blazers who sit in cubes and churn out songs that sound the same all day (from 9 to 5, and every song exactly 3:34 in duration) just have their toes in elite water. We don't. We have the muddy "crick" out yonder.... There are no "cubes". Nobody sits 9 to 5 churning out cookie cutter songs. And it's not "who you know" either (the other sour grapes line of Nashville disrespect). Everybody writes when they want, where they want. Sometimes that is in the offices that some publishers provide - which are most often rooms in big, old, "Main Street style houses" - with sofas and coffee tables (and often a piano). Often, it's simply getting together at each other's house for a couple of hours. They earned their way there through hard work and an understanding of how the craft of songwriting works. They are very good at it.
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No cubes? Man, that just can't be true.  Regards, Bob
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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There are no "cubes". Nobody sits 9 to 5 churning out cookie cutter songs. And it's not "who you know" either (the other sour grapes line of Nashville disrespect). Everybody writes when they want, where they want. Sometimes that is in the offices that some publishers provide - which are most often rooms in big, old, "Main Street style houses" - with sofas and coffee tables (and often a piano). Often, it's simply getting together at each other's house for a couple of hours. They earned their way there through hard work and an understanding of how the craft of songwriting works. They are very good at it. That was a metaphor for people who churn out songs like a worker in a sheet metal factory stamps out parts on a press. At least give me the jeans and the boots.....
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I listen to songcraft and also BBC 4 mastertapes (unfortunately a little inconsistent)
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I listen to songcraft and also BBC 4 mastertapes (unfortunately a little inconsistent) I'm just getting into BBC-4's +++ Mastertapes +++ program. It's a great show to listen to Joanne! I hope you don't mind me sharing a link to it.
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I listen to songcraft and also BBC 4 mastertapes (unfortunately a little inconsistent) I'm just getting into BBC-4's +++ Mastertapes +++ program. It's a great show to listen to Joanne! I hope you don't mind me sharing a link to it. Thanks for the link, Jim. Some cool stuff on there. Bob 
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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There are no "cubes". Nobody sits 9 to 5 churning out cookie cutter songs. And it's not "who you know" either (the other sour grapes line of Nashville disrespect). Everybody writes when they want, where they want. Sometimes that is in the offices that some publishers provide - which are most often rooms in big, old, "Main Street style houses" - with sofas and coffee tables (and often a piano). Often, it's simply getting together at each other's house for a couple of hours. They earned their way there through hard work and an understanding of how the craft of songwriting works. They are very good at it. Thanks for the insight, Floyd. Love to hear you talk about what it's really like in the pro songwriting "biz"...and from a man who's actually been there. Bob
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Thanks for the Mastertapes link
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I listen to songcraft and also BBC 4 mastertapes (unfortunately a little inconsistent) Joanne, it took me awhile but I finally narrowed it down to +++ SongCraft.com +++. Is that the first podcast you referenced?
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I listen to songcraft and also BBC 4 mastertapes (unfortunately a little inconsistent) Joanne, it took me awhile but I finally narrowed it down to +++ SongCraft.com +++. Is that the first podcast you referenced? Hi Jim Yes! That is the one. Thank you for posting the links. You are a star!
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There are some really great suggestions here that I can't wait to check out. Thanks for sharing, guys!
Cheers,
Ember
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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