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Songwriting
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280 |
I have asked many friends who are musicians how they go about writing music and got quite a few different answers, but not one of them did it the way that I do. So I am wondering if anyone else does it the way I do.
For me I hear the music in my head, part by part building up to the almost final piece. It usually begins when I am out walking. Not until I get to that point do I touch an instrument or open BiaB. So does anyone else do it this way?
Tim
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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,530
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,530 |
Hi Tim, there is no wrong way to write music. Ask 29 different people and you may get 29 different workflows.
I don't have one approach to my songs. Sometimes I will just input some chords into BiaB, select a style, and then choose a lead. Sometimes a lead will pop into my head and the above workflow is reversed. On the rare times I sing though I always have the lyrics first, then I will choose one of the above workflows.
The only things I would caution anyone about is to not use the same workflow every time and don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone on occasion. Mixing things up can be very rewarding. YMMV
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal".
Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280 |
Hi Mario, yes it seems everyone has a different approach. I do on occasions do as you suggested and go about it in a different way. Strum a guitar a bit, noodle on a keyboard or just pop some chords in to BiaB. The one thing that bugs me the most though is I can play quite a few instruments, but can I sing in tune, NO.
Tim.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,530
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,530 |
Hi Mario, yes it seems everyone has a different approach. I do on occasions do as you suggested and go about it in a different way. Strum a guitar a bit, noodle on a keyboard or just pop some chords in to BiaB. The one thing that bugs me the most though is I can play quite a few instruments, but can I sing in tune, NO.
Tim. Welcome to my club! I find Melodyne to be very useful 
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal".
Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 280 |
I doubt even Melodyne would be able to correct my awful pitch.
Tim
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Songwriting
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,802
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,802 |
I don't even follow the same path all the time. It could be that I hear someone say something and think, that would be a good idea for a song..... other times, I mess around with my guitar, piano, or BB and something just kinda sticks to the proverbial wall.... I might throw some lyrics on it and sometimes they stick and trigger a complete train of thought.... and there's other times where I hear something on the radio and start a song from that. IN addition, some of the best things I have written, In my humble opinion, have come from other writers sending me ideas and partial songs or ideas for songs and we work on those as a collaborative effort.
I'll take a good idea from anywhere and everywhere.
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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Songwriting
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,992
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,992 |
Ask 29 different people and you may get 29 different workflows Yep. And, with most of us, what we did when we were young doesn't happen anymore.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Songwriting
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414 |
Every songwriter has a different approach - and every song written has a different story. I don't really have a process. I tend to just mess about with my keyboard and in my DAW, and accidentally stumble across an idea, then build on it to create a song.
I don't think that writing the song is the difficult part, more actually getting inspired enough to really feel it.
Cheers,
Deryk
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 7
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 7 |
I took Graham English's Speed Songwriting course See https://speedsongwriting.com/
System: i5 IBM Compatible, 16 GB Ram, Windows 10 Pro.
Band-in-a-Box/RealBand 2024
Digi-design 003 interface
Axiom 49 MIDI keyboard
Pro Tools 12.7
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Songwriting
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 63
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 63 |
Song writing is different for everyone. Some people begin a song from the sonic view of the music part ,others begin a song with words that come from thoughts and experiences. Inspiration is the key. For some songwriters it is almost like a curse when a song starts to build. You aren't satisfied until the song is born. I used to drive truck and I wrote a lot of songs during that time. I get inspired for some reason if I am driving down country roads. The lyrics start coming to me and I scribble them down. Usually just a bit here and a bit there. I have only written two songs this year. The things that are going on seem to cause me to be dry as far as inspiration. I always come up with lyrics first from fresh thoughts or old memories. Sometimes other songs will spark up a thought or two. I always have to scratch the thoughts(lyrics) on paper when I write a tune. I have never written a song on computer or type writer. When I try to do it like that I lose some of the feel for some reason.
C.Dan
Last edited by C. Dan Roberts; 02/01/21 05:34 AM.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,992
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,992 |
I have never written a song on computer or type writer. … Come to think of it, me neither. Hand written on legal or dictation pads for me. When I collaborate, the other person takes the notes. Did that for 35 years. Now that my writing arm is crippled, you’d think I’d switch to my iPad but no. Handwriting, as poor as it is now, forces me to slow down and consider every word before I commit to paper. Don’t get me wrong — I still spend 5–10x rewriting lyrics as I do generating the original idea. It’s been 50 years but that is unchanged.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 253
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 253 |
I'm not a big believer in waiting for inspiration to write. I approach it as if I were an editorial writer for a publication, and have to submit a new story 3 days a week (for example). I sit down every day and try to write. Maybe that only lasts a half hour, maybe several hours...but I do it daily.
I've found that the more I write, the more I write. Sounds silly, but there's something about staying in that work zone that seems to feed creativity for me. I find it much more difficult, by comparison, to take a few weeks or a month off and then try to jump back into writing.
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to spend that amount of time writing, but almost everyone can carve out 15 minutes to an hour or so several days a week. This more disciplined approach has really helped me over the years, it might be worth a shot for you as well.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 310
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 310 |
Like everyone said there's no set way to write music. I tend to write music more from the melody perspective and from the HOOK down. I'm always looking for a phrase that I think is a good hook. That's my inspiration .. THE HOOK! I find that when I do it that way it's easier to set the story up. For me it's a lot easier. I'll also create and use a musical loop from usually the intro through the first hook and just loop it and loop it until an interesting melody comes along. Like I said I've pretty much got my hook so now I need a melody. I don't try to put specific words to the melody. Just "da-da-da's" and sounds that I think would fit the mood, tempo, and melody. It's funny that using this method sometimes little words and phrases pop out that I can use later. The most important thing for me is "can the song be sung"? Is it in a range that a singer can deliver? That's why I never write to music notes. They are interesting but lots of times a singer can't phrase the notes like an instrument can. Plus instrumentalist usually play more notes than a singer can sing and breathe. If the song is something I think I'll like I'll record a scratch vocal track, create an MP3 with the vocal and track and listen to the song on my phone. When I do that away from the system I tend to get even more ideas. If a vocal phrase or lyric pops in my head while I'm out and about I'll sing the line into my phone (Samsung Voice Recorder app) so I don't forget. If it's just a line I'll quickly write the line down in the notebook on my phone.
I do think one good habit I got into a few years ago was FINISHING songs I started. After having tons of unfinished songs on my hard drive I realized that I needed to change. By finishing songs it helped my writing tremendously. I not only found new techniques by doing this but also the ability to take a previous a song and modify it to almost any genre. Anyway that's how I write songs.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1 |
I have been writing my own music since 2017 and only recently I discovered a way that helps me to merge with music.I use the Einstein method, which stimulated the right side of the brain, which is responsible for a different way of looking at things.Using a scientific approach to music, it became much easier for me to write it.
Last edited by TheSleepyKing; 02/04/21 05:24 AM.
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