Just wondering who your source of encouragement is when you write/record songs? Do you get any? Do you need it? Do you write/record alone?
I ask these questions as I'm often left discouraged by the lack of encouragement in my own life including my wife and family, church, Facebook friends you name it - for me writing or recording songs is a lonely sport and I'm wondering is this normal?.
Hey Paul! I would think a possible obvious choice would be right here I think the people here are typically some of the most encouraging people you will find.
Beyond that, I try to surround myself with people with the same interest. While my wife, friend, and family are very supportive, I would understand where it maybe wouldn't be their thing. Find others who's thing it is too, and life is a different world.
I hope that helps, but not sure I did. Best of luck, and hopefully we hear from you!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
I have a similar problem Paul. It can be awful, but I think a lot of it has to do with our own opinion of our talents and self confidence. Definitely try to surround yourself with friends/places that are supportive. Many people are jealous of a passion that takes up your time and find it threatening. I got told once live to stop singing and once whilst streaming. That really knocks you around. I think my wife's finest hour was to tell me I sang like a homosexual, whatever that means! A friend told me I couldn't sing blues because I sound like a 'choirboy'. Neither of them can sing in tune! Luckily, I had others who supported me and great teachers who were professionals. You have to just keep going and have fun. My wife shut up when 10 of us got a 30% discount on a buffet because I sang three tunes for the guests dining. Now she just harps on about my choice of songs. Too old etc. Life.....
Last edited by lambada; 07/20/1703:34 PM.
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Look in your area for fellow musicians, singers and songwriters. Get out in your community for open mic nights, poetry slams, retirement villas, community centers to find and meet like minded individuals. Start a music club at your local library.
Music, like many other things has become a solitary activity instead of a family or group activity. Figure out a way to meet people and start a group.
Hi Paul. Currently there is a very collaborative song writing challenge called 50 90 where song writers attempt to write 50 songs in 90 days. The catch is that you don't have to write 50! Even if you just write one. It is a very supportative environment. They have loads of stuff going on all the time. Here is the link http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org
Paul, my major sources of encouragement are from the showcase forum and soundcloud. I do get some encouragement as well as dis-encouragement from JonD, BobH and SteveS. Anytime you collaborate with someone it is a give and take.
Locally I have been told that I can't sing, which I agree with, can't play guitar, I'm too old to play, etc. You have to be thick skinned when you put yourself out into the public! Just don't worry about it.
Working alone on a song is a solitary job, at least for me. The above mentioned people will record something and I am left to put it all together. A lonely job but one that I enjoy, especially if the final product is one that people enjoy.
If you are in composer's block or just plain down do what I do. Put a few chords in BiaB and have the melodist generate a melody. Take everything over to your DAW and pick a few measures of the melody. It could be 2,4, 8, whatever number of measures and save them but delete the rest of the melody. Now take those measures and make a complete song out of them by adding your own parts, copy and pasting them, changing notes in the copies or whatever. It gets mind thinking and it is fun.
Also you might get inspired by a work in the woods or a good book, whatever as long as it has nothing to do with music. This also has worked for me.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Whenever I get something stuck in the back of my throat, I dislodge it by drinking a beer. It's called the Heineken Maneuver.
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My wife and family encourages me to go to work each day and bring home a pay check. We are all well aware that time spent on music will not pay for health insurance and home repairs. As a result, my music is a personal thang. No fan club clammering for the next release.
So in fact I don't get nor need much encouragement. Now that being said, I certainly do appreciate the interactions in the different on-line music related forums. A comment I once got upon review of an offering was, "significantly better then bad". So I do fully understand my limitations. But in my heart I know I am doing pretty darn good considering the lack of talent God gave me.
my music is a personal thang. No fan club clammering for the next release. So in fact I don't get nor need much encouragement. Now that being said, I certainly do appreciate the interactions in the different on-line music related forums. A comment I once got upon review of an offering was, "significantly better then bad". So I do fully understand my limitations. But in my heart I know I am doing pretty darn good considering the lack of talent .
The above is pretty much my personal take. It's a solo process and I'm fine with that.
For me....it's just a self motivating and gratifying form of creative release. I like to write, I like to play guitar, I like to grab my clip board with an idea to flesh out, I like to turn on the power strip that turns on all the colorful component lights. I write alone and have no desire to collaborate in the lyrical sense. My wife likes my material but she doesn't inquire about what I'm working on or listen to my stuff as a habit.
I don't expect any encouragement from anyone in the outside world. Why would I....no one owes me any encouragement or compliments about my song writing efforts. I don't actively promote my songs other than my isolated interactions here. I don't have lofty goals or think what I've written are masterpieces. But, as stated above....I'm also very grateful and appreciative should someone actually listen and comment.
I only hope I can avoid pegging the 'you totally suck' meter. That's yet to be determined.
My wife and family encourages me to go to work each day and bring home a pay check. We are all well aware that time spent on music will not pay for health insurance and home repairs. As a result, my music is a personal thang. No fan club clammering for the next release.
So in fact I don't get nor need much encouragement. Now that being said, I certainly do appreciate the interactions in the different on-line music related forums. A comment I once got upon review of an offering was, "significantly better then bad". So I do fully understand my limitations. But in my heart I know I am doing pretty darn good considering the lack of talent God gave me.
Great points Dan, and a woman may well have other things planned for a man that he don't know about yet, and to say that you are heading for the studio to do a bit of recording, may get a less than encouraging response.
Glad to see there is someone else on the forum who like myself recognises that they have no great natural talent in the music department, all earned through practice alone.
Saying that I really haven't met many really talented guitarists, and most wouldn't admit it.
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I have to separate "working on music" from "playing music" or "recording music". I will often play music alone (I love to sit at the piano), but also love playing and singing with other folks. Being director of music at my church gives me that outlet.
But "working with music" tends to be a solo experience. In fact it's pretty boring for someone else to watch over your shoulder while you tweak a track to perfection.
Recording the tracks can be a group exercise with friends and was always fun with a lot of laughter in the process, but the actual processing of those tracks becomes a solitary endeavor. I think it's the nature of the business, unless your music buddy(s) are extremely patient.
Paul, you mentioned church. You should find out if someone else at your church has musical interests and get together with them occasionally. I've found lots of folks who "used to play" come out of the woodwork and pick up their instrument again just to be able to play again. Just ask around. Try to start a praise band. I did that with me and my buddy Chris, but it was just me first until I announced I was doing it and Chris came forward. Over the past 20 years, we've written probably about 20 original songs together and played countless others for church services, talent shows, open mike, retreats, etc. That two person band grew to about nine by the time we finished as others asked if they could play with us (with varying degrees of talent). Our mantra was "play what you know".
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
There's a song that I don't remember the name of or the specific lyrics but the story was about a woman that always sang songs. The problem was she always sang out of tune. Everyone continually complained about her singing. One day because of the complaints she quit singing. Then everyone realized the singing was part of her and they missed it. She started singing again and everyone was happy.
Cheers, compliments and encouragement is nice but as long as you're happy, hopefully the people around you will be too.
"What would you say if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key. Ooo, I get by with a little help from my friends."
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Put a few chords in BiaB and have the melodist generate a melody. Take everything over to your DAW and pick a few measures of the melody. It could be 2,4, 8, whatever number of measures and save them but delete the rest of the melody. Now take those measures and make a complete song out of them by adding your own parts, copy and pasting them, changing notes in the copies or whatever. It gets mind thinking and it is fun.
Great idea Mario. I've often thought about taking the randomizer route.
88 Songwriting Wrongs and How To Right Them. This book has helped me to write better. When my skill improved others around me enjoyed my songs and gave me lots of encouragement. At first this book was a big put down and discouraged me as it revealed my inadequacies according to what "other people" thought was good or bad. It also revealed to my a big challenge of what I'd have to change or eliminate in order to get others to like my songs. Due to this I did not come up with anything new for quite a long time. Eventually as new song ideas came I started putting them together in a fashion that was more conducive to what others might enjoy. The result was much more inspiration from those I entertained.
Working on my vocal and guitar skills and sticking with songs that in genres that best suited for my voice and persona has been key also. The better I get the more compliments I get. = encouragement and inspiration.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Paul, my major sources of encouragement are from the showcase forum and soundcloud. I do get some encouragement as well as dis-encouragement from JonD, BobH and SteveS. Anytime you collaborate with someone it is a give and take.
Locally I have been told that I can't sing, which I agree with, can't play guitar, I'm too old to play, etc. You have to be thick skinned when you put yourself out into the public! Just don't worry about it.
Working alone on a song is a solitary job, at least for me. The above mentioned people will record something and I am left to put it all together. A lonely job but one that I enjoy, especially if the final product is one that people enjoy.
If you are in composer's block or just plain down do what I do. Put a few chords in BiaB and have the melodist generate a melody. Take everything over to your DAW and pick a few measures of the melody. It could be 2,4, 8, whatever number of measures and save them but delete the rest of the melody. Now take those measures and make a complete song out of them by adding your own parts, copy and pasting them, changing notes in the copies or whatever. It gets mind thinking and it is fun.
Also you might get inspired by a work in the woods or a good book, whatever as long as it has nothing to do with music. This also has worked for me.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Great post Mario. I do that very often with my songwriting but also use the chord generation function. Will do a blog post on this.
I like to have some feedback from people that I know but often I find I get nothing. I don't expect for my wife (for example) to be with me during the process but when I've done the song and make it public and I get nothing - not even a well done - its discouraging to say the least. Some here clearly have thick skin and don't seem to need it but I think life would be so much better if there were more thought and encouragement towards others along their journey especially when creativity is involved.
I think the bottom line for me is that the people I know only get to hear my efforts on Facebook and most don't appreciate country but that's another thorn in my flesh for another day!
"What would you say if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key. Ooo, I get by with a little help from my friends."
Nope John, that isn't the song I'm thinking about.
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I think the people here are typically some of the most encouraging people you will find.
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