Lack of inspiration (why can't i write a songC)

i like tictacs · Post by **i like tictacs** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:58 pm

So yeah. I can't write songs. I can do covers fine. but I can't fucking write my way out of a wet paper bag, like the one mattin's mother used to drink her bacardi from. i can play pretty well, but i can't write shit. I can write basslines fine, i'm a music minor with concentration in jazz bass, that's not the problem. the problem is that i suck at arranging and creating an entire piece for a band, whether i start with piano or guitar or bass, i can't get the rest in place. maybe i need to find some new people to play with. any ideas?

i am sam2 · Post by **i am sam2** » Mon May 29, 2006 10:30 pm

play more guitar or piano (or both). the more you play the more ideas you get and the better you are able to contruct phrases to piece together for songs. thats all i got

Twostep13 · Post by **Twostep13** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:14 am

im in the same boat man, but what i find myself doing.. is writing new verses to songs i already know, for instance im witing new verses to such great hieghts (the iron and wine version), with my own inspirations, that have nothing to do with the orignial lyrics... and then what you do is change up the chords or finger picking and let it evolve into something completely different from the original song.. and there youve got yourself the making of a song.. i also try to write down a phrase or words that i like the soud of in a small note pad i keep in my back pocket.

a1075dd63aa12 · Post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:54 am

dont try to force it, just let your mind kind of go idle and just noodle around with different things, sometimes you just suprise yourself with different progressions and melodies you come up with, eventually it will just fall into place.

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:07 am

Twostep13 wrote:im in the same boat man, but what i find myself doing.. is writing new verses to songs i already know.

Thats what Bob Dylan says he does, so youre in good company.

Tic Tacs, try to find things that inspire you or even things that make you angry, sad...etc. Tonight I was watching that Bagdad ER show on HBO and it was so striking, luckily i had my notebook next to me and i just started writing:

sent my son to war
and got him back in a bag
i traded my child
for a folded american flag

It went on and on, some was good some wasnt, but it was a start. Just keep a notebook or a journal and write a lot. keep it close to you too cause inspiration strikes all the time. A little digital recorder is good too if your in your car and you start humming a cool melody. Most of the time you wont remember it so its good to get it down.

As far as arranging music, i find that listening to a ton of music is the best. Get yourself a good pair of headphones...i got some for 99 that work pretty well...Close your eyes and listen to the music very carefully, listen to how it was arranged, try to deconstruct it, focus on different elements within the song. I think ACTIVE LISTENING of music is some of the best practice you can do. They say reading makes better writers and im willing to bet that listening makes better composers.

mdel21 · Post by **mdel21** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:14 am

RunsWithBuffalo wrote:
Twostep13 wrote:im in the same boat man, but what i find myself doing.. is writing new verses to songs i already know.
Thats what Bob Dylan says he does, so youre in good company.

Tic Tacs, try to find things that inspire you or even things that make you angry, sad...etc. Tonight I was watching that Bagdad ER show on HBO and it was so striking, luckily i had my notebook next to me and i just started writing:

sent my son to war
and got him back in a bag
i traded my child
for a folded american flag

It went on and on, some was good some wasnt, but it was a start. Just keep a notebook or a journal and write a lot. keep it close to you too cause inspiration strikes all the time. A little digital recorder is good too if your in your car and you start humming a cool melody. Most of the time you wont remember it so its good to get it down.

As far as arranging music, i find that listening to a ton of music is the best. Get yourself a good pair of headphones...i got some for 99 that work pretty well...Close your eyes and listen to the music very carefully, listen to how it was arranged, try to deconstruct it, focus on different elements within the song. I think ACTIVE LISTENING of music is some of the best practice you can do. They say reading makes better writers and im willing to bet that listening makes better composers.

Good thing you didn't tell him to walk around while he listens, he'd hate himself.

http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... headphones

Speenis · Post by **Speenis** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:27 am

weed = inspiration

Kahn · Post by **Kahn** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:38 am

Ask Dave Matthews. He wrote Tripping Billies about acid, so you should do it too to be cool like Dave XD

Kukini · Post by **Kukini** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:20 pm

Speenis wrote:weed = inspiration

The only three songs I've written all the way through with an arrangement and lyrics were started while I was high. And I can say I like them, couldn't tell you if anyone else would though...

Anyone ever wonder how many amazing songs have been written over the course of time that we'll never get to hear? For instance, what if a song I wrote would be amazingly popular if it ever got any air time (which it won't)? Anyone else ever think of this? There is tons of great music that'll never grace my ears...

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:07 pm

I guess everyone is different, or maybe i get too high to write cause i try all the time and end up with a blank page, terrible munchies followed shortly by a weed nap.

If you are going to smoke for inspiration, just get a little high...like towlie! otherwise youre just too stupid to get anything down on paper.

sunglassesatnight · Post by **sunglassesatnight** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:12 pm

Anyone want to tell me why I continually write the same vocal melody to every song? Different lyrics, different harmonies in the guitar, always seems to be the same.

Khimaros · Post by **Khimaros** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:56 pm

Khimaros · Post by **Khimaros** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:17 pm

Kukini wrote:
Speenis wrote:weed = inspiration
The only three songs I've written all the way through with an arrangement and lyrics were started while I was high. And I can say I like them, couldn't tell you if anyone else would though...

Anyone ever wonder how many amazing songs have been written over the course of time that we'll never get to hear? For instance, what if a song I wrote would be amazingly popular if it ever got any air time (which it won't)? Anyone else ever think of this? There is tons of great music that'll never grace my ears...

I think the answer to that one is thousands, if not millions. I think about it all the time. I've got about an album's worth of tunes that I've come up in the past couple of years (all whilst high). They may not be up there with the complexity of Dave's songs, but I think they easily rival most 'pop' songs for listenability. And there's got to be thousands of people like me, getting high and creating something new for their own enjoyment...

The other week my buddies and I just took some acid and did nothing but play guitar and laugh our asses off for the next eight hours. All you have to do is listen to Bill Hicks to understand that the drugs DO work... And you can bet your ass most musicians have had their fair share.

i like tictacs · Post by **i like tictacs** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:56 pm

mdel21 wrote:
RunsWithBuffalo wrote:
Twostep13 wrote:im in the same boat man, but what i find myself doing.. is writing new verses to songs i already know.
Thats what Bob Dylan says he does, so youre in good company.

Tic Tacs, try to find things that inspire you or even things that make you angry, sad...etc. Tonight I was watching that Bagdad ER show on HBO and it was so striking, luckily i had my notebook next to me and i just started writing:

sent my son to war
and got him back in a bag
i traded my child
for a folded american flag

It went on and on, some was good some wasnt, but it was a start. Just keep a notebook or a journal and write a lot. keep it close to you too cause inspiration strikes all the time. A little digital recorder is good too if your in your car and you start humming a cool melody. Most of the time you wont remember it so its good to get it down.

As far as arranging music, i find that listening to a ton of music is the best. Get yourself a good pair of headphones...i got some for 99 that work pretty well...Close your eyes and listen to the music very carefully, listen to how it was arranged, try to deconstruct it, focus on different elements within the song. I think ACTIVE LISTENING of music is some of the best practice you can do. They say reading makes better writers and im willing to bet that listening makes better composers.
Good thing you didn't tell him to walk around while he listens, he'd hate himself.

http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic ... headphones

off yourself

Twostep13 · Post by **Twostep13** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:59 pm

i guess im in the minority here becuase i dont smoke weed, haha, but ill admit that it probably does get soem creative juices flowing, and im sure many MANY MANY songs were written by various artists while they were high...