The most annoying thing that can happen to a musician is the phase of absolute non-creativity. Songwriting and brainstorming is a topic that everyone tackles differently, but there are gimmicks that work for the majority. We'll show you some of these ways to quickly find the way out.
You're always in a circle ... Everything "sounds almost like that song!". Phew, creative exhaustion is spreading. The opposite case occurs when one does not know how to work through a grown idea mountain ...
But what is songwriting and composition all about? If you look back in the history of music and look at the classical, names like Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven fall. These gentlemen were also faced with the task of writing unique music. Even then their pieces were considered masterpieces - and they have survived to this day. Soberly, all three wrote for the same music style - but each in a special way.
That's the trick. It's not about stomping a completely new style of music out of the ground. This is developing in many stages over several decades. From this perspective:
Songwriting, it is important to put together notes in a suitable structure and a genre that triggers a subjective and emotional perception of the listener that overwhelms him, and bind. It is of course a little magic craft to achieve this with a self-written piece. So if you're playing a favored genre, you should always add "that certain something". This is exactly what develops with time and practice. Rarely does one land as a band with the first songs such a convincing story that everyone in the world cries out for it.
1. Learn and try new playing techniques
Anything that breathes fresh air into the box of ideas for every musician is definitely a test of new playing and singing techniques. Nothing is more invigorating than a newly learned way of controlling one's instrument or voice in order to elicit even more interesting sounds.
If power chords are always played on the guitar, then you will reach its limits relatively quickly. Therefore, you should also acquire other ways of playing at regular intervals. This keeps you motivated for a longer time and always has something to do.
But beware: Today playing the solo part twice as fast as yesterday is an illusion. If you are more interested in a technique you can proceed according to the following principle. That is, learning should be specific, measurable, accepted, realistic and timed. Outlined by a concrete example: "For the next four weeks I practice exactly this technique for one hour every day. I start as slowly as possible and step up in minimal steps to the desired pace. I also want to be able to hit the notes with great accuracy and precision, without creating unwanted noise. "
2. Pay attention to your own physical and mental condition
After hours of trying nothing more and the head is simply overwhelmed. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to take a break from the moment, from which nothing works. Getting out in the open air or doing a sport for half an hour or an hour: This enlivens the mind and moves the body. Too long and monotonous standing or sitting claims the body - as is well known - in the negative sense.
A break also makes perfect sense if you've been tinkering with a song for five days. It often works wonders, if the instrument also rests two days and one devotes to another thing. A simple example from school: A really difficult task in mathematics annoying over two days and you just did not come to the solution. Paused one day, tried again and lo and behold: the solution was easier than expected. From overstraining, one does not notice how one logs in and can not get out of the mill, which always gives the same results.
3. Compose and jam together with others
Often awesome ideas, when several musicians join forces and screwed on an idea. Therefore, there is, among other things, the famous constellation of the "band". "Together instead of lonely" is not only positive for the fun and sociability, but ultimately also for the final product.
It is obvious that a song idea developed by just one person creates something completely different than when four others contribute their opinions, views and ideas. After all, it is very likely that you like the joint version better than the one you wrote in the quiet little room at home. In this course, of course, also called the "jamming". It helps to meet with musicians who have a rough idea of what and how a definite style is played. Then it starts. During the game you are relatively free and can try. By chance, a thing is generated that you would never have come across in your life. Reason for it are different circumstances, at least not alone in the room to sit and to tinker.
Oh, and you've probably experienced it all before: Unexpectedly, a jamming session is going on wonderfully. It has been played and played for 20 minutes and it feels like everyone has known that kind of song forever. Schlichtweg: It's breathtaking! After an epic 25 minutes, the last note sounds. Wow! Pure enthusiasm. Now one of the famous questions like "Hey, tell me ... what did you play about halfway through the jam?" Answer: "Um, no idea. This one? - Oh no, that was different. Damn, I do not remember! "Disappointment is spreading and a good idea is lost. To learn from such situations and as a logical conclusion: to record the next session. Meanwhile, every smartphone can provide a relatively acceptable recording. It is fundamentally not about the sound quality, but the recognition of melodies. Of course, it makes more sense to get a more professional and designed device such as a pocket recorder. This opens up far more possibilities than a simple mobile phone.
4. Experiment with the possibilities of notation
Do you still know the old-school variant to "write" a song? As the name suggests, you take pen and paper and note. This may sound a bit too simple, but it often helps to switch from one habitual medium, such as the mentioned pocket recorder, to another, even if it's just for one piece.
More modern versions are, of course, home recording via the computer, which additionally opens up the option of permanently recording a melody and sending the end product to other people via the internet. So, as a band that is geographically dispersed, you can create songs in a rather simple way. Along with that you can also fall back on the ever-popular program Guitar Pro, which is ideally suited as a notation tool.
5. Stimulate the inspiratory flow
Songs do not come from sitting at home waiting for something useful to happen. Not a must - but what you should always do as a musician: Listen to a lot of music. At this point it should be emphasized that the genre should be mainly different. Again, this is not mandatory, because South American electro-pop with Dadaistic elements and texts about marijuana consumption is not for everyone. It nevertheless supports the conception of music as it can still be played, interpreted and presented. Anyone who has confined himself to three artists over the past 20 years and does not come close to anything else will sooner or later sound the same, but not become unique or even be successful, since the version already exists in "better".
"Music theory and reading music do not interest me! I want to play and make music and do not bother with such stuff! "Well, that's perfectly acceptable. Reading music is not required for every genre in the world. Nevertheless, music theory in general and harmony should be looked at, because even the power chord of pop and rock music is based on a theory and a system that has to work and also complies. Anyone who opens up and engages in this subject area will quickly realize that some things suddenly make much more sense and you understand why certain conditions in the music even fit into each other. Faster than expected, you start a composition with more understanding. Of course, this includes the song structure, which absolutely does not have to be the same as the ones you've always written.
Maybe that's where the first step begins for you. Just give the whole thing a try.
Guess this post is not for me, none of those tips can give a boost to my songwriting... hmmm maybe because I'm not a songwriter at all :) sorry for the little joke.... nice post! :)
it is never too late to try new things 😁
hahaha, true, but the question is: would I like to go into song writing? am not a poet, am not even a writer, though HIVE is learning me to put my opinions and thoughts in writing which grew on me the last 3+ years. I leave song writing to all those others who want to be a song writer :)
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