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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Writer's Block

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 12:21 AM

This is just taken of another forum, where I wrote the same some time back. I can't really put it any other way, so I thought I would just copy/paste it here.

Alright - this is driving me nuts.

For the past 1½ year or so I haven't written any music at all. Well, I have, but after listening to it 4 times I don't like it anymore. It's usually only like 4 beats of music and then...BANG, I don't like it anymore.
Before all this I have written tons of stuff (literally) - e.g. one full album that I was originally planning to record, but now I want to re-write all the music, because I think some of it isn't as good as it could be. Anyways:

Anyone has any advice on how to get me off this grand, grand writer's block-ish thingie? smile.gif

Posted by: ZakkWylde Aug 1 2008, 12:22 AM

GET INSPIRATION by listening to new bands or go to a live gig..

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 12:23 AM

That's actually something I already have been doing a lot since then. Especially started listening to more guitar virtuosi, and I started practicing more not so long ago too.

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 1 2008, 12:29 AM

im sorry man, im not alot of help here. All i can suggest is to record eery lick, every riff that every pops in to your head. Make a big library and catagorize it all in folders. Perhaps you could eventually piece together a song? I dunno though- i'll look forward to other responses though.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 12:32 AM

Haha. Thanks for the responses so far. Of course, I can always keep myself busy practicing the guitar - no need to be too creative to do that wink.gif

Anyways... I remember a long time ago, when I couldn't write any lyrics, I would just open a dictionary and take 10 words out of that and make a song for that. Maybe I could somewhat do that on guitar too.

Posted by: JVM Aug 1 2008, 03:51 AM

Don't worry. I think it happens to everyone. And in the end, of course, it'll only make your stuff better. I think its good to be able to say "that's crap, I can do better than that", but at the same time not everything really is.

My suggestion is twofold. First, definitely upload some of your stuff. I've heard some of it, and I think you know without me telling you that you're really good. But like jordan said, just record a ton of stuff and then I say upload some of it for us to here and make suggestions and stuff.

Posted by: stickyfingers Aug 1 2008, 10:01 AM

since i restarted playing guitar 1 1/2 years ago i always felt like my playing abilities are not sufficient to write the kind of music i want to play.

so for know i'm trying to incorporate as much licks, riffs and techniques as i can to build up my repertoire and hope to utilize that knowledge in future compositions.

when ideas for new riffs and licks hit me, i usually try to record them instantly as deeproots suggests. sadly i'm a bit chaotic and should organize those pieces better. wink.gif

Posted by: fkalich Aug 1 2008, 10:29 AM

QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Jul 31 2008, 06:21 PM) *
This is just taken of another forum, where I wrote the same some time back. I can't really put it any other way, so I thought I would just copy/paste it here.
Alright - this is driving me nuts.


I would not worry about it. Nobody says you have to write anything. Nobody says you have to do the on the fly improvise thing (I never want to do the improvise thing, I always will want to play a set piece, same as have most musicians traditionally, such as in the time of Mozart). Nobody says there is anything wrong with playing other people's stuff, if that appeals to you. There are plenty of virtuoso musicians who never did anything else.

I would just do what you enjoy, and if later writing comes natural to you, let that time happen when it happens. I would not try to force it. Do what you like, if you are not enjoying it, don't do it, you don't have to, even if others are doing it.

Myself, I have no desire other than to work on lessons here for the time being, maybe even another year of just that. I figure anything I try now will be as you are saying, not satisfying and forgotten. I will think it is neat at first, and then carp. Because until I reach a level where I feel I can at least be in the same room as these teachers, I see no point in doing other than keep learning from them. Anything I come up with will be crap. Like a little kid learning classical piano a few years in, thinking he will write a symphony. Kind of ridiculous when you think about it.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 1 2008, 11:00 AM

One useful thing is to listen to some music
you're not listening or playing often.
Per example if you're metal player and
wanna write metal music,listening only to metal
kind a limits you cause you have all those great
metal riffs from other bands in your head
and many things you come up with you might not like it.

Another way is to leave it for a while without
pushing at all,inspiration is matter of moment,
it just pomps in.

But whatever you write be sure to record it.
Even if you don't like it atm you might like
tomorrow or re-arrange it latter on,just don't erase it. smile.gif

Posted by: Nathan333 Aug 1 2008, 02:33 PM

I might not be great help here, but like muris said: try something completely different. If you want to write metal songs and all you do is listen to the metal songs that you really like, all of your songs will just sound like watered-down versions of the stuff you listen to. Try writing a song in a COMPLETELY different style, like a theme tune to a kids TV program or something laugh.gif Look in genres like jazz, classical or western or something. The influences you get from these places could sound outrageously cool when incorporated into a metal song (I'm guessing you play metal?)

Anyway, that's my opinion on it. smile.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 02:42 PM

Well, during the past year I've been trying to expand my musical preferences - and I do like jazz, and I do like fusion and all, but having done that didn't help much - yeah I started to listen to Gambale and such about a year ago. However, it didn't do much, so I tried to go back to those things that inspired me in the first place - early Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation etc. No luck either. But of course you're right.

That said, I just finished my education (before going to uni in 2 years, for now I'll just be having a job and all) and during those three years of education, you're very much told to not think outside of the box. I did that first and was somewhat punished for it tongue.gif So it's a very fascistic way of educating people.

Maybe I just need some time, thinking outside the box to re-generate those ideas.

smile.gif

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 1 2008, 04:47 PM

Try not to listen to guitar players at all for a while!!
Go for singers,any genre, sax players,piano players etc.

Posted by: Henry Dietzel Aug 1 2008, 05:04 PM

I agree with Muris. I am not sure what other music you are into, but I listen to stuff like this when I am stumped.http://www.rhapsody.com/charlieparker http://www.rhapsody.com/johncoltrane http://www.rhapsody.com/antoniovivaldi
Also, listening to guitar players you may not be into can give some inspiration. Ex. If you don't listen to jazz often maybe a month of just jazz. In the past I would get obsessive and only listen to one album for long periods of time, no radio, limited television, lots of reading, and then sit down and write for days.

I hope this is helpful and I wish you good luck smile.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the advice so far.

My musical interests are actually very varied. Metal - tech. metal, prog. metal, general heavy metal, alternate, Doom etc. besides that general rock and prog rock too. Besides all that I'm quite fond of electronica and jazz with drums, guitar and bass. Not too fond of all the big band-ish stuff.

I think I'll just have to get back at it now that I'm not in any education - and here I'm allowed to think outside of the box.

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Aug 1 2008, 05:10 PM

Explore genres you havnt looked into yet. Youtube is a wonderful source for this !
If you have been playing metal, look up some classical guitar. Maybe even step into some jazz or funk.
Explore the genres is my idea smile.gif

Hope you get through it biggrin.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 05:13 PM

Well, as said, I really do think I've explored a bit of every genre - metal, rock, electronica, jazz fusion etc.. Not too much funk though, neither emo.

Funny thing is... this writer's block thinie started when I met my girlfriend 1½ year ago! laugh.gif - before that I used to always find some negative things as inspiration, but I haven't been able to do that these days.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 1 2008, 05:17 PM

QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Aug 1 2008, 06:08 PM) *
Thanks for the advice so far.

My musical interests are actually very varied. Metal - tech. metal, prog. metal, general heavy metal, alternate, Doom etc. besides that general rock and prog rock too. Besides all that I'm quite fond of electronica and jazz with drums, guitar and bass. Not too fond of all the big band-ish stuff.

I think I'll just have to get back at it now that I'm not in any education - and here I'm allowed to think outside of the box.


I get the idea.
I have similar problem,it's the one when I try
to break each song I hear on the radio into chords and tabs right away,in my head.
Kind a overdose.
Good thing is to listen to music just as a music,
without paying attention on which instrument has a solo or som.
Chill-out or ambient music in fine example,kind a Twin Peaks soundtracks. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 1 2008, 05:21 PM

Yeah, definately.

I see what you're all saying. Hopefully I'll soon find the right vibe again. We'll see smile.gif

Posted by: Siggum Aug 1 2008, 05:22 PM

QUOTE (Muris Varajic @ Aug 1 2008, 06:17 PM) *
I get the idea.
I have similar problem,it's the one when I try
to break each song I hear on the radio into chords and tabs right away,in my head.
Kind a overdose.
Good thing is to listen to music just as a music,
without paying attention on which instrument has a solo or som.
Chill-out or ambient music in fine example,kind a Twin Peaks soundtracks. biggrin.gif


Lol ive began to suffer same, when i hear something i sometimes only think about the chordprogression, how they pan the instruments, what sound they use for drums and so on... laugh.gif

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 1 2008, 05:26 PM

QUOTE (Siggum @ Aug 1 2008, 06:22 PM) *
Lol ive began to suffer same, when i hear something i sometimes only think about the chordprogression, how they pan the instruments, what sound they use for drums and so on... laugh.gif


Yep biggrin.gif

I sit in a bar with my girlfriend and doing that all the time.
She is trying to explain to me something and I'm just like..yeah..sure..aha laugh.gif

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Aug 5 2008, 12:12 AM

Try to compose in the style of...
For example: if you listen to Guthrie Govan - Wonderfull Slippery Thing is made all the first part with four chords (Bm-D7,9-F#maj7-G7alt). Try to make a rhythm guitar like that and then think in what can you add to that. You can compose that kind of song but in an upper tempo, with more chord changing, etc. If you want to write something with odd time meters you can listen to contemporary academic music like Bartok, Stravinsky, or some Steve Reich or the etudes for piano of Ligeti. You can listen to prog music but, rare prog music like Japanese prog (the www.progarchives.com is a good guide to listen to prog music). If you start from the melody you could listen to the great music from the XVII to the XIX century, like Beethoven (the sonatas, the symphonies), Mozart (sonatas and symphonies too), Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Bach is always a good choice. And try to think in odd meters, maybe is a good way to think a melody that is not like other melodies. In order to do that you can listen to world music. There are a few good collections out there, there is the World Music Library from King Records, the World library of folk and primitive music of Alan Lomax, the Nonesuch Explorer Series and the World Music Network. For example, the music of Bartok, Liszt, Janacek and Stravinky are very influenced by all the folk music from Hugary or Russia.
The compositional process is not something that I can explain in few lines but I think that I added a little more to the good advices that are posted before.
To conlude I recommend you a book of Arnold Schönberg - Fundamentals of Music Composition (there are the main topics like melody, theme and variation, the moods of the composition, and form)
I hope you find the information usefull.
wink.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 5 2008, 12:32 AM

QUOTE (Ramiro Delforte @ Aug 5 2008, 01:12 AM) *
Try to compose in the style of...
For example: if you listen to Guthrie Govan - Wonderfull Slippery Thing is made all the first part with four chords (Bm-D7,9-F#maj7-G7alt). Try to make a rhythm guitar like that and then think in what can you add to that. You can compose that kind of song but in an upper tempo, with more chord changing, etc. If you want to write something with odd time meters you can listen to contemporary academic music like Bartok, Stravinsky, or some Steve Reich or the etudes for piano of Ligeti. You can listen to prog music but, rare prog music like Japanese prog (the www.progarchives.com is a good guide to listen to prog music). If you start from the melody you could listen to the great music from the XVII to the XIX century, like Beethoven (the sonatas, the symphonies), Mozart (sonatas and symphonies too), Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Bach is always a good choice. And try to think in odd meters, maybe is a good way to think a melody that is not like other melodies. In order to do that you can listen to world music. There are a few good collections out there, there is the World Music Library from King Records, the World library of folk and primitive music of Alan Lomax, the Nonesuch Explorer Series and the World Music Network. For example, the music of Bartok, Liszt, Janacek and Stravinky are very influenced by all the folk music from Hugary or Russia.
The compositional process is not something that I can explain in few lines but I think that I added a little more to the good advices that are posted before.
To conlude I recommend you a book of Arnold Schönberg - Fundamentals of Music Composition (there are the main topics like melody, theme and variation, the moods of the composition, and form)
I hope you find the information usefull.
wink.gif


Great advice there, Ramiro! Thank you very much.

I will in the coming days see if I can get something down on paper and see where that leaves me.

Posted by: Tryton Aug 5 2008, 02:29 AM

This may sound strange, and I is along the same line that everyone else is saying,
But, I've noticed myself playing some strange (for me), and very interesting stuff after
I learn some random lessons here. What I'm saying is take some GMC lessons on things
you'd never play and Like Muris said if you play metal apply some weird jazz licks (metalized of course)
to your own style.. I used jazz as just an example, there are so many styles this will work with

Good Luck to you

Posted by: Henry Dietzel Aug 5 2008, 08:26 PM

QUOTE (Siggum @ Aug 1 2008, 12:22 PM) *
Lol ive began to suffer same, when i hear something i sometimes only think about the chordprogression, how they pan the instruments, what sound they use for drums and so on... laugh.gif

I think I take it a step further cause I disected every Beatles song written-both music and lyrics into all possible patterns, my "bible" as I call it...........not sure if this was normal behavior or not
I think I went a bit mental for about 3 months cause I didn't do much else but this!! huh.gif
Was it worth it?........my girl didn't think so!!! wink.gif I'd disagree, I enjoy breaking songs completely down and later going back once I've had time rest my mind.

Everybody approaches things different so for me it's a good reference.

Posted by: MickeM Aug 5 2008, 09:29 PM

On a side note, what you wrote in the subject is the exact same thing the pirate who had a rudder wheel sticking out from his crotch said - Aaaaar ...this is driving me nuts

laugh.gif

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 5 2008, 09:31 PM

Hahahaha! Good joke there.

Now to just be a bit open this is what I'm feeling at the moment:

I won't write any music 'till I find and have my own apartment and settle in and settle down there! I need some new surroundings and all. Maybe that will help.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 6 2008, 08:13 PM

Well mate, it is important to really know what you wanna create, what kind of music. Also try to dedicate some time of your practice schedule to just plain jamming, for liek an hour. This will lead to invention of new ideas and riffs. The try to find the riff you like hte most, and try to make a song out of it. It is not that hard. DOn't be hard on yourself if you haven't made anything "worthy" or anything (don't know how to put it, but I think you understand). Try to compose some less quality material to get you back on track and quality will come in time, depending the amount of effort you put into it.

Posted by: JeroenKole Aug 6 2008, 08:29 PM

once again an inspiring quote from someone I can't remember

"Of everything you make 5% is workable, and maybe 1% of that is golden."

I can understand how difficult a writers block is (Had one during an month full of essays for school rolleyes.gif ) but you have to keep those creativity muscles (neurons, whatever you want to call 'em) active. writers block is annoying, creativity burn out is far worse.

keep jamming, but on the side do something creative, doing your guitar for example, or taking care of a bonsai garden (don't know where that came from blink.gif ). Just stay active, and try to stay creative.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 6 2008, 09:46 PM

Yeah, I'm trying to stay creative by doing some jams, collabs etc.

By the way... I think it all stems from the fact, that my project "Lex Naturae" at the moment isn't as good as I want it to be. 3 years ago, when I wrote it, I thought it was perfect, and I even got an offer to go and record it in some guys studio, but I was busy with school and all. Now when I hear it again, I don't think it's all that good, and I'm not satisfied with it. So I want to re-write all the songs. But whatever I write I feel it isn't good enough for the "mighty" "Lex Naturae". biggrin.gif

Posted by: kjutte Aug 9 2008, 12:25 PM

QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Aug 1 2008, 01:21 AM) *
This is just taken of another forum, where I wrote the same some time back. I can't really put it any other way, so I thought I would just copy/paste it here.

Alright - this is driving me nuts.

For the past 1½ year or so I haven't written any music at all. Well, I have, but after listening to it 4 times I don't like it anymore. It's usually only like 4 beats of music and then...BANG, I don't like it anymore.
Before all this I have written tons of stuff (literally) - e.g. one full album that I was originally planning to record, but now I want to re-write all the music, because I think some of it isn't as good as it could be. Anyways:

Anyone has any advice on how to get me off this grand, grand writer's block-ish thingie? smile.gif


Sounds to me like you're in the middle of a growing process.
Maybe you should hold off the recording for a bit then?

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Aug 13 2008, 04:10 AM

I want to add something.
Music it's a language like is painting or cinema. And a language is about communication, so you can think about a mood or and action, something like racing with a car through a highway (like some of Satriani's songs do) and after you have that action/mood you can try to put it into music.
Try listening operas to understand this concept. In that way you'll see that the music is a reflexion of the text. Then try it to picture it with music that doesn't have text.
I hope you find it usefull.
smile.gif

Posted by: Daniel Robinson Aug 13 2008, 06:35 AM

I think i am with Muris and Deeproots on this.

From the point of view that you shouldnt dismiss anything you come up with. I have a hardrive full of half baked idea's and little riffs. I use this as an idea bank.

I might come up with a little riff, not usuable at the moment. But a month might go by and i come up with a partial idea for a song, and going back thru my idea bank find some of the riffs i came up with would work as a second part/ counterpoint melody or something along those lines to an idea i want to develop.

Or even a blending of two riffs to make a new one that has all the things i need it to do and it is unique to myself. I think that as time goes by you start to realize that musicians are very hard on themselves, i would have to say i think most true musicians are perfectionists to some degree. It has to be exactly as they envision it or its not good....but i also appreciate and understand that some of the most memorable and long lasting songs of the past from other artists in alot of the cases are the most simplistic. But the delivery of them is unique. Don't ever discount any idea you might come up with...because you might be throwing away the next anthem.

Daniel

Posted by: audiopaal Aug 13 2008, 07:10 AM

QUOTE (Daniel Robinson @ Aug 13 2008, 07:35 AM) *
I think i am with Muris and Deeproots on this.

From the point of view that you shouldnt dismiss anything you come up with. I have a hardrive full of half baked idea's and little riffs. I use this as an idea bank.

I might come up with a little riff, not usuable at the moment. But a month might go by and i come up with a partial idea for a song, and going back thru my idea bank find some of the riffs i came up with would work as a second part/ counterpoint melody or something along those lines to an idea i want to develop.

Or even a blending of two riffs to make a new one that has all the things i need it to do and it is unique to myself. I think that as time goes by you start to realize that musicians are very hard on themselves, i would have to say i think most true musicians are perfectionists to some degree. It has to be exactly as they envision it or its not good....but i also appreciate and understand that some of the most memorable and long lasting songs of the past from other artists in alot of the cases are the most simplistic. But the delivery of them is unique. Don't ever discount any idea you might come up with...because you might be throwing away the next anthem.

Daniel


This is very true, never dismiss anything you come up with as you might find use for it later.
I've done this mistake more than a few times or even trusting myself to remember certain riffs, but I can't remember them for the life of me now laugh.gif

I've also got quite the collection of riffs on my harddrive now, very good checking in on every now and then getting new ideas or using some old ones to get further in a song!

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 13 2008, 01:35 PM

QUOTE (Ramiro Delforte @ Aug 13 2008, 05:10 AM) *
I want to add something.
Music it's a language like is painting or cinema. And a language is about communication, so you can think about a mood or and action, something like racing with a car through a highway (like some of Satriani's songs do) and after you have that action/mood you can try to put it into music.
Try listening operas to understand this concept. In that way you'll see that the music is a reflexion of the text. Then try it to picture it with music that doesn't have text.
I hope you find it usefull.
smile.gif


Well, I have the mood I want to make music for, and the problem is that in my mind, I want that piece of music to be the most perfect music ever...

It's a concept me and a friend started working on ages ago. I have written music for it once, but I want to re-write it, but... I can't! Haha..

"Morning Horizon"
- January

Twelve, the number where everything must start
New years eve, forced december to depart
Now all lies in white, still the holiness endures
Innocence and peace, the nights fallen snow..
Will surely pursue.

"Forest"
- February

Eleven, the season where sun shows its face
Quietly, it lingers, over winters pale embrace
Casting silent shadows, over the trees dressed in white
As whispers from above, speak of will and silent might
Soon the snow will fade, and green is to foresee
Gentle lillies break the ground, and to the sun, vow their playful creed

"Manifest of Sun"
- March

Ten, and everything after will begin
Snow, thus hereby ends, and the birds start to sing
Coming of warmth, of hope - of joy
Sun-soaked soil, has winters overtake destroyed
Cheeping and chirping, with april lurking
Darkness slowly fades, and its bitterness blurring

Coming of a New Age
- April

"Nine, dressed in springfall's gown
Came flying through the blooming grounds
"Forth, come summer, and join me!
Let's make dream and day unite!"
With easter past, thus solstice next
Did april take it's turn, perplexed

"Finally"
- May

Eight, and the message of spring arrived
and with hope of heart, and heart at stake
did May break through, to reflect in every lake -
Forest and beach, everything in reach - deprived
was cold, hunger - hurt and strife
Finally cut, by summer's knife

"Beauty Regained"
- June

And so came seven, and seven won
The kindness of tomorrow's bonds
Hand in hand, with spring united
Through earth, wind, and fire - lighted,
in every heart, and every soul
As summer ran it's wishful role!

"Heat of The Moment"
- July

And fire burned, as the pages turned
The gentle breeze over once troubled waters, yearned
To cast its face upon the Earth
To seize the day, and to it give birth
As She danced over the fields of green
The green, that winter had foreseen..

"Second Coming"
- August

Blindly, five merely slept away
Barely listening to what the wind had to say
"Now this is purity - this is truth!"
It whispered softly, through august's youth
"Enjoy it while here, but beware of the season
As not even you can depart from autumn's treason."

"Truth"
- September

Four still dreamed, when the clouds started to settle
As they shadowed the sun, and the rain fell bitter but gentle
Finally awake, the wind tore its turn
As deep within, the loss of summer burned
"Slept through seeping of suresome virtue,
Tranquillity through denial, truth finally bursts through"

"Departure"
- October

Redly shades on yellow fascades
hurt brought Three through its mourning days
As the pale sun, in pale'r sky of spoke:
"Leave now, this shattered scene unbroke"
While the haunting beauty; falling leaves showered the fields;
a fading funeral portrait, where sorrow yields

"Void"
- November

Drained of life, two started to die
the withering beauty of october, deprived
Still thicker clouds, paving the dying fields in black
death finally arrived, to set in the last attack
With november fading, the last sight is clear
Barren lands, where life once thrived - life that lives no longer here

"Paradise.. Lost?"
- December

When all is lost, and time stands still
One thing is to remember, still
As the heavens cries its tears of white
To once gain make balance unite
"As to be warmth, there must be cold"
Once again, to shape the Earthly mold

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