Composing question?

[kiko]

What you guy's do when you run out of ideas composing your own music?

I have been triyng to finish my recordings but i am running out of ideas and i don't like to copy. :( :o


suggestions are very appreciated.

[SonicGator]

Learn a new song by an artist you like. I find that I can pick up new ideas by playing through different changes and chord voicings. I don't try to copy the new song in any way, just play through it to get some ideas that lead to something else.

[Pietro]

Here's some ideas. Sorry if they're silly. They ALL work for me.

Stop trying. Read a good book. Read some GREAT poet. Watch an old great) movie like Citizen Kane. Do something that is not the remotest bit musical for a few days. DON'T play for at least 4 days. Mess around with a hobby, like model trains or photography. Or draw or paint something. Go for a really long walk in a really cool place. Go for a really long drive. Watch the Red Sox play the Indians on TV. Spend some time with your kid if you have one. Mow the lawn. Clean the gutters. LIVE LIFE so you have some life to write about.

Or, if you want to try some "musical therapy"... Re-string all your guitars and oil the fretboards... Try an alternate tuning or a nashville tuning. Play piano instead of guitar (or mandolin... whatever else you can play...) Find some new musicians to play with. Listen to a GREAT piece of jazz or classical music (like Beethoven's 9th or "A Love Supreme" or a Duke Ellington suite) ALL the way through in one sitting. Do NOT listen to any music that has any guitar in it! Find two musical ideas that didn't work and merge them together. Play something with the capo up at fret 10 or something ridiculous like that. Buy a mandolin. Get a new guitar (preferably an Anderson that's nothing like what you have now...) or a new gizmo (Spending money you don't have is good for the economy... just kidding...). Learn some songs you love but don't know.

For me, if I'm trying to get a good idea but can't, I'm trying too hard, and have to just stop... maybe for a few days...

[kiko]

exelent ideas guys....:D :D

keepit coming :D


its just that i have run dry for the last 2 weeks :(

[pipedwho]

Go for a walk in a part of town (or another town) that you've never been to before. Bring a note book. Or go to a mall ...

Observe people. When you see someone that looks remotely interesting, make up a story in your head of who they are, where they've come from (in life), and where they're going in life. Listen to their theme song in your head. Write it down.

Don't try for quality staight up, you can sort through what you've got and piece it together later.

[Stys]

When I'm in a slump, I get really moody. Drives my wife crazy. I usually listen to old CD's in my collection for inspiration. Or, listening to soundtrack music when watching a DVD - Transformers is the rage at my house and the DVD has some great guitar riffs.

Trying to work throught the slump is not always a good idea.

I recently began playing a ton of DADGAD fingerstyle and that alone opened up many doors.

Inspiration is everywhere but sometimes I think it needs to find you.

[kiko]

Hey guys that for all the words here thanks God for the moment everything its getting back to normal. I started to work on two new songs and i hope i finish them by the weekend. Thanks a lot for all the pieces of advice you gave me.


:D

[iTwang]

Find a drum groove.... use your current pet lick/riff/rhytm (to get rid of it and out of your system) as the basic idea - usually works for me and if you add a glass of red you are usually home free!:D