(no subject)
Over the last few days I've been thinking a lot about how I write songs. Writing music is sort of weird for me, because it's probably the only creative thing that I do entirely and see it all the way through. I have written stories but rarely have I ever finished them. I start them, get a ways in, and then they sort of dry up before I get anywhere. That's not to say that I haven't had plenty of songs that are left unfinished, but the percentage of unfinished verses unfinished isn't as bad.
Despite all of this, the number of finished songs just barely number in the double digits. Maybe 12?13? Considering that I wrote my first song near the summer of sophomore year in college (I've always been a late bloomer), that's about 2 a year. I'd say that seems rather meek in comparison, but I really don't know to whom or what I'd compare it.
It's rare for me to come to the guitar with a song or something in mind. Usually I just play stuff and eventually something sounds good and I go from there. I wish I could come to the table with something already in mind, but that just doesn't happen. I also come up with the lyrics last, assuming I do at all. Especially now with Beati Paoli I just write the music and then hand it off to Greg to do the dirty work. I wish I could write some insightful lyrics, perhaps something that comment on political or social matters. Or even just tell a story. Yet, that ability escapes me. Most of lyrics I have written address the opposite sex and my dealings with them.
I treat writing music sort of like a game. That's not to infer that I don't take it seriously. I do. Well, not serious in that "This is serious business" serious, but just that "I want my songs to sound and be great" serious. Typically I set some ground rules for when I write. For some reason, the few songs I wrote while I was in Japan I had it in my head that the songs couldn't be any shorter than two minutes and thirty seconds nor could they be longer than three minutes. In my most recent song, every other chord has to be a two count suspended D chord. Why? I don't know. I guess I set these rules to challenge myself. To see what I can do with the limitations I have been given. It's kind of interesting because I can sometimes surprise myself.
It seems as if how songs are written is something that most musicians/people don't talk about. But I guess just like with most things, everyone has their own method, and that method suits that individual fine.
Any thoughts, comments, ideas?
Despite all of this, the number of finished songs just barely number in the double digits. Maybe 12?13? Considering that I wrote my first song near the summer of sophomore year in college (I've always been a late bloomer), that's about 2 a year. I'd say that seems rather meek in comparison, but I really don't know to whom or what I'd compare it.
It's rare for me to come to the guitar with a song or something in mind. Usually I just play stuff and eventually something sounds good and I go from there. I wish I could come to the table with something already in mind, but that just doesn't happen. I also come up with the lyrics last, assuming I do at all. Especially now with Beati Paoli I just write the music and then hand it off to Greg to do the dirty work. I wish I could write some insightful lyrics, perhaps something that comment on political or social matters. Or even just tell a story. Yet, that ability escapes me. Most of lyrics I have written address the opposite sex and my dealings with them.
I treat writing music sort of like a game. That's not to infer that I don't take it seriously. I do. Well, not serious in that "This is serious business" serious, but just that "I want my songs to sound and be great" serious. Typically I set some ground rules for when I write. For some reason, the few songs I wrote while I was in Japan I had it in my head that the songs couldn't be any shorter than two minutes and thirty seconds nor could they be longer than three minutes. In my most recent song, every other chord has to be a two count suspended D chord. Why? I don't know. I guess I set these rules to challenge myself. To see what I can do with the limitations I have been given. It's kind of interesting because I can sometimes surprise myself.
It seems as if how songs are written is something that most musicians/people don't talk about. But I guess just like with most things, everyone has their own method, and that method suits that individual fine.
Any thoughts, comments, ideas?