about composing..

[robbie]

When you compose or write your own songs, how do you do it? Are u able to play the whole song of the guitar, and then write it out after you finish? or do you write bar by bar or sometinhg like that?

i want some tips on this cause like.. im writing my songs bar by bar or maybe a few bars...and i dont think its the best way! because sometimes i play a long thing that i thought was really good which cae outtta nowhere!!! ...then i forget it...so how could i write it down...

any tips?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: about composing..

The first thing I look for when writing new stuff is: is it actually challenging for me to play it, and is it FUN and MEMORABLE. I then see where the riff leads me, in terms of verse/bridge/chorus. Sometimes the 1st riff I write becomes the chorus, or whatever. As for composition, I try to keep things fresh by writing in different keys. Often times I will modulate a key/time/tempo change to keep it fresh, which is pretty rare in old school power/prog, but I enjoy it. Forcing yourself to write in uncommon keys will often lead you to new and interesting sonic spaces. Sometimes it just doesn't work, but sometimes you strike gold. For example, one of the best riffs I wrote for our upcoming album is a really old-school riff based off of Cm (Eb) ... I play in standard tuning, which means that I can't play any open strings, aside from G ... writing the riffs and changes was a real challenge, as well as a hand-strength exercise! I also chart each song I write to see what inversions will work where, since playing power chords all the time can get mundane FAST.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: about composing..

I use Cakewalk software to capture the parts I write as soon as I write them.
I have a "licks" project that's full of catchy parts. I also tend to write on my acoustic. If it's fun and memorable on the acoustic, then I tend to find it's just a good part pure and simple.

I'll collect parts and often find I can start connecting them together. Often I'll have to transpose one part to a different key in order for it to work with another part. As Twilight pointed out, I often look for a different flavor/tempo at times to give the song more dynamics. I also like to write in different keys since I've discovered I get stale writing in C/G/D....which I really like to do since I'm a fan of the open strings to augment the sound. Lately I've been on a E/B/F# kick. Another nice trick I've started to use lately is to work on a parallel mode (someone correct please if that's the wrong term)....meaning I'll switch from C Major to CMinor then work my way back to CMajor. I've discovered that personally I require another part to make it back seamlessly to CMajor from CMinor (in this specific case I used GMinor).

Another point to consider....I'll have parts that lay around for a year or two before I find something to go with them. The software is well worth the $100 or so.