What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

[larry_emder]

Trying to get some ideas as to how to improve my writing.

So what has improved yours?

Getting critical analysis from fellow members?
Read a good book?
Listened to a certain album?
Some major event in your life?
New gear?

Any input appreciated

I suppose this thread also branches into the question 'what inspires you?' So you can answer that if you want, too

 

[joeydude]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

what inspires you?

pot

 

[Norsiedals]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

One thing that changed how I listen to/write music was hearing Rush for the first time 5 or 6 years ago. That made me want to study theory, which helped my improvisational skills, as well as writing.

So for me it's listening to music that is "past" me. But instead of learning the song from a tab or sheet music, I study music theory in hopes to learn how they wrote a certain song. After that I just apply what I have learned to my writing

pot

Hahah.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

- Listen to tons of music, especially music from genres you're not really familiar or comfortable with
- Try writing songs with other people. If you already do this, try a different person.
- See as many live shows as possible. Again, open your mind to lots of genres.
- Live your life. Experience everything you can. Read everything and anything, go to movies, go to museums, go to galleries, go out on dates, fall in love, fall out of love, get your heart broken, break someone else's heart, have meaningless, casual sex, stay up all night, get drunk, get stoned, talk to your mom and dad, buy someone a present when it's not their birthday or Christmas, play mini golf, help an old lady cross the street, visit Vancouver in the fall and have some salmon and a couple of beers, and come see me and tell me all about it. Then go do it again.

 

[larry_emder]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

-
- See as many live shows as possible. Again, open your mind to lots of genres.

Thats a good one mr dashing! Definately inspires me to write some music.

Think i'll go see a band tonight

 

[Osensei]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

Software! In the old days you could never tell what your music was going to sound like until you handed out the parts and had a band to play it in rehearsal. It was very difficult trying to come up with ideas when you were alone because you couldn't play all of the sounds at once. And if you didn't play keyboard or have a keyboard handy, then forget it!

Today we have score writing software the approximates the sound of the actual instruments closely enough to give you some idea whether your concepts will work or not. You learn a great deal about composing and arranging in the process. I wish I had this stuff decades ago!

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: What things have made you a better songwriter/composer?

Branching out and listening to more genres of music really helped me. After listening to a bit of jazz and electronica I've slowly been able to mix some of that into my own material.