Getting stuck

[Burt Crow]

Hey Restless

I absolutely get what your saying and have had similar experience with songs that have been more worked than others – but sometimes that can become a self fulfilling prophecy – we don’t feel as confident about them so we don’t give it the full push when we perform?

Your comment ‘go back and make it perfect’ betrays some of your getting stuck? What is perfect? I don’t believe in perfect or finished any more – I believe in effective and to a deadline.

For nearly 5/6 years I had a very ‘uncreative’ period after being a professional musician and actor. In my defence I was a new dad and not really focused on my music, but despite that when I sat down to write it wasn’t ‘perfect’.

I teach theatre and film and about 2 years ago I decided to recompose the music for a play called ‘Three penny Opera’ in a Bollywood style. My colleagues with 4 months left to go thought I was mad and that it would never happen. I did it however and in the process produced some of the best melodies I have ever written and a lot of effective (not perfect) material.

At the same time I read about TAXI and it appealed to me because it had deadlines and briefs. I’d worked out that all my best work was done under pressure and while the previous uncreative years had been busy, there was no creative pressure (or limitation).

I good artist will never be happy with there work, so unless you have some limitation you run the risk of turning in on yourself looking for ‘perfect’ as opposed to ‘finished on time’. Don’t get me wrong ‘finished on time’ doesn’t mean crap, but it provides creative limitation that can fuel rather than stifle.

Try setting a deadline for yourself and just complete the song? Use some the tips in the Frederick books and just do it. You might a lot of rubbish, but writing a lot of rubbish is better than not writing at all – because in that rubbish there will be gold.

You said you get rid of stuff as well – you should re-cycle I bet in that material that you throw out there must be some great opening lines, hooks or tags or the start of a whole new song? I have the front page of my song book where I write potential, titles, hooks or lines – it great to have them to refer to when you next get stuck.

HTH
Burt

[Restless]

Hi Burt,

When talking about "going back and making it perfect" I don't mean I go back to it and fix it for a month or so. But it depends. Of course I don't think it's "perfect", but it depends on some inner feeling I have and looking at it from a more logical and technical point of view as well. TBH I'm just starting with songwriting (I'm just 19...), it has always been more of a hobby but I decided to take it to a more professional level now. I'm just starting my journey. I don't have a lot (if any) experience in finishing songs on deadline unfotunately, I'm still young and I still have a lot to learn, but it's really nice to have this community and Taxi to help me sharpen my songwriting skills.

Sure, I always keep songs I didn't like somewhere and I do some recycling as you suggested.

Don't get me wrong - even when I have a "block" - I keep on writing, always. It just seems that the melodies and lyrics that come up aren't very good. It's a matter of practice and determination, I can say that songs I've written when I was 15 sound like a joke now, and I'm sure some of my songs I'm writing now will not sound as good when I grow up.

(Actually, the song I was talking about in the original post is finished already and has been produced, I just need to find a vocalist to lay some vocals on it. )

Thank you very much for all the tips and advices, this is helping me (and I'm sure it's helping some others as well) a lot!

[Burt Crow]

Sounds like you are going great and clearly a lot more sorted then I was a 19!

Cheers
Burt

[charlie2]

You said....."So sometimes the key to writing a great song is letting go of all stops and obstacles and just go with your inner feelings. Don't be afraid of them."


That's it....brainstorm. Imagine all possible directions and ways the chorus melody can go. Try ALL of them.

I'm also a big believer in melodies. I believe once you get the melody....you got it all.

The harmony is usually imbedded in the melody, so just focusing on the melody takes care of everything for me.

And of course....relax. You can't write if you force yourself.

Hope this helps

good luck