What’s Your System For Getting Things Done?

[dryan]

I have not written with lyrics in some time so 99% of the tracks I currently write have none. I'd like to think that makes it easier to finish a track but I don't find it any easier. This is my process...Day 1: Design a chord progression and struggle which chords I like better. Decide. Set it up in Sonar. Decide I like the other chords instead. Change my mind yet again because now the direction of the track is too dark. I just go with it. Day 2-7: Design a drum track to support the progression, change my mind six times on something simple. Suddenly I find that all I've done the last 3 hours is tweak the kick & snare to get them just right. Change my mind again.Day 8-12: Design a bass line to fit the track 'perfectly'. Add more elements to fill the track, pad, percussion, etc. Next is the tricky part... I get sidetracked by a new idea that the last four hours of work have given me! I then begin writing the 'new' track starting over again with day 1. Repeat.

[byllsong]

Hi, I seem to get my best ideas at the most inconvenient time. When I'm shaving, doing the dishes, driving; things that have my hands tied up or wet. Anyway, I usually get an idea and look for chords to match that melody/first line that is ready to slip out of my mind. I then record the piano/guitar with a basic drum and bass accompaniment and transfer to CD. On my way to and from work I listen to it over and over. When I get home, if time allows, I adjust and revise as necessary. Soon the melody and word grows and begin to form a relationship. This process could yield a completed song in about a week if I'm lucky, or it could take months. I have a lot out that have to find their way off of that long lost highway. Songwriting is a passion. We do it 'cause we love it. We do it the best way we can with what we have to make it work Remember, the destination is the goal, but lets enjoy the journey. Billy

[vermeer]

@billy,This is exacly how I proceed: get the melody first, then find the chord that fits best. So what do you use to find that elusive chord? From memory or you actually spell out the melody notes and fit the chords? I do both and with this new software I'm writing, I have a function to suggest interesting progressions that match a melody. This helps me break away from the 4 or 5 chord shapes I tend to use all the time. A little inversion never hurts @weapon,Interesting. I used to do the same: I had the DAW ready all the time and would record every single idea I had. While it did wondrs for my ProTools skills, I found that the quality of my songs went up a notch when I wrote away from a DAW because I didn't end up fidling with plu-ins and interesting production techniques. Try it: use a little tape recorder and hum ideas for great melodies. You'll find that your melodies will become more "singable" even as instrumentals. The other problem I had was that at 44khz/24-bits, my 'scratch" sessions were taking too much space on disk and it was too hard to find what I wanted. With the tape recorder, the quality is low (8-Bits), so it takes less place and being so lo-fi, I know I'm not gonna use that for a final recording Keep it comin' guys Vermeer

[53mph]

Quote:@billy,This is exacly how I proceed: get the melody first, then find the chord that fits best. So what do you use to find that elusive chord? From memory or you actually spell out the melody notes and fit the chords? I do both and with this new software I'm writing, I have a function to suggest interesting progressions that match a melody. This helps me break away from the 4 or 5 chord shapes I tend to use all the time. A little inversion never hurts @weapon,Interesting. I used to do the same: I had the DAW ready all the time and would record every single idea I had. While it did wondrs for my ProTools skills, I found that the quality of my songs went up a notch when I wrote away from a DAW because I didn't end up fidling with plu-ins and interesting production techniques. Try it: use a little tape recorder and hum ideas for great melodies. You'll find that your melodies will become more "singable" even as instrumentals. The other problem I had was that at 44khz/24-bits, my 'scratch" sessions were taking too much space on disk and it was too hard to find what I wanted. With the tape recorder, the quality is low (8-Bits), so it takes less place and being so lo-fi, I know I'm not gonna use that for a final recording Keep it comin' guys VermeerI use a Creative Zen MP3 player to get down ideas. I often sing melodies into it in the car or guitar parts that come to me. I try to get all these things down on the Zen before I lose the energy. If I wait until I have time to fire up the computer, find a moment to dedicate to recording etc... the mood and energy are lost and the song dies.Since I recently changed my job and have very little spare time my recording output has decreased massively, but, thanks to the Zen, my catalogue of songs-to-record has increased massively.

[53mph]

Quote:What about remembering an idea that comes into your head when you're miles from home!I carry an Olympus VN-2100 voice recorder.Light and easy to fit in the pocket, I can either hum a melody, or dictate some lyrics while they are still fresh in my mind.Then when I get home I can listen back and expand on it.So many times I've had a melody come to me while out somewhere, then been unable to recall it later.This works good for me.I use the Zen in the same vein but it's also soooo cute that I can wear it round my neck and sing or humm a tune without looking like Dale Cooper from Twin Peaks. If I want, I can download the files as MP3, but, the quality sucks so I use it only as a scratch plate for ideas and not a serious recording devise.I thought about a field recorder but for the price I'd rather get my ideas down on the Zen then expand them on my DAW later, rather than get a 'pristine' recording of a rough draft.

[michael11]

Quote:Well, Curious Vermeer.The Olympus VN200 is purely a dictation machine, just like the old mini-tape ones, only digital.It's only for getting the basic melody down,so I can remember it later.Trouble is, when I go to play back, in between my melodies, there are messagesfrom the wife and kids reminding me to pick this or that up from the shops!As ibanez468 says, it is a "nifty little device", but keep it hidden!!I know this is a serious thread but every time I see the heading,(What's Your System for Getting Things Done) the same answer always pops in to my head and it is...............I ask my wife!!!!!!!

[vermeer]

I want to thank you all for the great feedback. Now, I'm going back to work and will hopefully come back with something interesting to show See ya!Vermeer