u-he

Erkenfresh · Post by **Erkenfresh** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 1:45 am

I know this isn't specific to U-he but there's a lot of active producer folk here. Sometimes I just don't feel like writing any music. I don't want to stop, and when I haven't written anything in a while I start to feel a little guilty.

What do you do when that happens? Do you just open up your DAW anyway and force yourself into it? Any other tricks to getting into the producing mood?

exmatproton · Post by **exmatproton** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:01 pm

Erkenfresh wrote:I know this isn't specific to U-he but there's a lot of active producer folk here. Sometimes I just don't feel like writing any music. I don't want to stop, and when I haven't written anything in a while I start to feel a little guilty.

What do you do when that happens? Do you just open up your DAW anyway and force yourself into it? Any other tricks to getting into the producing mood?

It depends on what you want to have as a product. If you want to make experimental music, just experiment. If you want a pop track, start with a nice melodie or percussion. If you want genre specific music, start with some samples for inspiration.

For me, the first second (when i open a DAW) is truly important. When i don't feel like making music, i just make presets for myself and the inspiration flows naturally.

Another good tip: start writing a movie/story for yourself to get the mood going.

Good luck

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:36 pm

chord tools can be fun.. ones that map chords to key then play around until you find something interesting.. and go from there..

new patch banks.. new sample sets.. sometimes..

beyond that I take a break.. sometime months long.

Nanners · Post by **Nanners** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:47 pm

I take inspiration from the world around me. Sometimes I have to go digging around in my music collection for music I haven't heard in a long time or forgot about. If all else I like to grab a book of church music and practice some of it.

Erkenfresh · Post by **Erkenfresh** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:46 pm

A chord tool like the Improvisator? That's actually a really good idea. I'm sitting here making the same old chord progressions over and over again... I don't even know what genre I want to make, it's like I maybe just need to take a break for a couple of weeks or something.

2ZrgE · Post by **2ZrgE** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:08 pm

I (roughly) try recreating drums/bass of a track I like and move on from there - always leads to sth completely different after all.

Nanners · Post by **Nanners** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 12:29 am

Erkenfresh wrote:A chord tool like the Improvisator? That's actually a really good idea. I'm sitting here making the same old chord progressions over and over again... I don't even know what genre I want to make, it's like I maybe just need to take a break for a couple of weeks or something.

Take a long walk. It clears my mind.

sbj · Post by **sbj** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 3:10 am

Just fool around. Not all has to end up as a track.

Erkenfresh · Post by **Erkenfresh** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 12:49 pm

Cool, thanks for all the responses everyone.

aaron aardvark · Post by **aaron aardvark** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 11:41 pm

Erk,
I would try this if you like sequencer patches: find a patch you like & change a few of the notes. Nothing wrong with taking a break if you don't feel like writing music (assuming you're not doing songwriting for a living). Usually I write better music if I'm hungry to come up with something good.

Erkenfresh · Post by **Erkenfresh** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:42 pm

Yeah I got a little something I'm working on in the last few days. But it seems like I can't come up with any interesting fresh ideas. I've hit the "I've heard this loop too many times to make any progress" wall.

exmatproton · Post by **exmatproton** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:46 pm

Erkenfresh wrote:Yeah I got a little something I'm working on in the last few days. But it seems like I can't come up with any interesting fresh ideas. I've hit the "I've heard this loop too many times to make any progress" wall.

Change the time signature to 5/4 and add some notes. Make a nice 3/4 riddim to go with it

voila; wall is gone

aaron aardvark · Post by **aaron aardvark** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:38 am

Erk,
The more instruments you play (electric guitar, electric bass, hardware synths, etc.), the less likely you'll get writer's block in my experience. Also, the more synth plug-ins you own (regardless of brand) or demo (you don't have to own them to record something useful in many cases), the more likely you can try different synth plug-ins, and see what happens. I hadn't used Diva in awhile & forgot how good it sounds. Just seeing a different gui can be a bit mentally stimulating. I never use non-factory skins, though others obviously like them. Maybe that will stimulate your thinker.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:59 am

Creativity is like a battery.......it can not produce indefinitely unless it is recharged. What recharges your battery is a personal thing......smoke a big fat or whatever......

Or just leave it alone for awhile. Sometimes giving it a rest is all the battery needs.......

u-he

KVR Audio

How to get the creative juices flowing?