How do you begin a song?

[tetraplan]

...song?

Groet, Erik

[Ildon]

Wow. I didn't think it'd be so spur-of-the-moment. Now I feel like my method is too systematic.

Here's my process:

-I take an idea.
-Then think of themes surrounding this idea.
-Then decide on what instruments I want to use.
-Then choose how many parts/verses of the song I want based on how many themes I decide to use.
-Then decide on how many measures it's going to be.
-Then decide on any scales and chords I want to use.
-Then decide on a tempo.
-Then I write a melody, rhythm or harmony, depending on what comes to me first, and go from there.

Sometimes that order is switched around, and nothing's written in stone! But because I write music for video games, I don't have the luxury of being able to just let everything come to me, so I usually need to nudge the creative juices into flowing. This way of doing it gives me a good solid approach while not limiting my creativity.

[Stupid American Pig]

I used to start by programming a 2 bar beat that I found "funky" then adding sound effx to set a mod and sorta define a key for the song, then some assorted pads/mix filler sound efx. then try to write a melody.
Then I started relearning the piano, and wrote really simple and BAD songs for about a year until my technique imporved somewhat. Then I picked up the guitar, as the piano had taught me enough music theory that I could translate back and forth between the two. It took another year before my chops were good enough to "write" on the guitar. Now I write by figureing out a chord progression on eithe rpiano or guitar, then finding a rhythm/timesig/ then finding a melody , then finding a bassline to glue the track together, then Ido drums and mix filler/production.

Now it takes me an average of 2-3 months to finish a song, where before I could finish in a day or 2. I think the results are worth it though...

[tkay77]

..the more important question for me is: how do i finish a song without getting crappy?...

torkay

[aldred]

Tinkle on the biana or hum.

mark

[rbet]

I begin a song by pressing 'Play'.

[Ildon]

..the more important question for me is: how do i finish a song without getting crappy?...

torkay

I'm not sure! I used to find it awkward to end a song too, and then I realized that was because I wasn't *starting* the song right.

[Ildon]

I begin a song by pressing 'Play'.

!

[Hink]

Wow. I didn't think it'd be so spur-of-the-moment. Now I feel like my method is too systematic.

Here's my process:

-I take an idea.
-Then think of themes surrounding this idea.
-Then decide on what instruments I want to use.
-Then choose how many parts/verses of the song I want based on how many themes I decide to use.
-Then decide on how many measures it's going to be.
-Then decide on any scales and chords I want to use.
-Then decide on a tempo.
-Then I write a melody, rhythm or harmony, depending on what comes to me first, and go from there.

Sometimes that order is switched around, and nothing's written in stone! But because I write music for video games, I don't have the luxury of being able to just let everything come to me, so I usually need to nudge the creative juices into flowing. This way of doing it gives me a good solid approach while not limiting my creativity.

very, very interesting post...first yes your way is too systematic, no doubt about it...of course that's only for me...then I read on and your explanation is eye opening. I have to admit, last night I thought a few people here were being production line musicians. I actually thought about Steven West's thread a couple days ago. I was drawing a connection that perhaps computers have put out too much static line, one dimensional music and thought many were just too stiff and/or over analyzing the whole picture and "how to do it right".

But that was before I read your post and I am reminded that there is many people using computers to make music for living like you do. TV ads, radios ads, and you're right this is not the school of thought I am from, but it is your reality and you do have deadlines and quotas...I see then that having a system that works is good.

BTW the only system I have is I don't like to change my set up dratsically. I find that my mind snaps to creativity when I turn on the lights and the rack, get in my corner and then I'm in my world. Probably if I used more of a system I get more done. The problem is I start having fun...way too often I forget to hit record before I have fun...

[pHz]

interesting rhythm loop > bass > bleepy bits ...

... thats usually as far as i get ...

slainte rob

[androidlove]

i'll finish my songs when i get a houseboat, a band, a producer, and a case of jack daniel's

[Ildon]

Wow. I didn't think it'd be so spur-of-the-moment. Now I feel like my method is too systematic.

Here's my process:

-I take an idea.
-Then think of themes surrounding this idea.
-Then decide on what instruments I want to use.
-Then choose how many parts/verses of the song I want based on how many themes I decide to use.
-Then decide on how many measures it's going to be.
-Then decide on any scales and chords I want to use.
-Then decide on a tempo.
-Then I write a melody, rhythm or harmony, depending on what comes to me first, and go from there.

Sometimes that order is switched around, and nothing's written in stone! But because I write music for video games, I don't have the luxury of being able to just let everything come to me, so I usually need to nudge the creative juices into flowing. This way of doing it gives me a good solid approach while not limiting my creativity.

very, very interesting post...first yes your way is too systematic, no doubt about it...of course that's only for me...then I read on and your explanation is eye opening. I have to admit, last night I thought a few people here were being production line musicians. I actually thought about Steven West's thread a couple days ago. I was drawing a connection that perhaps computers have put out too much static line, one dimensional music and thought many were just too stiff and/or over analyzing the whole picture and "how to do it right".

But that was before I read your post and I am reminded that there is many people using computers to make music for living like you do. TV ads, radios ads, and you're right this is not the school of thought I am from, but it is your reality and you do have deadlines and quotas...I see then that having a system that works is good.

BTW the only system I have is I don't like to change my set up dratsically. I find that my mind snaps to creativity when I turn on the lights and the rack, get in my corner and then I'm in my world. Probably if I used more of a system I get more done. The problem is I start having fun...way too often I forget to hit record before I have fun...

Exactly! I'm paid a certain amount of money for every 30 seconds of music I create. If someone commissions something for 2:30 seconds, then I need to decide on the tempo and the amount of measures it needs to be so I don't go over the limit.

It's not uncommon for me to sit down at my keyboard, strike up an arpeggio, and just go totally freestyle when I have the time. I usually make something progressive when I do that.

I agree with you, though. People tend to put too much stock in "proper form" and what have you. For a long time I was going nuts trying to figure out how to "do it right," but I found that that's pointless. It detracts from the overall fun of it if you don't make music your own way, even if you use lots and lots of arpeggios for almost every track (like Philip Glass).