You can write a good song before you become 'good'. Also, considering that you are 4-5 years away from being 'good' I would suggest you start writing.

Ok, I'll try.

Sonichris
I also like to think that all early 60's fender equipment is happy to be playing surf music again. After all, its the music it was meant to play.

Why not just start writing? If later on you don't like what you wrote you can discard it.

(defunct) Thee Jaguar Sharks

Plus! Other stuff not surf: https://soundcloud.com/jamesmileshq
Enjoy every minute

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 21:13:44

I'll attempt.

Sonichris
I also like to think that all early 60's fender equipment is happy to be playing surf music again. After all, its the music it was meant to play.

zak

Kman1
Well, usually, whatever I write has no foundation, nothing to base it on (scales, chords, etc.)

While it is essential to have a functional understanding of scales and chords, I've always found that writing a song around them leads to predictable songwriting. I think the songs I've written that I am most proud of were composed without a guitar in my hands. Try to come up with a melody that has some substance to it, something you can sing in your head - then figure it out on the guitar. Just a suggestion.

zak presents a powerful notion here...many of the best tunes just seem to arrive like a peyote vision in the night...somehow, a tune appears in the mind...and then it's up to you to figure out how to actually play it on the guitar...

have you tried whistling? lots of tunes pop up there...

i can get tunes while mowing the lawn...the drone of the machinery helps my melodic mind for some reason...

...all I would add from my experience of 20+ years of writing mostly sucky songs (although some have been used by friends) is to hold back self criticism while you are writing it, just go for it totally... but then when it is finished, then, unleash the critic to beat it into submission.

The bottom line, however, is if you yourself think it's good. I find on the whole that if you really like what you have written, at lease one person in the world will agree with you

Tim O
oestmann guitar

tunes

clips

moondevil
Now be aware I have extremely poor self esteem skills......

1) You are and always will be your own harshest critic.

2) Let music be it's own reward to you.

3) Record everthing. (you'll need it later)

I wish I took my own advice.

I'll just clarify my own _credentials _ to show my authority on this matter before I go on:
Cd's released = 0
Songs published = 1 (in a drama book of all things)
Songs written = lots and lots
Excellent songs written= possibly one but I'm not sure

Now, I go on - Mr Moondevil - I agree with what you have said - particularly the "3) Record everything. (you'll need it later)" point.

I have actually gone back to bits of songs I left due to frustration and then come back a few years later (in a different context) and gone 'wow' that's just what I was looking for - so you never know.

Songwriting from my own amateur point of view is part intuitive and part discipline...or to put it another way...part hippy and part policeman. If you aren't earning a living from it - it's OK to try anything you want - I like that about songwriting the best ;)

Tim O
oestmann guitar

tunes

clips

I totally agree with the "record everything" idea.
You never know when a magical inspiration will occur.

I've been carrying a microcassette recorder around with my work gear for the past 25 years (wore one out so far) and have caught many of the countless little melody lines that have spontaneously appeared in my head. I either hum or whistle the lines, drumming on my chest or a table with one hand to indicate the beat (looks real strange if anyone's watching...!).

A fair amount of what I record gets trashed upon later listening. On the other hand, some of my best tunes have started this way. If you don't document the ideas as they come, MOST of them will disappear as quickly as they appeared.

http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/theaquatudes

dp
Yes, be empty...like the teapot waiting to make tea...don't concentrate on the "finger" or you will miss all that heavenly glory...

Bruce
“Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless. Like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes that cup. You put water in the bottle it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
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