Wooz,
One of the most important things I can say is to set aside a set amount of time in your daily (or weekly or monthly - whatever works for you) schedule as "music time". I know when I was about to start the Lava Rats, I managed two hours every Tuesday and Thursday while I was on campus before I had a music class, where I could go to a practice room and write or just plunk out ideas. What was nice is I could look forward to it, and by the end of the semester, I was able to pick up right where I'd left off before.

Also, I've found it invaluable to piece things together with a 2-track or 4-track recorder. That way you can get an idea of a chord progression, and then record a lead part over that if you desire.

But like I first said - a lot of it has to do with routine. I personally can't write without coffee. It's like anything else, at least for me, you have to set up a space in which to do those things. Like, for instance, I can't just sit around on my couch or bed and plunk away and hope to come up with anything substantial -- I have to be standing up, generally playing with headphones on, and ALWAYS have a booklet with staff paper and a pencil somewhere very close by.

Anyway, enough of my yammerin'
~B~

what yall mean this shit can be written down? hey, mr synder said it all i think. good advice

90
Don´t you guys hate when you have a good A part but can´t get the B one right? Intros and endings seem to take more of my time than an actual melody - I often hum those during the day, but thinking of good intros is a bit difficult for me.

Definately

<img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img>

My melodies come when I put the guitar down and go for a walk or a hike. Watching a movie can give me some inspsiration to catch a mood as well. If I'm on the guitar my fingers keep running over the same scale or progression, really limiting what I can come up with.

Yes, I think my best songs are ones that I don't have to think about much, they just sort of suggest themselves.

katz-karnaby
My melodies come when I put the guitar down and go for a walk or a hike.

I agree with this... I always used to think of melodies when I was hiking with the dog. Then I got an iPod and song production went way down. I highly recommend getting away from distractions. Distractions also include musical instruments... very often when noodling around looking for melodies, your fingers will end up playing your tried and true scales and licks rather than finding something unique and new.
--ferenc

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While surfing or running I get struck with ideas. Lately I have been running alot. If its any good I somehow I am able to remember ther gist of them when I get back with the recorder running and the guitar tuned-up.

Go to live surf rock shows. I invariably hear/see/notice things that spark ideas. Usually on the ride home I am humming something new.

If you are looking for inspiration, my band is playing Dec. 16th ........
(oops a blatant plug).

Listen to other types of instrumental music like classical, jazz, ect not to copy but to explore the "feel" of different melodies.

Think-up kooky song titles for songs and try to flesh-out a melody that suggests that title.

Analyze what you like about certain songs and think-up a way to play chords that lead up to that musical device.

There are books which suggest what chord sounds good following another.
(Uncle Tim's has something like this )

Play chord progessions to a favorite song backwards. You'd be suprised sometimes what they sound like.

Don't sleep for 48 or more hours. You'd be amazed what sleep deprivation can do to your creativity. (Don't really do this)

• Bill M.
  

www.theFinDicators.com
www.myspace.com/thefindicators

What day is Surf Rock's birthday? Looks like Surf Rock and I was born the same year. Maybe we are both Libras?

Just thought I'd toss a few more coins in the fountain, as I was struggling with the writing thing recently myself.

First and foremost, I know it's been mentioned elsewhere, but pick up the book "Zen Guitar". It's a crazy quick read, and worth every penny. I just re-read it yesterday and today over coffee. It really does a great job of putting things into perspective.

Secondly - watch your balance of listening. Some people say listen to other music, but I'd gotten to a point recently where I wasn't listening to ENOUGH surf. So what I did was keep surf up everywhere I listen to music -- in my car, on my iPod, at home on my iTunes. Like I suggested in the "slow songs" thread - I put my iTunes to shuffle, and put "Surf" in the search box, and have been letting that play for almost 3 days now. It's great to hear songs pop up randomly, out of the context of the CD, sandwiched between songs you don't associate them with. It really puts a whole new spin on hearing some songs.

Third - no matter what you listen to, figure out what you like from that song, and how they're doing whatever you like. Whether it be lightning fast picking, bizzare synchopated rhythms, or a really great breakdown. Once you've picked that out, see if you can play it or something close to it. Then tweak it to fit your own.

Fourth and finally - have a controlling thought when you're writing. Think of a mood or feeling you're trying to evoke. I find that is the one key thing I need to know before I even try to think up a melody or chord structure.

Speaking of which - after all this yammerin' - I took this advice and used it to finish yet another new LR tune tonight, which means we're now one away from having the new CD all written.

~B~