Menu
I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain their song writing
process?
San:
Mine is simple:
Typically, most of my songs start as "found inspiration".
Often I will hear a sound or rythym while I'm out an about
and that inspies me to sort of recreate or reconstruct some
aspect of that sound or rythym.
Also, while jamming, we will stumble across something new
that inspires creativity.
Often, while practicing, I will discover something
interesting and new and I will use that as a nugget for a
future tune.
I play the bass and the guitar, and I compose on both
instruments. I also "goof around" on the drums and
keyboard and drum machine...often, my "goofing around"
leads to the best new ideas.
I have tried writing from a theory standpoint...coming up
with a chord or mode or scale and attempting to write form
that framework...unfortunately, this approach produces the
least amount of new stuff for me.
Often, simply setting up a new drum pattern on the drum
machine or Wurlitzer Organ is all I need to get me thinking
about new tunes.
As far a documenting my new stuff, I record ideas and
sketches to 4-track...and I also TAB or write out Nashville
Chord Notation to keep track of my stuff. I have a notebook
full of stuff, and occasionally, I will look through and
see if any of that old stuff might be useful on a current
project.
I hope some of this helps.
good luck,
dp
--- San Barry <> wrote:
> I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain
> their song writing process?
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Over 1 billion served! The most music videos on the web.
> Click to Watch now!
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!
There was a really good discussion about the songwriting process about a year
and a half ago.
Check Surfguitar101 messages 1689, 1691, 1692, 1693 and that thread.
Ferenc
"San Barry" <> wrote:
>I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain their song writing
process?
>
>
__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at
Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at
Ferenc:
Thanks! That was a very good thread discussion.
As always, your insights and comments are sincerely
appreciated.
dp
--- wrote:
> There was a really good discussion about the songwriting
> process about a year and a half ago.
>
> Check Surfguitar101 messages 1689, 1691, 1692, 1693 and
> that thread.
>
> Ferenc
>
>
>
>
> "San Barry" <> wrote:
>
> >I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain
> their song writing process?
> >
> >
>
>
__________________________________________________________________
> Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
> As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at
>
>
> Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
>
> New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
> Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying
> pop-ups.
> Download now at
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Music that listens to you.
> LAUNCHcast. What's in your mix?
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!
Hi Sam,
I assume you are talking about the writing of instro songs?
Well I try do explain how I "write" my compositions (If they can be
called that)
I try to find an interesting theme and try to match chords on it (not
always easy, but knowing a few scales helps)
Sometimes the "theme" is just an idea of 3 or 4 notes on which I try to
add more notes. Sometimes I try to make something that sounds like "mid
eastern" or "Spannish" Or I simply start from a scale.
It's not an easy process and it takes time. I find the most hard part
not to repeat yourself or copy existing (Surf)music.
So I try to listen to a lot of non surf music, where I sometimes find
ideas. I also found "ethnical" music very intersting, like "Gipsy"
music, Klezmer music and even Jazz to be very intersting.
Sometimes it helps to take an existing tune and try to play it at a
different speed, in a different key or in a different mood (sometimes
adding reverb to a well know tune sheds a different light on it)
I usually try to play lead in a surf band, but I recently joined another
surf band where I play rythem guitar (and to justify my Jazzmaster and
'64 Tremolux with DIY cabinet).
This band is a "more" advanced band, but it's very intersting to have to
play at the top of your toes (to keep on track with those guys)
It kind of pulls you out of your own inspiration and confronts you with
better musicians (which is a real treat and improves your playing)
I'm still an amateur and always will be, but that doesn't bother me. I
will probably never come up with a tune like "Surf Party", "Miserilou"
or "Green room"(to name a few) but I enjoy what I'm doing. And in the
end that's what makes it fun to do (and ofcourse justifies the G.A.S.
and A.A.S.)
Hope this helps a bit,
-Jerry S.
-----Original Message-----
From: San Barry [mailto:]
Sent: maandag 2 augustus 2004 18:28
To:
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] song writing process
I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain their song
writing process?
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Yahoo! Groups Links
sam:
I would agree...melodies, harmonies, "themes", hooks...
often something unique catches your attention, and you go
from there.
I too get "images" or "scenes" in my mind and write to
those...
For example, my newest tune is "Roller Rink"...
I can see people skating around in a circle and getting all
jazzed when their favorite skate song is played...
I was playing my Wurlitzer Organ...and then I tried out the
melody on the old Surfmaster Guitar...and there you go...
I did use a descending chord sequence with an ascending
bassline...a somewhat "Bach-like" simple figured
bassline...I used the Wurlitzer's "Rock" drum button for
the rhythm...so far the tune has two parts...I think it
will require one more part...and then I can work out the
arrangement a little more precisely...then it's time to
record everything and see if my buddy Frank can get into
it...
there you go..."Roller Rink" dissected.
DP
--- Jerry <> wrote:
> Hi Sam,
>
> I assume you are talking about the writing of instro
> songs?
>
> Well I try do explain how I "write" my compositions (If
> they can be
> called that)
> I try to find an interesting theme and try to match
> chords on it (not
> always easy, but knowing a few scales helps)
> Sometimes the "theme" is just an idea of 3 or 4 notes on
> which I try to
> add more notes. Sometimes I try to make something that
> sounds like "mid
> eastern" or "Spannish" Or I simply start from a scale.
>
> It's not an easy process and it takes time. I find the
> most hard part
> not to repeat yourself or copy existing (Surf)music.
> So I try to listen to a lot of non surf music, where I
> sometimes find
> ideas. I also found "ethnical" music very intersting,
> like "Gipsy"
> music, Klezmer music and even Jazz to be very intersting.
>
> Sometimes it helps to take an existing tune and try to
> play it at a
> different speed, in a different key or in a different
> mood (sometimes
> adding reverb to a well know tune sheds a different light
> on it)
>
> I usually try to play lead in a surf band, but I recently
> joined another
> surf band where I play rythem guitar (and to justify my
> Jazzmaster and
> '64 Tremolux with DIY cabinet).
> This band is a "more" advanced band, but it's very
> intersting to have to
> play at the top of your toes (to keep on track with those
> guys)
> It kind of pulls you out of your own inspiration and
> confronts you with
> better musicians (which is a real treat and improves your
> playing)
>
> I'm still an amateur and always will be, but that doesn't
> bother me. I
> will probably never come up with a tune like "Surf
> Party", "Miserilou"
> or "Green room"(to name a few) but I enjoy what I'm
> doing. And in the
> end that's what makes it fun to do (and ofcourse
> justifies the G.A.S.
> and A.A.S.)
>
> Hope this helps a bit,
>
> -Jerry S.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: San Barry [mailto:]
> Sent: maandag 2 augustus 2004 18:28
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] song writing process
>
>
> I was wondering if everyone in the group could explain
> their song
> writing process?
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Tired of hearing the same songs over and over?
> Listen to Internet Radio! Skip songs. Click to listen to
> LAUNCHcast!
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.
