This may seem silly, but I am experiencing a major case of writer's block. I recently bought a yamaha motif and a roland xv5050, and I thought that new ideas and melodies would be flowing through me. I have not composed a song in over a month. Every time I sit down to make a song I'm just a blank slate or I revert to chords, melodies, and sounds I have already used. What do you guys do to break out of such a funk?

I was just discussing this somewhere else. Go back to your roots. Go back to whatever it was that you did when you started out, either musical style or working methods. It's easy to lock yourself into a formula way of working, because it's fast and convenient.

Also, flicking through presets on a synth is the worst way of working.

-tek



[This message has been edited by tekminus (edited 11-11-2002).]

yeh i know that feeling..

the times when I know that I'll churn out something I like is either:

- I imagine something in my head ( before Im at the keys or puter ) and then I go to it and try and put it down
OR
- Im seriously stressed out, angry, sad or something and I go and visit my 76key therapist.. then it just flows..

..I also have sat down and said "ok I think i'll make a song now" and whatever I come up with is just damn ugly..never works for me

Thats for the main song structure/melody.. the effects and everything else I get the conventional way.. like "i'd like an effect like that there.. so lets make it"

Thats what I've found anyway.

PS. All quotes go on in my head.. not out my mouth.

Hello..........I have found that whenever I "schedule" time to work on my sequencing and composing it just never happens! An hour before bedtime, when I know I must get up early, the ideas and creativity flow like a geyser!............go figure!
Sometimes during work or while dreaming I'll compose something in my head. Force yourself to at least write down the basics or you will rack your brain trying to remember it exactly later. I keep a notepad and pencil by my bed ALWAYS! It really helps........Good luck.

dont be afraid to make music that sounds like crap. youll learn a lot more from it then writing a perfect song.

Thanks for the advice. I totally agree that when you say 'Okay, I'm going to write a song today' it never seems to happen. The way I usually started songs was by doing what I know I shouldn't, sitting in front of the keyboard and fiddling with sounds and sort of 'freestyling' melodies until something catches my ear. I come up with ideas in my head all the time but have a hard time channeling those thoughts into actual music, as it never comes out the way I hear it in my head, or I forget the melody by the time I get to the keyboard. I am going to buy a mini cassette recorder to carry around or leave by my bed so I can capture any inspirational moment I might have. It seems I come up with most ideas when I am drifting into sleep. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again

Well dig this for a contribution to the topic.

The other day I stumbled across a freeware program that composes random melodies for you at the touch of a button!

PS- It was shite.

Band-in-a-box will do that, and surprisingly, some come out sounding pretty good (but not most)

Band in a Box.............I LOVE it!

.............but that's another topic.......
hint hint??