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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 8:14:11 GMT -5
I've been in a writing lull. Probably finishing writing one new song a year. Just not catching the wind, so to speak. Too much else gets in the way. Life and all that stuff. So, I signed up for Steve Dawson's Songwriting Class at Old Town School. It's hard to get into it. A lot of people want to. I missed last Fall's session. It was already full when I decided to sign up. So, I jumped the gun and signed up for the January session. Been at it for 4 weeks now. The premise is you get an assignment each week and show up a week later with a song based on that assignment. Everyone passes out their lyrics and plays their song. Steve and all critique it. And you get a sticker on your lyric sheet for completing the assignment. Unicorns and smiley faces and such. It's quite fun. But what is best is it makes songwriting Important. I take the Sunday afternoon class. (He does a Tuesday class too.)
So, I come home on Sunday, have dinner, and go in my room and start noodling on the guitar and start tossing around ideas for the weeks assignment. It's like putting a puzzle together without knowing what it's supposed to be. There's pressure at first trying to see what the picture is going to look like. But soon chunks start to fit together. Then in a day or two (or three) a light bulb goes on and I SEE the Outline of what it really wants to be. Then it's a mad all consuming dash to beat and bash it into shape. Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes just pretty good. There's always an opportunity to fine tune things in the future. But every once in a while things fall into place so beautifully that I'm simply amazed. I even say a prayer of thanks for letting this thing pass through me.
This is such a week. I just finished a really fun, and great (by my standards), and rewarding song. Some real meat on the bone too. Out of the 4 so far now, 2 have been of my best ever. They say something about life experience without using a sledge hammer. I'll post something in a week or two with lyrics when I get some simple recording made. The songs need to be played thru over and over before they get presentation ready. But I'm at the mountaintop at the moment. The pinnacle of creative juices. It's a wonderful feeling. There's not much else I do in this world that elevates my spirit more.
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Post by dradtke on Feb 8, 2019 9:08:40 GMT -5
AS I've said before, I can't write songs. But I have friends who can write pretty good songs, and I steal theirs.
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Post by millring on Feb 8, 2019 9:24:23 GMT -5
There's nothing like deadlines and accountability to show what you're capable of. Additionally, it's like Alan Jacobs says in How To Think--- entering relationships with people who see things differently may be the best way to move forward. Nobody really thinks independently. We are all just complex synthesizers.
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Post by drlj on Feb 8, 2019 9:38:49 GMT -5
There's nothing like deadlines and accountability to show what you're capable of. Additionally, it's like Alan Jacobs says in How To Think--- entering relationships with people who see things differently may be the best way to move forward. Nobody really thinks independently. We are all just complex synthesizers. Except for me. I am a basic 60s Moog. |
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Post by paleo on Feb 8, 2019 10:04:24 GMT -5
I've been in a writing lull. Probably finishing writing one new song a year. Just not catching the wind, so to speak. Too much else gets in the way. Life and all that stuff. So, I signed up for Steve Dawson's Songwriting Class at Old Town School. It's hard to get into it. A lot of people want to. I missed last Fall's session. It was already full when I decided to sign up. So, I jumped the gun and signed up for the January session. Been at it for 4 weeks now. The premise is you get an assignment each week and show up a week later with a song based on that assignment. Everyone passes out their lyrics and plays their song. Steve and all critique it. And you get a sticker on your lyric sheet for completing the assignment. Unicorns and smiley faces and such. It's quite fun. But what is best is it makes songwriting Important. I take the Sunday afternoon class. (He does a Tuesday class too.) So, I come home on Sunday, have dinner, and go in my room and start noodling on the guitar and start tossing around ideas for the weeks assignment. It's like putting a puzzle together without knowing what it's supposed to be. There's pressure at first trying to see what the picture is going to look like. But soon chunks start to fit together. Then in a day or two (or three) a light bulb goes on and I SEE the Outline of what it really wants to be. Then it's a mad all consuming dash to beat and bash it into shape. Sometimes it works out great. Sometimes just pretty good. There's always an opportunity to fine tune things in the future. But every once in a while things fall into place so beautifully that I'm simply amazed. I even say a prayer of thanks for letting this thing pass through me. This is such a week. I just finished a really fun, and great (by my standards), and rewarding song. Some real meat on the bone too. Out of the 4 so far now, 2 have been of my best ever. They say something about life experience without using a sledge hammer. I'll post something in a week or two with lyrics when I get some simple recording made. The songs need to be played thru over and over before they get presentation ready. But I'm at the mountaintop at the moment. The pinnacle of creative juices. It's a wonderful feeling. There's not much else I do in this world that elevates my spirit more. I've used the "noodeling" technique, got a couple good songs that way, starting with no preconceived ideas or plans. Interesting what come out, for my often sad and dark. Guess that's what is in me. |
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Feb 8, 2019 10:17:55 GMT -5
There's nothing like deadlines and accountability to show what you're capable of. Additionally, it's like Alan Jacobs says in How To Think--- entering relationships with people who see things differently may be the best way to move forward. Nobody really thinks independently. We are all just complex synthesizers. Except for me. I am a basic 60s Moog. Oh, oh. I'll play. I'm a theremin, because I'm picking up good vibrations! Mike |
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Post by PaulKay on Feb 8, 2019 11:04:56 GMT -5
It’s funny that I have played guitar for decades and only have a couple songs with actual lyrics. And I have NEVER actually performed either of these in public. They remain in an eternal state of “not ready for prime time”
So I have a great deal of respect for those who can do that prolifically.
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Post by RickW on Feb 8, 2019 11:11:37 GMT -5
I find that anything that gives you a reason to do something creative is incredibly helpful. Working through my conservatory Canada work meant I had to practice, with purpose. Now with the acoustic jam, I have to practice and learn. Sometimes you just need a timetable. 😉
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Post by Hobson on Feb 8, 2019 12:00:10 GMT -5
I have over 80 songs completed and decent enough to have copyrighted them. More completed and not good enough. A few in process. For about a year I wasn't finishing anything. Lately I've managed to finish a few. I'm truly happy with about a quarter of what I finish.
Much of my writing was done as part of the Sunday Songwriters Group on another forum. It really worked to have a deadline and either something to write about or some musical guidelines. And occasionally there were some really good critiques from the mod or other members. I didn't always get a song finished by the next Sunday, but often did. When the group faded away, so did my writing.
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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 12:03:22 GMT -5
Time tables and deadlines are helpful. You have to shit-or-get-off-the-pot sometimes. (Sorry millring). It forces you to make decisions about what works and what doesn't and to move on instead of wallow in the same indecision. You also have to develop a critical eye (ear?) for what works and what doesn't. But also VERY MUCH give yourself room to fail. It's an iterative process for me. Try something; step back critique it; dive back in and fix it; step back again. Rinse and repeat until you start to zero in on something that works; always protecting the fragile essence of what you're trying to achieve.
We can all be our own worst critic. You've got to control that left brain demon; let him do his thing and edit the process, but don't let him disrespect and derail the right brain.
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Post by sidheguitarmichael on Feb 8, 2019 14:23:25 GMT -5
Our friend and amazing twin cities-based singer/songwriter Ellis once did a song a week deal for a year. One song a week; 52 songs. While out on the road...
Time comes when she's crashing at our house after a gig, and she says "I have to have a new song written and uploaded by tonight at 11... do you two want to help me write it...?"
So she and Kel and I knocked this one out in about 20 minutes. I think we did two takes that got aborted in the first 60-120 seconds, and then made it all the way through for this one:
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Post by TKennedy on Feb 8, 2019 15:16:19 GMT -5
AS I've said before, I can't write songs. But I have friends who can write pretty good songs, and I steal theirs. You didn't write the Pirate song?  Oh no. |
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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 15:27:50 GMT -5
Our friend and amazing twin cities-based singer/songwriter Ellis once did a song a week deal for a year. One song a week; 52 songs. While out on the road...Time comes when she's crashing at our house after a gig, and she says "I have to have a new song written and uploaded by tonight at 11... do you two want to help me write it...?" So she and Kel and I knocked this one out in about 20 minutes. I think we did two takes that got aborted in the first 60-120 seconds, and then made it all the way through for this one: Nice. I love how "folk Music" is partnership between the instrument and the voice. Nice little figure going. Reflective feel. Scat some melody and evocative imagery over the top. Bring it home with a refrain. Amen. Love it. |
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Post by billhammond on Feb 8, 2019 15:37:18 GMT -5
AS I've said before, I can't write songs. But I have friends who can write pretty good songs, and I steal theirs. You didn't write the Pirate song? Oh no. That one, I believe, was an adaptation.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 16:44:50 GMT -5
There's a Facebook group, Singer-Songwriter Summer Challenge (it goes on in the winter, too) in which you get a single-word prompt every couple of weeks and then you write a song and post a video. I've done a couple of songs for it. It does help get you thinking, but as an improve-your-songwriting exercise, the issue I have with it is that when people post comments, they are all of the, "Oh, that's great" variety. On a couple of songs, I've offered actual positively worded constructive critiques -- with the proviso they can be ignored -- and they were. Ignored, that is. I think people just want feedback on how good their mediocre song is. That said, a few of the songs have been excellent. Your class sounds great, Marshall. Wish I lived in a place that offered something like that. www.facebook.com/singersongwritersummerchallenge/?eid=ARBvga09ryzJBCzmT_Jcue19iS3Xb7oqiTvBJrXHXp_sO4FxKofkpC0WsOP3plpotYF0n7o5BUeTOXLh |
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Post by theevan on Feb 8, 2019 16:52:33 GMT -5
Our friend and amazing twin cities-based singer/songwriter Ellis once did a song a week deal for a year. One song a week; 52 songs. While out on the road...Time comes when she's crashing at our house after a gig, and she says "I have to have a new song written and uploaded by tonight at 11... do you two want to help me write it...?" So she and Kel and I knocked this one out in about 20 minutes. I think we did two takes that got aborted in the first 60-120 seconds, and then made it all the way through for this one: So cool. Keleren has that wow factor, for sure. Passion, depth, the ability to fall into it. How wonderful. |
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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 17:42:55 GMT -5
I’d love to get in a regular song writing group of like minds. Maybe once a month. But the couple I know of are closed. Mostly youngsters. That doesn’t bother me, but it’s hard for an”old guy” to get included with the kidos (that are younger than my kids  ) The OTSFM class is nice. The assignment every week is meant to stretch you boundaries. This week it is to include both major and minor chords in the ssme key. Not just relative minor. Plus there should be an “animal” in the lyrics. It was a stretch, but fun. It’s in D (capo 2 so E) with D and Dm and G and Gm in there. Verses are minor key. Chorus is major key. The title is “Coyote Blues.” I’ll get you some lyrics and an mp3 in a week or two |
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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 17:50:50 GMT -5
Another interesting guitar thing: I met a guy a year ago at a conference that writes all his stuff with a partial capo. I have one but never connected with it. But snce taking this ckass I pulled it out (the capo  ) and tried using it. 3 of the 4 songs so far in this session are using a partial (artificial DADGAD) capo. I recommend it. |
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Post by Marshall on Feb 8, 2019 17:56:32 GMT -5
(I’m sitting in a local estblishment typing on my phone listening to some young guy singing to the Happy Hour crowd. So my typing ain’t so accurate).
. . . , but I am happy.
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Post by Cornflake on Feb 8, 2019 19:34:27 GMT -5
That's terrific, Marshall. My lull has lasted about a decade and I've learned to live with it. I'm glad you're still at it.  |
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Oh no.
)
) and tried using it. 3 of the 4 songs so far in this session are using a partial (artificial DADGAD) capo. 
