Lee Tyler Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 What would you guys suggest for this idea. Let's say I have a song and lyrics that popped in my head, and I know for sure I am going to lose "the moment" unless I sing the lyrics and melody line with basic chords from a small keyboard into some type of recording device. What kind of recording device should I have? A small Panasonic cassette recorder? If I capture these ideas, and especially the melodies whilst they are fresh, I will be in good shape. Today was a prime example. Had it ALL in my head. Got home.....and just fragments were left. Does this sound like a good idea to you guyz? Thanks in advance -----LEE Joe Pine (60's talk show host who sported a wooden leg) to Frank Zappa -- "So, with your long hair, I guess that makes you a woman." Frank Zappa's response -- "So, with your wooden leg, I guess that makes you a table." http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2001&alid=-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 Hi other Lee! Yeah, I would highly recommend getting a little microcassette recorder (they also have little pocket digital recorders too but I haven't tried one) that is voice activated. Carry it with you everywhere - I have one in my glove compartment. That way you don't miss those moments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 Yup, get those ideas down on cassette. I have dozens of 90 minute cassettes filled with little noodles and lyrics and melodic ideas. They are a great resource to have "just in case." And listening back to all the ideas later will help you decide which ideas are more substancial than others. I don't have one, but those little handheld digital recorders are sure cool. They even make multitrack versions, with beats and everything. Here's a nifty little trick to remember: If you've got a great musical idea going through your head, but nothing to record it with, just go find a telephone. Call your home number and leave yourself a message on your answering machine with the musical idea on it. When you get home, your song will be waiting there for you on the machine. https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Tyler Posted November 16, 2002 Author Share Posted November 16, 2002 I've seen those suckers at radio shack about 2 years ago. I wonder if they sound somewhat OK musically, other than the "spoken word". Hmmmm. Thanks for the tip, other Lee. Originally posted by Lee Flier: Hi other Lee! Yeah, I would highly recommend getting a little microcassette recorder (they also have little pocket digital recorders too but I haven't tried one) that is voice activated. Carry it with you everywhere - I have one in my glove compartment. That way you don't miss those moments! Joe Pine (60's talk show host who sported a wooden leg) to Frank Zappa -- "So, with your long hair, I guess that makes you a woman." Frank Zappa's response -- "So, with your wooden leg, I guess that makes you a table." http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2001&alid=-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Tyler Posted November 16, 2002 Author Share Posted November 16, 2002 Multi-track you say??? GOTTAHAVEIT...GOTTAHAVEIT....ROFL!!! Thanks o-long-eared one!!! Originally posted by dBunny: Yup, get those ideas down on cassette. I have dozens of 90 minute cassettes filled with little noodles and lyrics and melodic ideas. They are a great resource to have "just in case." And listening back to all the ideas later will help you decide which ideas are more substancial than others. I don't have one, but those little handheld digital recorders are sure cool. They even make multitrack versions, with beats and everything. Here's a nifty little trick to remember: If you've got a great musical idea going through your head, but nothing to record it with, just go find a telephone. Call your home number and leave yourself a message on your answering machine with the musical idea on it. When you get home, your song will be waiting there for you on the machine. Joe Pine (60's talk show host who sported a wooden leg) to Frank Zappa -- "So, with your long hair, I guess that makes you a woman." Frank Zappa's response -- "So, with your wooden leg, I guess that makes you a table." http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2001&alid=-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 Check it out. Click here. https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitefang Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 Hey, Bunny! Love that answering machine idea. Just hope there's nobody else at home when you call! Whitefang I started out with NOTHING...and I still have most of it left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Tyler Posted November 16, 2002 Author Share Posted November 16, 2002 Holy Moly! Is there anything they DON'T make nowadays??? Originally posted by dBunny: Check it out. Click here. Joe Pine (60's talk show host who sported a wooden leg) to Frank Zappa -- "So, with your long hair, I guess that makes you a woman." Frank Zappa's response -- "So, with your wooden leg, I guess that makes you a table." http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2001&alid=-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 Originally posted by whitefang: Hey, Bunny! Love that answering machine idea. Just hope there's nobody else at home when you call! WhitefangThat's happened to me more than once. http://www.420recordsgroup.com/images/shamedsmiley.gif My wife knows to let the answering machine keep recording when she hears a total psychopath http://www.420recordsgroup.com/images/crazysmiley.gif singing or whistling or beatboxing into the phone! Gotta love her! http://www.420recordsgroup.com/images/kissingsmileys.gif https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salyphus Posted November 16, 2002 Share Posted November 16, 2002 quote:Originally posted by dBunny: Here's a nifty little trick to remember: If you've got a great musical idea going through your head, but nothing to record it with, just go find a telephone. Call your home number and leave yourself a message on your answering machine with the musical idea on it. When you get home, your song will be waiting there for you on the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrix Posted November 20, 2002 Share Posted November 20, 2002 Originally posted by dBunny: Yup, get those ideas down on cassette. I have dozens of 90 minute cassettes filled with little noodles and lyrics and melodic ideas. They are a great resource to have "just in case." And listening back to all the ideas later will help you decide which ideas are more substancial than others. I have some cassettes filled with ideas as well. Problelm is finding stuff. Without an index I usually get really frustrated trying to find some 30 second snippit in a 90 minute tape. Seems like an invention is called for. I do find it interesting. You'd think that if a melody or idea was that good it would not be forgotten so easily. WRONG. Stardust is fleeting stuff. Check out some tunes here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jotown Posted November 20, 2002 Share Posted November 20, 2002 Good tips all. I have a hand held cassette with me most of the time, and if I forget it I use the trusty cell phone and leave myself a musical message. Jotown:) "It's all good: Except when it's Great" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 So how's this for goofy - I was at a CONCERT the other night (Glenn Tilbrook actually, it was great!) and a song idea popped into my head while Tilbrook was in the middle of his set! Now how the heck does that happen? And of course I can't be rude and start singing it to myself over the music...LOL... amazingly enough, I retained most of it and remembered it after the show was over. Talk about a challenge! I guess hearing a really good songwriter can inspire you to write them sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 Lee, were you able to listen to the concert at all, while trying to remember your music? I don't think I would really be able to listen if I had some music in my mind that I was trying to remember! I'm impressed! https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 Yeah, I definitely spaced out for several songs during the show. But then I was pretty sure I wouldn't forget it after concentrating really hard on it for awhile, so I just started listening to the music again and then in between songs I'd run through the idea again and make sure I still remembered. It was kind of nerve racking! Now I just have to finish the freakin' thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 LOL! Great story, Lee. You're a nut! Let us know when that song is finished and recorded, so we can hear it! https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrix Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 I get song ideas often when listneing to others play. I try and remember to bring a pen & some paper - really. I dont think this makes Lee a nut- I think it makes her a songwriter. Otherwise, I'd be a nut also - and this is clearly not the case. Now excuse me - the voices are telling me to check out Georges forum. Check out some tunes here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 LOL Kendrix... yeah, I usually write lyrics down no matter where I am (I wrote them on a napkin the other night, which is a pretty common occurrence!), it's melodies or riffs that are the problem to remember, if I can't sing them into a recorder right away. Sometimes I think of another song that can be used to jog my memory... like if it has a similar rhythm to another song or something. In this case, the feel kind of reminded me of REM's "Driver 8" (although I doubt you'd be able to tell that by the time I get done with it!) so if I thought of that song and my lyric, I could remember it... LOL. Yes, catching stardust is not easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrix Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 Lee, Yeah capturing riffs and melodies is a problem. I think that's why real composers learn to write music on staff paper. Hmmm. I'll put that on my list of things to learn to do - somewhere near the bottom. It seems so un-pop. Check out some tunes here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Knutson Posted November 21, 2002 Share Posted November 21, 2002 Kendrix, you're a nut, too. (Trust me, it takes one to know one! At least, that's what the voices say. ) Lee, I LOVE that song "Driver 8"!!! I'm an old school REM fan, so I absolutely cannot wait to hear your new song!!! According to Kendrix's guidelines, I'm not a real composer either. I can't notate music on a staff efficiently. That's something I've always meant to learn, but like Kendrix said, it seems so "un-pop," so un-rock'n'roll! Keep us posted on the song, Lee! https://bunny.bandcamp.com/ https://theystolemycrayon.bandcamp.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 Hey Lee F, Did Glenn Tilbrook do his walkabout? The night that I saw him, he took the entire audience outside with him, playing "Pulling Mussels from the Shell" as he walked/ran around the block. The best part was when we all went into the alley behind the club, and there was a police car parked in the alley. He crawled on to the police car without skipping a beat, and serenaded the two officers inside. In appreciation, they turned on their emergency lights. One of the nicer concert moments in recent memory. js Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 And also, get youself one of those little note books with the flexible pens. Keep it in your pocket like you do your wallet. Invent some shorthand so you can retain the flavor of the song. I wrote a few down without the shorthand note and could not get the flow again. Kcbass "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 js, no, Glenn didn't do any walking around at this show because it was pouring rain outside. But, when he played here about a year ago, he did take the entire audience outside and start walking down the block, singing and strumming as he went, of course. This one girl said she had a friend who lived down the street, and she called him on her cell phone and said, "Hey, can Glenn Tilbrook come over there and play? Along with about 100 people?" So everyone went into this guy's house, and he was a musician and had set up some mics in his living room and everything. Glenn continued to play in the guy's living room for half an hour with everyone squashed in there... LOL. He's too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.