how prolific are you?

[Skip_dup1]

I know people who have written hundreds of songs, and seem to knock them out with alarming frequency. Personally, I`m still just this side of the hundred mark and that includes several instrumentals. I don`t work fast but I can say that, perhaps aside from some tempos that I favor, very few of my songs sound alike. How about you folks?

[Dak Lander]

Skip, I'm one of those that has lots of ideas that go south in a hurry. I'm not prolific at all because of that. I have a small collection of poems, some adapted to song & a few songs.

It's the shit's 'cause I could do better.

 

I am trying...

[Jedi]

A poetic cowboy, go figga. Whatz Up, Dak. I bet your poetry is off the hook. You seem to be one of those brothers that's hard on themselves.

 

As for me, Skip, I wish I was more productive. I've got a ton of songs, but when I record something I get lost. I want everything to be the best, and a lot times I have to squeeze the project out. EVERY SONG I'VE DONE TAKES A LOT OUT OF ME. NOT ONE OF THOSE SON OF !@#$%! CAME EASY, NOT ONE. The writing aspect comes easy sometimes, but recording never. Granted some are easier than others, but NONE just a breeze. Well, atleast, that has been my experience.

 

Jedi

[pauldil]

One thing that I've never been accused of is being prolific (and even if I were, it would be thrown out of court). In my life I've written maybe 60-70 tunes, mostly instrumentals. I've always been amazed at those people who can just crank out song after song.

 

Paul

[Dak Lander]

Originally posted by dblackjedi:

A poetic cowboy, go figga. Whatz Up, Dak. I bet your poetry is off the hook. You seem to be one of those brothers that's hard on themselves.

 

Jedi

Ah, my good friend Jedi. You know me much too well in the short time we've corresponded here.

You my brother or something??? (other than is spirit) You been listening in???

Poetic in some aspects, none of the poems have anything to do with cowboys either. Go figure.

 

I personally find it harder to write than record. I am fussy about the recording but because I have such a simple setup I suppose my expectations are somewhat clouded & my tendency is to use as little production as possible. Were I more proficient in my abilitis with the guitar it would be better but I make do & don't over dub. What you hear is what you get 'cause it was what I put down on track.

 

You, my friend, may be too critical. You're samples have been very good. A tweek here & there? Yes. But be easier on yourself. Were I as talented, I'd be singing praises.

 

Skip, I don't mean to try to steal the thread....

[whitefang]

I'm having lyric troubles! I have several songs worked out as far as the charts go, but nothing to say in them! AKK!

 

Over the years, I've come up with several songs, but wrote nothing down. With no recorder and not able to write makes them disappear in a hurry! Right now, only have a couple with lyrics

that suit me. The others have maybe two with lyrics that are still works in progress. Don't know how some people do it, either!

 

Whitefang

[Wickerman]

Well, I've written about 50 songs... Thrown about 40 away. I've got more poems and some progressions and riffs I really like but only about 8-12 full songs...

[Nollykin]

I dont know what prolific means - strange, I normally know most words. But from the post im guessing its about songwriting.

 

I write a lot... if I could play guitar better I would write HEAPS. I will just be driving along or sitting on the loo or walking down the street, and suddenly my head will come up with an amazing tune. the whole thing. in my head theres drums playing, guitars, basslines, singing... the lot. So I race home or try to remember it. I get my mic, and sing / hum / mouthbeat the songs into really funny little sound files on my computer.

 

That helps me remember em. then, sometimes, I put them into a computer file... but they never sound good. they sound very... computerised. So, seeing as I cant play guitar, I get frustrated. at the moment there are 15 or so of these sound files just waiting for me to learn to play and play out. Unfortunately, I lack recording equipment and skill.

 

Another problem is how a HELL of a lot of songs sound the same. I get into the whole "E-E-D-D-C-C-E-E" Sound... or something similar, the 3 note progression - A high note, then one note lower, then one lower, then back up to the high note. I always do that - adding some originality is really hard.

 

often I just end up with nothing more than a fancy bassline. Many times I have sat down and written a song, taken the time to make it on computer (crappy sounding though it is), play it, then realise it sounds exactly like one of my other songs, to the not, except the timing of notes and the arrangement may be a little different.

 

Frustrating.

 

I dunno - I guess im just not cut out for it

 

Nolly

[Skip_dup1]

actually maybe it`s tempi that I favor. one tempo, two tempi?...whatever.

For me the recording process is a whole`nother story. I hate to say it but I`ve outgrown the home recording format pretty quickly. I don`t have my own setup but from the projects I`ve done so far, what always gets in my way is track limtations, and crappy low end-especially drums. As far as using a real drummer, note problem #1.

I`ve worked up to 24 tracks on a friend`s project and a few random tunes, and I saw the size of the checks he was writing at the end of the day. I guess that`s problem #3. The music is ready for a real studio. My ecomony is not.

I would also suggest so far, based on what you guys are saying, that you DON`T THROW THINGS AWAY.

That`s not a good idea. Even if it doesn`t sound like anything now, have a file or a box where you can set it aside. That`s a basic survival skill.

I`ve had a melody, and a chorus in my head since this morning which I almost forgot during the day. Another survival skill, which I need to get better at, is having a quick way to save ideas.

Dak-don`t worry about claim jumpin`-I`ve done more than my share of it. Chime in with what`s meaningful to ya.

[coyote]

I seem to work in moments of inspiration.

 

When I was a teen, I had a very productive weekend w/ a buddy where we locked ourselves in his apt w/ some beer and macaroni&cheeez and just wrote. Got twenty songs out of it - some of them good.

 

Wrote sporadically since then but didn't get inspired again til a couple of years ago. Events in my life seemed to trigger a torrent of material, in many genres from country to metal to rap. In the span of a month I had over a hundred completed songs as well as fragments of maybe a hundred more. And since then, there have been times when it just flows and I have to find a recorder or paper or something just to capture it. Of all that material, perhaps 15-20 songs are worthwhile.

 

I've determined that it does no good whatsoever to worry about the category or quality of the final product at the moment of creation. That moment is a gift from somewhere, and it's my responsibility to capture it as best as possible... and only later on try to polish it. If it stalls at that point I can reject it, but in the meantime I get the practice of writing and arranging. This in turn helps me get in the groove of producing even more material.

[Tedly Nightshade]

This last one above is good indeed.

 

For some reason I feel like to write a new song I have to discover the theory of relativity or something. They are all very unique and they don't come fast. Most are pretty complex by current low standards.

 

Also I edit the songs really well, almost obsessively, but they are right in the end.

 

I know some brilliant prolific songwriters, most of whom could use a lot of editing, which i agree should be done after the moment of creation, not to block things.

Ted

[Jedi]

QUOTE]I dunno - I guess im just not cut out for it

 

Nolly

 

 

Judging from the happy face, I know you're probably joking Nolly. But just in case you buy in to this, I'll share a great quote from "Art & Fear." When you ask, " Why doesn't it(making art) come easily for me?" the answer is probably "Because making Art is hard!"

 

When it comes to being cut out for it, again with "Art & Fear" Who cares? Who would know? and What difference does it make? And the answers are: Nobody, Nobody, and None.

 

Great book, check it out.

 

Like I said, I know you were probably joking but being an artist goes hand in hand with insecurities. Therefore, there is always a seed of our truth in our little jokes.

 

So in short, you're cut out for it, because you're working at it. PERIOD.

 

Jedi

[DC]

Glad to hear you guys are writing.

 

I've got almost three CDs finished with my present songwriting partner. (I mean two finished and the third almost).

 

Probably a couple/three albums worth of old stuff finished (some really horror show recordings on most of it due to my impressive 4-track reel to reel of the time).

 

And a zillion bits and pieces that might be songs one day. Loads of scribbled partial lyrics, oodles of miles of tape with chord progressions, licks, some with some words or broken melodys, some jams with a bass & drummer etc. I have actually gone back through this stuff and come up with some tunes when I'm stuck.