helix
First Lieutenant   Posts: 3 Registered: 3/12/2006 Status: Offline
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posted on 3/12/2006 at 23:58 |
I've been playing guitar for sevral years now and about 4 months ago I got
a band going. I've written about 5 songs and i'm just not sure i'm
completly pleased with the direction our music is going. I feel I need
some better rythem and style. I use some effects now and I like them
sometimes but I just really need to get out of a rut i've been in because
all I feel I now do is just play the same songs just on diffent keys. what
suggestions dose anyone have
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Telefreak
Moderator   Posts: 468 Registered: 1/12/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/13/2006 at 19:37, Reply 1 |
Broaden your horizons
Listen to different types and styles of music so you have a wider range of
influences ____________________
Technology, not technique
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helix
First Lieutenant Posts: 3 Registered: 3/12/2006 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/13/2006 at 23:58, Reply 2 |
its funny you say that because I just went and bought a few new cd's. Now
this is a question, do you suppose I should learn how to play some of the
songs? I got all week to practice and make up so new stuff since its
spring break for college.
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Spidercents
Moderator Posts: 1019 Registered: 7/29/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/15/2006 at 00:20, Reply 3 |
What type of music are you writing...are you singing and writing...are you
just writing the guitar parts and having someone sing over it...just
wondering.
 ____________________
Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
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ICA
First Lieutenant  Posts: 4 Registered: 3/15/2006 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/15/2006 at 15:53, Reply 4 |
I was in a rut for a long, long time but then i started listening to old
rock and old country and it gave me sooooooooooo many new song ideas!!!!!
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FrenchCrusader
Second Lieutenant   Posts: 41 Registered: 1/16/2005 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/16/2006 at 11:53, Reply 5 |
I did the same thing when i was stuck with things to write. I was bought a
couple of CD's for my birthday (CREAM and Davy Graham) and i found it much
easyer to write more tracks.
A friend of mine also said to play songs other people have written and
instead of finnishing at the end carry on and make small changes(tempo,
key, add a completely different riff stuff like that) until it becomes a
completely different song, it never worked for me but he told me the
Beatles did it so it can't be ALL crap then.
i hope this helps matey and good luck with the writting.
Frenchcrusader.
Rock on, Rock Hard and Rock Heavy!!! ____________________
If it feels good do it, do it. If you break the law doing it, AHH what the
hell.
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djhollowman
First Lieutenant Posts: 5 Registered: 3/13/2006 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/16/2006 at 17:31, Reply 6 |
Hi, my suggestion is to learn a bit about musical theory, if you're not
already doing so. I found it opens up whole new possiblities, and is great
for getting out of the creative rut!! I found that I could link up larger
sections of the neck musically, which boosted my confidence. A good idea
too is to play the same chord in a different shape ie, play three notes of
an Aminor chord triad,but do it higher up the neck, or in a different
order. Also, try joining some of those little doodles you play when idly
warming up into longer sections. And try changing the tuning of your guitar
(standard, drop d, downtuned half step or whole step, open d,for examples),
and then playing the same chord patterns and riffs - they could take on a
whole new life. Telefreak has a good suggestion there too. Listen to a
wider spectrum of music - as suggested here too! Do you ever record
yourselves and listen back to it from an audience viewpoint? Hope this
helps! Good luck.
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helix
First Lieutenant Posts: 3 Registered: 3/12/2006 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/17/2006 at 03:04, Reply 7 |
Thanks for the ideas
I have listened to some more range of styles to a small extent some indie
rock and alternative stuff, and I feel it has helped. I was noodling
around last night with diffrent modes and combining them with diffrent keys
and It helped a bit.
I like the idea of listening to a song and then just trying to make up a
next riff for it and so on. I've kinda done that where I'd make up a 3rd
guitar for the song but never a new riff for it.
I listen mainly to rock/emo/indie music and I guess I feel thats the kind
of music I write but when I record it and play it back it just seems to
predictable to me. like i'd claim the song as mine but I don't know if I
could nessasarly say that i'm proud of it.... I don't know.... 
we've entered the battle of the bands here in our city.. and for the past
week they have been doing online voting... and we've been dead last out of
nine bands..... so if any one wants to give me or "holiday"(my band's name)
some tips please do so. (www.thespectrum.com/battle)
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Spidercents
Moderator Posts: 1019 Registered: 7/29/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/17/2006 at 05:05, Reply 8 |
The song Your eyes im asuming is yours since you mentioned the band
holiday...The way my guitar is tuned I have you starting in Eb or something
however these riffs can be moved up or down the neck depending on what
chord your starting with...I dont tune to piano pitch and tune by ear so Im
not sure if your in E or Eb or whatever...it doesnt really matter though as
these riffs can be moved around.
You dont have to use them or anything however I felt like adding some stuff
to the song.
I would start the song with this riff.
This symbol / means slide up to next note without striking that last
note.
E-------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------
D------4-----6/-8--------4----6/-8-------4-----6/-8-
A---6-----6------------4----4----------2-----2---
E-----------------------------------------
=======================play this last part twice
When the drum solo type thing starts...I came up with the riff below.
You have to start playing it as soon as the final chord is struck right
before the drum part.(which I like alot until the singing comes in then Im
not liking it so much)...also the vocals are not loud enough...the singer
needs to project their voice more...the volcals and melody need
work...start with some riffs first.
E----------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------
G------------------------------------
D----------------------------------
A------1-----2-------4------2--------
E---2----2------2-------2---------
play with fingers banjo style pretty fast to fit the song...keep repeating
during drum thang.
If you dont like the riffs thats ok...you dont have to use them or
anything...these are just ideas floating around...they may not fit your
style...If you like them then use them...I find it easier to come up with
riffs to other peoples music because its fresh and not mine...its
easier.
[Edited on 3/17/2006 by Spidercents] ____________________
Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
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Telefreak
Moderator Posts: 468 Registered: 1/12/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 3/19/2006 at 19:43, Reply 9 |
Go listen to some punk, proper punk, not this modern rubbish.
The Stooges, The Clash, The Buzzcocks, that'll get you fired up, works for
me. Especially The Clash, great musicians and amazing songwriters ____________________
Technology, not technique
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