Any tips for getting out of a songwriting rut?

[Hope Leaves]

Hey, I was just wondering what techniques people use to get themselves going when they're stuck in a rut or whatever. I occasionally find myself getting sick of anything I come up with and tend to get frustrated with my songwriting - does anyone else get this? Maybe if you do and have some tips you could share them, might help out next time I get into one of these phases.

I'll start with one thing I use. If I'm jamming out riffs and not coming up with anything that catches my attention I'll record a couple of things anyway, then reverse what I've recorded and see if I like it more. Sometimes I've found some stuff I've really liked doing this as it doesn't sound like something I'd normally write. An example I've just done:

I recorded a riff - RiffA, now I actually don't think this is too bad, but it doesn't quite do it for me so I reversed it - RiffA-Reversed. I definately prefer it this way for some reason, I don't think I would have ever written it like this normally and based on this I have more ideas for the rest of a song as well.

Any thoughts? Please add your own solutions as well.

[DT Chris]

The best way to get out of a songwriting 'rut' for me (as in seemingly to play the same patterns or chords or songs sounding similar), is to simply stop songwriting for a few days or week. I find when I do that, I come back and create new ideas, and maybe even improve the old ones.

I 'appropriate' some new music and do a 'music blast'. I just soak in a whole lot of new music and enjoy music for what it is.

I may even try to learn a few of my favorite songs. It seems that learning new chords or ways of picking/playing a song opens up some ideas for songs of my own.

[drago]

Wow, both of those recordings sounded amazing.

Anyways, the original riff sounded really typical metal and pretty boring while the second was much more alternative/indie and interesting. This isn't the first time I've heard of reversing music to come up with something more interesting, its a great technique.

[Hippofish]

I have a few different things I do to get out of songwriting ruts. I should know I get into them about every fifteen minutes or so. But here is what I do. Not sure you should listen to me since these ideas only seem to work for a VERY short period of time.

I will stop for a while from trying to write anything. Just noodle with no really strategy or what your doing and even sometimes working on things that sound completely different than what you normally do. That means if your a Metal guy try doodling around with folk music, grab your acoustic and just start F'ing around with it.

Secondly what I might try is writing a song to copy someone else. Like writing a Nine Inch Nails song. Pretend I am Trent and write a song like him. I ALWAYS fall short, but sometimes I turn out something that is pretty cool or cascades into something cool. I don't like Trent Rezner at all but I was just using him as an example of what I do. Either that or try writing a James Taylor song. That can cure anyones songwriting blockage in miliseconds. James Taylor is like exlax for a songwriting rut. The songs just slide out after that. (I love James Taylor so don't think I am ripping on his music, it's just that I don't record music like that at all and my fingers just don't want to play that kind of music).

The last thing to try is drugs, and lots of them. Take some serious amounts of LSD and or smoke about three bowls of red hair jamaican Hash.

LOL! yeah not that!

Listen to lots of music, mix it up. It all depends on the kind of music you are trying to write. Everyone can get overloaded with a certain kind of music. If you write mostly metal thrash stuff, then switch it up and fire in a copy of Boston's first album and listen to how it's played musically. It's not metal but it will switch your gears into thinking about something other than straight metal riffs all the time and blocking your creative juices.

I also tend to Masturbate a lot when I am writing, but that's another story for another day and in a another forum.

Good luck and I know what it's like to be blocked from writing a good song. I have many riffs and sweet guitar licks that are lying around in my head that just need to have me work them out into songs rather that just being my show material at the local Guitar Center.

Michael

[Hope Leaves]

Originally Posted by Hippofish

I have a few different things I do to get out of songwriting ruts. I should know I get into them about every fifteen minutes or so. But here is what I do. Not sure you should listen to me since these ideas only seem to work for a VERY short period of time.

I will stop for a while from trying to write anything. Just noodle with no really strategy or what your doing and even sometimes working on things that sound completely different than what you normally do. That means if your a Metal guy try doodling around with folk music, grab your acoustic and just start F'ing around with it.

Secondly what I might try is writing a song to copy someone else. Like writing a Nine Inch Nails song. Pretend I am Trent and write a song like him. I ALWAYS fall short, but sometimes I turn out something that is pretty cool or cascades into something cool. I don't like Trent Rezner at all but I was just using him as an example of what I do. Either that or try writing a James Taylor song. That can cure anyones songwriting blockage in miliseconds. James Taylor is like exlax for a songwriting rut. The songs just slide out after that. (I love James Taylor so don't think I am ripping on his music, it's just that I don't record music like that at all and my fingers just don't want to play that kind of music).

The last thing to try is drugs, and lots of them. Take some serious amounts of LSD and or smoke about three bowls of red hair jamaican Hash.

LOL! yeah not that!

Listen to lots of music, mix it up. It all depends on the kind of music you are trying to write. Everyone can get overloaded with a certain kind of music. If you write mostly metal thrash stuff, then switch it up and fire in a copy of Boston's first album and listen to how it's played musically. It's not metal but it will switch your gears into thinking about something other than straight metal riffs all the time and blocking your creative juices.

I also tend to Masturbate a lot when I am writing, but that's another story for another day and in a another forum.

Good luck and I know what it's like to be blocked from writing a good song. I have many riffs and sweet guitar licks that are lying around in my head that just need to have me work them out into songs rather that just being my show material at the local Guitar Center.

Michael

Haha, some interesting sounding stuff here, will have to give it a try, luckily at the moment i seem to be coming up with a song every couple of days with no effort, I started this thread cos I figure it wont be too long till I can't buy an idea haha.

[MetalDave]

A song is like a woman. If you force it, things won't happen. If you let it go it will come to you. You have to take what comes to you. I would say most of the time, you can't just sit down and say "I am going to write a song!" Some songs just bits and pieces come to you as life goes on. Others, they are written in a few minutes. I have been running sound for a band and they wrote a song as they were on stage. The guitar player started with a riff and the drummer and the rest came in and then vocals and walla! a song is born right on stage! very few people can write a song out of nowhere. But, Mac Davis used to have his own show, I am not sure if any of you remember this but he would write a song from one word from the studio audience. He would write about 5 songs this way on demend! Every show! Thats a great songwriter there! If you don't know alot about Mac Davis He did write songs for Elvis and many others! Also had a few hits of his own Baby don't get hooked on me comes to mind and lord it's hard to be humble. I think the first thing is it must be fun for you to do. If you make it work it will sound forced and not be good in most cases. the thing to remember is all you need is music and words... Thats it! All you have to do is put the two together. I have had songs in my head and tried to make them work but I could't remember them when I sat down with the guitar. Then a few years later I heard the song on the radio. They got the words and music I missed! Just put some chords together and start writing! It is really that simple. All it takes is time and little effort! I have written maybe 20 songs and I look back on them ans feel like what a stupid song... I wrote one called mosquito bite, one called sweet derier, one called roll your rock, These all sounded like a young kid wrote them.. I guess I should put them on tape anyways! I also wrote a waltz years ago when I was in a country band called if only it rained beer... what do I have to lose! I think I will record these just for fun!

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by MetalDave

A song is like a woman.

A song is like a woman? That's the best metaphor you got?

I'm WAY more complicated than a song, Dave.

[zildjohn01]

I've written a lot more songs than... women...

Anyways, don't laugh at me, but sometimes I write music in my dreams. Either I sit down and write it (I guess I have less inhibitions while dreaming?) or I just pay attention to the background music and try to remember it when I wake up. I get a lot of shitty ideas (which I write down anyway) but there have been some good ones too

And when I'm really in a rut, (as was mentioned) I'll go listen to as much random music as humanly possible for a week, and then come back with plenty of ideas.

[Vulconizer]

When I'm in a rut I realize that I must have been drinking again and got my vehicle into a mud patch. That, or I have grown antlers and become a buck...

Musically, I do get into patterns where I feel like I am playing the same sort of stuff with nothing new in sight. When that happens, I tend to put down the guitar and listen to other music and usually I'll hear a piece that inspires me to try something out of my normal comfort zone. When I do that, I don't try and force it, I just allow it to happen when it happens. Usually, after I get inspired like that, I end up with a run of all sorts of cool new stuff to work with.

As far as a song being like a woman, I can see that in some respects. When you first get together, you're all excited about the new song or woman. You don't mind spending time listening to her or playing around with her, over and over. You can explore her hidden depths if you so choose. How intellectually deep is she? Is there more to her than the first glance shows or is she just all flash and banging her head in 4/4 time? What can you bring to either a song or a woman to enable them to be a better song or woman?

But, after a while, you get comfortable and feel as if you have found all that you can. The excitement is no longer there. You have to work to spark new interest at that point. You can turn her around backwards and see how that goes. Breaking out the banjo or some other toy can work wonders with some women, er songs, as well.

A couple of things are different between songs and women, though. A song doesn't care if you start playing around with another song. When a song gets you frustrated, you can quit messing around with it and not have to hear it anymore.

Yeah, I'm not married. I wonder why?... heh

[MetalDave]

Originally Posted by Cailyn

A song is like a woman? That's the best metaphor you got?

I'm WAY more complicated than a song, Dave.

Ok to you a song is like a man. or trying to make something happen. It can't be forced. Maybe I should have said a song is like trying to make someone like you???? You have to let it happen natuarally and yes, if you are a woman, you are way more complicated than a song!