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An original approach to songwriting.

  • 11-09-2010 10:26pm
    #1
    Stompbox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,811 ✭✭✭


    So been playing four years and am heavily interested in songwriting and has composed countless scraps of music. Whilst the guitar is my primary instrument, I sometimes feel its the instrument that I'm most creatively stagnant. Any time I attempt to jam or improvise it always leads to lacklustre noodling and routine pentatonic riffs. What I really need to tackle is new dynamics and phrasing but don't know how to approach this. I know I have the potential to pen some nifty tunes as I'm always considering ideas in my head that I know are completely original, it's just when it comes to the guitar I just can't seem to break out of this rut. I'd love to craft an original sound so perhaps some pedals might broaden my horizons? Any suggestions on what I should do?


Comments

  • #2
    -=al=-
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,291 ✭✭✭-=al=-


    some sorta loooping pedal springs to mind


  • #3
    Malice
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,065 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    This might be more appropriate in the Songwriting forum so let me know if you want me to move it there.

    What I do if I hit a rut is switch between guitar and bass and vice versa. Both instruments are physically similar but their respective roles in the song can cause different thought processes. My basslines generally lock in with the drums to provide more of a rhythmic accompaniment to the guitar which is generally playing the melody.

    You could also try experimenting with different tunings. There's a bunch listed here

    Another thing you could try is tabbing out your song in something like Guitar Pro and then playing with it in that app e.g. change out the guitar for a piano, change the tempo or the time signature.


  • #4
    damonjewel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭damonjewel


    Sweet wrote: »
    Whilst the guitar is my primary instrument, I sometimes feel its the instrument that I'm most creatively stagnant. Any time I attempt to jam or improvise it always leads to lacklustre noodling and routine pentatonic riffs. What I really need to tackle is new dynamics and phrasing but don't know how to approach this.

    Hi There

    That could have been me writing this 3 years ago. I was the same stuck in pentatonic land widdling around. Although I still use it I have found that really learning and trying to master the Major scale has helped in so many ways. The Harmonic minor scale is very much worth listening for a more 'middle eastern' sound.

    Try a simple chord change from G to F, but play the major scale in the key of C. This is mixolydian mode and I was kind of think of it as being the major pentatonics big brother. Listen to the phrasing of the solo here

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKY4IXuQ6FY

    the chords move from E to D whilst the solo is in the key of A major (A B Db D E Gb Ab A)

    Similarly I find Dorian mode being the big brother of the minor pentatonic. In the key of C major play Dm to Em. I think Carlos Santana uses this quite a bit.

    Dont get too hung up on modes but more explore the possibilty of having those couple of extra notes in different scenarios. Hope this helps.


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