How do you get into your creative mind?

[norminal]

I have had this happen with all sorts of things. I have no explanation for it but it is a thing for sure.

Maybe taking a shower puts you in a “flow” state.

 

[DrewJD82]

The hippie/New Age answer to ‘why do things just come to my head when I’m in the shower” is because you asked the Universe a question with positive intent and it’s answering. Whether or not that jives with ya is another story, but that’s the basis of how I go about solving problems I don’t have immediate answers to and more often than not, it works, whether it’s a music thing (I take recording breaks just to hit the shower and let the next section pop in my head) or at work, where I’ll just go for a walk until something pops in my head.

As for the OP, that was a huge struggle for me for the first time after I got divorced. I know in my case, the creative juices are cut off entirely if I’m still processing a life event and there’s nothing I can do to force it out. Nothing I’ll end up happy with, anyway.

At this point I have a stockpile of song ideas and riffs I can pick up when I don’t have anything new happening on the spot. The last few tunes I banged out were from old ideas. The trick for me is fleshing out enough of an idea to reference later that contains the aspect that made me want to work on it to begin with. I generally have to put a drum beat behind a riff for that to work.

I definitely stay creative once the ball is rolling, but man is it tough to get that ball rolling at times. This is actually why I named my YouTube channel ‘Sometimes I Hate My Guitar’ and wanted to start focusing it on hitting that creative point and getting past road blocks.

Just getting a guitar in my hands every day goes a LONG way because you might go a few days without anything cool happening, but all it takes is that one burst of “Oh I wanna work on this!” to get ya off to the races.

The other part is maintaining that inspiration once you get into the ‘work’ part of writing, or if you start feeling something sucks and that’s when I revert back to Devin Townsend’s advice of “Finish everything, even if you think it sucks. How do you know it sucks if it’s not finished? Maybe you thinking it sucks is exactly what it requires to make it something you love”

Most of those that I pushed through, I’m still not super keen on, but it DOES leave you with that sense of accomplishment just the same, you just aren’t as stoked to play it for everyone. Which is also silly, because someone else might love it when you’re not digging it and then their enthusiasm for it rubs off on you and makes ya want to do more.

 

[Genghis]

As several have mentioned, having some kind of drum track helps as well. I used to map out a song structure with MIDI loops in SD3 or do something with Logic Drummer for inspiration and have written many songs that way. Two of the songs we are getting ready to release were written that way, but my drummer redid the tracks his own way.

 

[FuzzyAce]

 

[JasonE]

The hippie/New Age answer to ‘why do things just come to my head when I’m in the shower” is because you asked the Universe a question with positive intent and it’s answering. Whether or not that jives with ya is another story, but that’s the basis of how I go about solving problems I don’t have immediate answers to and more often than not, it works, whether it’s a music thing (I take recording breaks just to hit the shower and let the next section pop in my head) or at work, where I’ll just go for a walk until something pops in my head.

As for the OP, that was a huge struggle for me for the first time after I got divorced. I know in my case, the creative juices are cut off entirely if I’m still processing a life event and there’s nothing I can do to force it out. Nothing I’ll end up happy with, anyway.

At this point I have a stockpile of song ideas and riffs I can pick up when I don’t have anything new happening on the spot. The last few tunes I banged out were from old ideas. The trick for me is fleshing out enough of an idea to reference later that contains the aspect that made me want to work on it to begin with. I generally have to put a drum beat behind a riff for that to work.

I definitely stay creative once the ball is rolling, but man is it tough to get that ball rolling at times. This is actually why I named my YouTube channel ‘Sometimes I Hate My Guitar’ and wanted to start focusing it on hitting that creative point and getting past road blocks.

Just getting a guitar in my hands every day goes a LONG way because you might go a few days without anything cool happening, but all it takes is that one burst of “Oh I wanna work on this!” to get ya off to the races.

The other part is maintaining that inspiration once you get into the ‘work’ part of writing, or if you start feeling something sucks and that’s when I revert back to Devin Townsend’s advice of “Finish everything, even if you think it sucks. How do you know it sucks if it’s not finished? Maybe you thinking it sucks is exactly what it requires to make it something you love”

Most of those that I pushed through, I’m still not super keen on, but it DOES leave you with that sense of accomplishment just the same, you just aren’t as stoked to play it for everyone. Which is also silly, because someone else might love it when you’re not digging it and then their enthusiasm for it rubs off on you and makes ya want to do more.

I didn't know the name of your YouTube channel. You have a new subscriber now. :)

I had a thought today that I should try starting with some drum loops and my bass. If I can get a groove going that I like that may be a good springboard to getting things rolling.

I know what is different that is really tripping me up. When I have song ideas they typically come from a lyric. I will get thoughts about things and start developing them in my head. As they develop I can hear the type of song it will be. This time around I was trying to build an instrumental song. I wasn't loving what I was coming up with for guitar parts. Everything I played just sounded like running scales to me. I kept twisting it but still wasn't just getting there with any sorts of riffs or hooks. I think the idea of starting with a drum beat and feeling it out with my bass is a good idea to start generating something. I can lay down a couple of different bass lines to have an option for different feels to it. This is really the first spark of an idea that I am feeling a bit excited about.

 

[DrewJD82]

I didn't know the name of your YouTube channel. You have a new subscriber now. :)

I had a thought today that I should try starting with some drum loops and my bass. If I can get a groove going that I like that may be a good springboard to getting things rolling.

I know what is different that is really tripping me up. When I have song ideas they typically come from a lyric. I will get thoughts about things and start developing them in my head. As they develop I can hear the type of song it will be. This time around I was trying to build an instrumental song. I wasn't loving what I was coming up with for guitar parts. Everything I played just sounded like running scales to me. I kept twisting it but still wasn't just getting there with any sorts of riffs or hooks. I think the idea of starting with a drum beat and feeling it out with my bass is a good idea to start generating something. I can lay down a couple of different bass lines to have an option for different feels to it. This is really the first spark of an idea that I am feeling a bit excited about.

Oh for sure, I either start with a beat first or add one before moving onto the next riff. That’s definitely part of the ‘keeping the original inspiration going’ aspect that’ll help pick it back up later, once the inspiration isn’t brimming at the edge.

Lately I’ve been doing a LOT more melody-searching by just playing on one string, or my favorite, 2 strings and 2 frets. It’s so much faster coming up with a melody that’s actually vocal-like instead of utilizing the whole neck and running into the ‘sounds like scales’ issue. And if I find a melody with just one string, I’ll see how well I can pull off the melody using just bending instead of hitting specific frets as it tends to lend itself to the vocal-like thing a little better.

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[norminal]

 

[Dave Lewis]

Try having a long soak in the bath with a pen and notepad

 

[FuzzyAce]

Try having a long soak in the bath with a pen and notepad

What about a radio?

 

[JiveTurkey]

What about a radio?

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I couldn't really find anything that excited me and nothing really developed. This happened again the second day. I fired it all back up and liked the tones I was getting but nothing catchy at all came out of me.

Maybe the “quality” judgment numbs you, when you leave those out of your mind, and commit to the process instead of the result, maybe you get more done.

I did quite some writing in my lifetime, (with reaching the national charts in my country as my single moment of fame )

I never liked the process of writing, cause it’s hard work, that for me had very little to do with inspiration or moods.
Inspiration was lucky 5 second while taking a S…where an idea popped (or pooped) up…from there it was hard work.

Whenever I had too many quality judgments…I’d never get anything done..songs would stay unfinished.
What helped was making a deal with myself like: I’m gonna finish a tune this next 4 hours…complete, with lyrics…doesn’t matter how good or bad…but it had to have head and tail. 7/10 where bad, 1/10 I was proud of, 2/10 where ok after rework. So that’s 3 ok tunes for the work of 10…it is what it is.

What also can help is to commit to a process…what ever process fits you. What works for me when writing instrumentals…is to only write the melody first, and record that to a click…and create the full length of the tune with only melody and a click, nothing else. Only when that’s ready think of harmony, then other stuff in the track. This tune came from that process:


Another think that helps me: pick a theme! Can be something silly. I wrote a tune “new shoes” that was aimed to fit the feeling of going to school with super cool new sneakers at the age of 13. Doesn’t matter if you are successful in reflecting the theme…it simply sets some boarders to keep you from getting lost.

What also helps me is to record DI signals I can reamp..I don’t have to worry if the sound is ok cause I can redo that part. Only the performance counts.

 

[JasonE]

Maybe the “quality” judgment numbs you, when you leave those out of your mind, and commit to the process instead of the result, maybe you get more done.

I did quite some writing in my lifetime, (with reaching the national charts in my country as my single moment of fame )

I never liked the process of writing, cause it’s hard work, that for me had very little to do with inspiration or moods.
Inspiration was lucky 5 second while taking a S…where an idea popped (or pooped) up…from there it was hard work.

Whenever I had too many quality judgments…I’d never get anything done..songs would stay unfinished.
What helped was making a deal with myself like: I’m gonna finish a tune this next 4 hours…complete, with lyrics…doesn’t matter how good or bad…but it had to have head and tail. 7/10 where bad, 1/10 I was proud of, 2/10 where ok after rework. So that’s 3 ok tunes for the work of 10…it is what it is.

What also can help is to commit to a process…what ever process fits you. What works for me when writing instrumentals…is to only write the melody first, and record that to a click…and create the full length of the tune with only melody and a click, nothing else. Only when that’s ready think of harmony, then other stuff in the track. This tune came from that process:


Another think that helps me: pick a theme! Can be something silly. I wrote a tune “new shoes” that was aimed to fit the feeling of going to school with super cool new sneakers at the age of 13. Doesn’t matter if you are successful in reflecting the theme…it simply sets some boarders to keep you from getting lost.

What also helps me is to record DI signals I can reamp..I don’t have to worry if the sound is ok cause I can redo that part. Only the performance counts.

Thank you for the advice. I had to make myself a promise to not delete things anymore. I guess I will have to make myself the promise to not judge things too hard. I know I do that. I have spent a lot of time mixing live bands and I am pretty critical on how things sound. I have received many compliments over the decades because of it but I put the bar pretty high for being happy or proud with my work. I 100% know that I have killed things because I expect more from myself.

I did work out a process that I think will work for me. Without getting too far into it, it comes from parts of my professional career. It is a mixture of some things I have had success with in other areas. Deciding to create an instrumental piece seemed to throw me for a loop since it doesn't really fit the process I worked out. It is a little different animal.

I like that song you posted. That is a nice relaxing piece. Great job!

 

[norminal]

Really enjoyed this. Good vibe, great playing, and killer tone!

 

[László]

Maybe the “quality” judgment numbs you, when you leave those out of your mind, and commit to the process instead of the result, maybe you get more done.

I did quite some writing in my lifetime, (with reaching the national charts in my country as my single moment of fame )

I never liked the process of writing, cause it’s hard work, that for me had very little to do with inspiration or moods.
Inspiration was lucky 5 second while taking a S…where an idea popped (or pooped) up…from there it was hard work.

Whenever I had too many quality judgments…I’d never get anything done..songs would stay unfinished.
What helped was making a deal with myself like: I’m gonna finish a tune this next 4 hours…complete, with lyrics…doesn’t matter how good or bad…but it had to have head and tail. 7/10 where bad, 1/10 I was proud of, 2/10 where ok after rework. So that’s 3 ok tunes for the work of 10…it is what it is.

What also can help is to commit to a process…what ever process fits you. What works for me when writing instrumentals…is to only write the melody first, and record that to a click…and create the full length of the tune with only melody and a click, nothing else. Only when that’s ready think of harmony, then other stuff in the track. This tune came from that process:


Another think that helps me: pick a theme! Can be something silly. I wrote a tune “new shoes” that was aimed to fit the feeling of going to school with super cool new sneakers at the age of 13. Doesn’t matter if you are successful in reflecting the theme…it simply sets some boarders to keep you from getting lost.

What also helps me is to record DI signals I can reamp..I don’t have to worry if the sound is ok cause I can redo that part. Only the performance counts.

super nice.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I’ve found just skimming Splice for random drum loops, usually stuff that’s a totally different genre to what I typically write, just looking for anything that catches my ear. i’ll pick a few, and drag them into a DAW.

Then I’ll set myself a challenge of writing 10 riffs over it. then 10 more, then maybe 10 more after that.

after a while I’ll drag them around and group together ones that might work together. sometimes i’ll flesh them out more, or write things to link them together or transitions. after a while more complete songs come out of it.

Meditation is also good for just clearing the junk from your brain. My attention span goes to shit if give had a drink, I prefer writing early in the day while i’m still fresh and focused

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Thank you for the advice. I had to make myself a promise to not delete things anymore. I guess I will have to make myself the promise to not judge things too hard. I know I do that. I have spent a lot of time mixing live bands and I am pretty critical on how things sound. I have received many compliments over the decades because of it but I put the bar pretty high for being happy or proud with my work. I 100% know that I have killed things because I expect more from myself.

I did work out a process that I think will work for me. Without getting too far into it, it comes from parts of my professional career. It is a mixture of some things I have had success with in other areas. Deciding to create an instrumental piece seemed to throw me for a loop since it doesn't really fit the process I worked out. It is a little different animal.

I like that song you posted. That is a nice relaxing piece. Great job!

There are many ways to Rome offcourse, one of them could be to mentally split writing, arranging and mixing as separate steps in the process.
Melody and harmony first, then the form, then the parts, then the tracking of parts , then mixing. This at least helps me to get anything done…else I get stuck it too much at once.

Anyway…I assume we can expect your first new tune posted here within 24 hours?

 

[Mikael Dez]

Weed and Arizona green tea.

Edit: saw no weed lol, then I’d say maybe a hot shower and time to think. And Arizona green tea.

 

[JasonE]

Meditation is also good for just clearing the junk from your brain. My attention span goes to shit if give had a drink, I prefer writing early in the day while i’m still fresh and focused

I tried meditation a few times. I pulled up some guided mediations on Spotify. Man, I couldn't get my brain to engage in the activity at all. I really don't know how to shut it off or slow it down. I may try again to see if I can make it work.

There are many ways to Rome offcourse, one of them could be to mentally split writing, arranging and mixing as separate steps in the process.
Melody and harmony first, then the form, then the parts, then the tracking of parts , then mixing. This at least helps me to get anything done…else I get stuck it too much at once.

Anyway…I assume we can expect your first new tune posted here within 24 hours?

I don't know about 24 hours... :) I will definitely spend some time this weekend at the desk if I can't get there sooner. I have no idea if anything will come out of it but I will spend the time.

 

[DrewJD82]

I tried meditation a few times. I pulled up some guided mediations on Spotify. Man, I couldn't get my brain to engage in the activity at all. I really don't know how to shut it off or slow it down. I may try again to see if I can make it work.


I don't know about 24 hours... :) I will definitely spend some time this weekend at the desk if I can't get there sooner. I have no idea if anything will come out of it but I will spend the time.

I can’t do guided meditations, I just want the person to STFU the whole time. I can see how they can assist in getting some people in the zone, but I also think they muddy the waters more often than not. It’s near impossible to completely silence your brain, it’s more about not entertaining the thoughts that are running through your head at the time, like you’re standing in a crowded subway and the thoughts are all the other people moving around you while you stand in one place, you’re not going to engage with any of those people just let them freely move around.

The more you do it the easier it gets, some days I just need 2 minutes in my office to detach my brain and then I can start sorting out my next steps with a bit more clarity, sometimes I’ll do it right in the middle of a meeting. Eventually it’s easier to slow the thoughts down so you don’t feel like you have to jump on them as they come to you. On the tougher days, I’ll just picture the thoughts as words floating by me, that way I’m forcing myself to not think about the thoughts, but the shape of the words as I ‘see’ them moving around me.

And something I noticed when I first started writing my own music, despite being a metalhead at the time, the best I could do was coming up with 4 chords and a vocal melody that were anything but metal. At one point I thought I was destined to write shitty pop tunes, but it was a bit like I had to flush that stuff out before I could move onto riffs or anything else.