Question:
I've found that in order to write a song, I need to be inspired first. I can't just sit down, and decide to write one. When I do that, it ends up being very shallow and empty. Inspiration is absolutely necessary to creation, IMO.
So my question is: where do you guys find inspiration? What kinds of music? What sights, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts, books, anything at all...
Answer:
Well i usually get my ideas at work or when i'm driving. When i'm alone i end up playing with words in my head and sooner or later a good line pops into my head and i write it down. I'll forget about for about a day then come back and think about where it should go and what type of music it should have and all that jazz. Then i simply let the song go where it feels right.
And when i'm working on it i'll generally listen to music similar to the song. so if it's heavier, more screamo style, a little underoath or emery goes nicely.
I find whatever style i listen to alot will show in my songs.
Answer:
My inspirations tend to be my own writing. By this I mean I tend to have random lines just pop into my head and I write them down. Then later, when I see the lines, I get inspired to incorporate them into a song. Sometimes I'll get inspired by a guitar riff I came up with. Sometimes I'll be inspired by the title of a book or a phrase in a poem I've read. It comes in a lot of forms. But more often than not it's just taking something I've already done and working on it. There is no magical inspiration method.
Answer:
i get inspired while im talking to my girlfriend. i only get to talk to her at night online, so i have to type everything i am feeling, or want to express. when i say something i think has potential, i write it down, and create a song around it.... i guess it doesnt always work out too well... but that is where my newst part of a song came from. last night, i was talking to her, trying to say how much i loved her, but the words dont really exist, so i said that i felt like a wordless poet, and bam... i thought it sounded good... i duno how other ppl think tho cuz no one has said anytthign ^_^ *coughintcough*
but yeah that is mostly how i get inspiration... *grin*
Answer:
you can get alot of inspiration through the Bible (look at Psalms!!! It's all songs and poems waiting for the taking!!!) Translate the verses into a song, into what you think it should be. Dedicate it to God. Also, I get songs alot of times through my prayers. I like to write my prayers in a journal...and I often go back and read it, you can get inspiration that way. Also what are you thinking? Are you asking questions in your mind? Those make good songs...as writing down what your thinking oftem make good songs...and may even solve a problem or two!!! lol
that's my thought
~Manda
Answer:
I think my inspiration comes to me when I'm slighty down and depressed... I'm just in one of those moods where I need to get to the piano and write something. But I agree- I can't just sit down and write a song. I have to really be in tune with the Lord and usually He gives me the words.
Answer:
i think it depends on what kind of music you're writing.
i can find inspiration during any part of the emotional cycle (mountain/valley/whatever). but in my mind, worship songs (or at least praise songs) are generally written to lead people, and particularly to lead them up the mountain. and so i find it hard to think that you can write that kind of song if you're "down in the valley".
i like to try and find inspiration to write, regardless of what stage i'm in. that way, i still "stay sharp" in my songwriting. but the stage pretty much determines what kind of song i'm writing. if i'm down, i write down songs. if i'm up, i write happy songs. but i find that the songs i write when i'm down aren't really suitable for church, or congregational worship. because they're "down songs", and in my mind, congregational worship songs should lead us up the mountain.
so i don't think the emotional stage you're presently in should determine whether or not you find inspiration to write. it should just affect what you happen to write about at the time.
Answer:
don't think the emotional stage you're presently in should determine whether or not you find inspiration to write. it should just affect what you happen to write about at the time generally i agree with you on that although sometimes when i have been 'in the valley' i have found that writing a 'mountain' song can really help. it is a lot harder but sitting down, finding inspiring verses from the psalms and crafting a song that is all about praising God can really pick you up out of the valley!
it works for me anyway
God Bless, Rich
Answer:
Originally Posted by I-Am-Snappy generally i agree with you on that although sometimes when i have been 'in the valley' i have found that writing a 'mountain' song can really help. it is a lot harder but sitting down, finding inspiring verses from the psalms and crafting a song that is all about praising God can really pick you up out of the valley! good point!
Answer:
I think the Psalms demonstrates that praise songs can be written in the valley. In fact, I think it's a shame that more aren't written from the valley. I think it shows some dishonesty in our worship when we're simply singing about the mountaintop experiences as that doesn't accurately reflect our life and our real feelings.
Answer:
Originally Posted by agrimes87 So my question is: where do you guys find inspiration? What kinds of music? What sights, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts, books, anything at all...
I find my inspiration from my own personal issues. It is very hard to write about something just sitting down trying to brainstorm on what to write(as you said prior) but when i had a really bad day or experience, i usually write about it
Answer:
maybe this is an idea for a new thread.....
but does anyone have techniques, or ways of writing more positively? it's obvious that writing negatively is very easy. but aside from writing worship music, which is an easy way to write positively....what are some techniques to get yourself in the habit of writing positive, but not overtly christian songs?
Answer:
I find that a lot of songs that I start of negatively resolve in a positive manner. It's rarely intentional, but I find that the issues that are getting me down are resolved once I get them written down and I come to a positive solution as I write.
Of course, I don't think you should ever force an emotion just because you think you should be writing a "positive" song. Simply be honest with your emotions and see where it takes you in the song.
Answer:
Exactly. Skeeter realy nailed that one. Honesty is the best policy. I completely disagree with anyone who says christian music should be "happy". I agree that uplifting is a quality that must be present, but that can be achieved by even just letting the listener know you're going through the same thing they are. And then, if like skeeter said, you resolve it positively, then you're giving the listener hope.
I'm not against happy music, because there are times that everything IS just fine and okay.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Dirt_Jumper Exactly. Skeeter realy nailed that one. Honesty is the best policy. I completely disagree with anyone who says christian music should be "happy". I agree that uplifting is a quality that must be present, but that can be achieved by even just letting the listener know you're going through the same thing they are. And then, if like skeeter said, you resolve it positively, then you're giving the listener hope.
I'm not against happy music, because there are times that everything IS just fine and okay. yeah, definitely. when i refer to 'christian music', i'm basically referring to overtly christian music (worship music in particular). that doesn't mean in any way that i think this is the only kind of music that can be labelled "christian". "christian music" is a broad concept that can be viewed in many ways.
but i agree with skeeter and dirt_jumper. christian music doesn't have to be happy. but i think it should certainly be uplifting, and portray a message of hope.