creative down periods
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Music and Musicians Exchange
Forum Description: Talk with and get feedback from other musicians on the site
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34110
Printed Date: November 29 2024 at 06:11
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: creative down periods
Posted By: red.sector_a
Subject: creative down periods
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 18:26
|
we all have times were inspiration is aplenty, and what flows out of our instruments is golden(at least to our ears). so what I'm asking is, during the times when you couldn't write an interesting chord progression(or drum fill, bass line, whatever it may be), how do you approach that situation. for me personally, i get kind of bummed. i know i shouldn't expect to be at creative peaks every day, but for some reason it always gets me down when i can write anything worth while for a few days, or even a week or so! currently I'm in that situation. so.........advice? ------------- "...the only excuse for not knowing, is not wanting to know." |
Replies:
Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 19:18
I'm not a musician, but an artist. So I can relate.
I've just come out of an almost year long lack of inspiration. It's horrible, I feel like my very reason to exsisit has been removed. I know that sounds dramatic, but none the less true.
In these times, try to force yourself into your work, sometimes it kick starts things. If that doesn't work, just step back. Let the spirit return. The fear with that is, of course, WILL it return? That was me a few months ago. Now, I'm happy to say, I'm back.
If you love your work, my guess is, the passion will always come back. Sometimes you just need to rest your mind awhile, so the inspiration has time to flurish.
Hope this helped a little. ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: red.sector_a
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 21:50
|
yea, i know what you mean by the "reason to exist" comment. that runs through my head as well. like, "if i cant write something good now, maybe i shouldn't even be doing this..." it is dramatic, but i think its only present, to that degree, to those who have a true, deep passion for what they do. i try to take a step back and not even play for a few days, but then i feel like i'm already abandoning it. well, its just on of the many trials and tribulations with being an artist. ------------- "...the only excuse for not knowing, is not wanting to know." |
Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 23:41
|
Being an "artist" is one of the most difficult things to define. Some are lucky to make it their career, most use it as an expression WITHIN their daily lives.
In my view, fame and fortune etc, is not the outcome to seek. To CREATE, should be the ultimate goal. Despite the everyday up's and down's.
If you feel the need - create. If not, let it be for awhile. You're not abandoning it.
Don't let the outside baggage clutter that. ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: red.sector_a
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 23:48
|
yea i know what you mean about the "ultimate goal". when i tell people what i want to do most reply with some.."you wanna tour stadiums and be on mtv?". people outside of artistic realms cant understand how satisfying it is just to create, let alone make a career out of it. ------------- "...the only excuse for not knowing, is not wanting to know." |
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 23:50
|
seek other stimuli and then reapproach your instruments, I suppose. keep in mind that the established rate of musical output is eighteen months for four men to write twelve songs =P
------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: February 06 2007 at 23:56
|
Yeah, you see, you'll be fine. You care about your music, because you love it. It's the fame or failure crowd that give up. They lack that inward "passion". ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: February 07 2007 at 18:12
|
I have the opposite right now. Sometimes when I pick up my guitar, I just sit with it on my lap without playing. Then I usually pick up my sketchbook or open photoshop or open office and start working on my comics or my game or my book :) the same thing with others, if I want to draw, but can't find the inspiration, I'll usually write or play music. and when I feel like writing, but get a block, I draw or play.
At the moment though I pretty much sit at my computer with my guitar and draw sketches. And I'm so inspired I composed 3 songs this week, recorded 2 of them, 1st jazz, 2nd some guitar-song. And at the time I take breaks and practise postures. Last night alone I drew about 20 sideviews of different people, just to get the proportions perfect. But there are times when I don't feel like anything. Then I usually just lurk at forums and listen to great music, look at great pictures, read a book. Anything to get some inspiration. |
Posted By: Flyingsod
Date Posted: February 07 2007 at 18:27
|
That would be convenient to have multiple artistic passions. For me it's just music so I don't have the ability to switch to another form. I don't really get bummed when I'm not producing something I like. For me its just pretty damn exciting just to be trying... excersizing my passion. I have fun trying and trying even if nothing I really like comes out for a month or more. All I can say about that is that as long as you still want to try there's no problem, just wait it out. I do go through periods though where the will to try just isn't there. and when that happens... nothing good is gonna come out. I actually kind of appreciate these times though. I find them a perfect chance to practice correct form. I dust off the borring old scales and repeat them over and over paying very close attention to form. i just forget about creating. What happens is eventually the scales and other practices become so damn boring that the will to create come roaring back. ------------- This space intentionally left blank |
Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: February 08 2007 at 20:22
|
I would put down my guitar/bass/keyboard/microphone/drumsticks for a while, and spend a few days just listening to my main influences; the guys that inspired me to write and play music in the first place. Maybe a concert video or two would help. Hopefully, that'll get the energy back in it. -------------   |
Posted By: pablof858
Date Posted: February 13 2007 at 13:07
|
That the way I compose music: first I write a chord progression (interesing or not) then i listen to it. I do it with the computer, i put it on a string patch. So start listening and I start imagine music. Then I write a line. Listen again write other. And so. Then I delete the chord progression. And start modifying some parts to get a good armony with the voices I wrote. There is a link that can help you: - http://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/bk/index.html - http://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/M.ID/M.ID.htm http://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/bk/index.html |
Posted By: progismylife
Date Posted: February 13 2007 at 13:10
That link took me back to this page. |
pablof858 wrote:Posted By: Marcos
Date Posted: February 15 2007 at 20:26
|
Just you are with your instruments, a lot of time... You Compose the main melody, and you harmonizes with chords based on different scales... and you try, and try, and try... It's my form... ------------- www.postmortemweb.com.ar |
Posted By: darren
Date Posted: February 15 2007 at 20:38
|
What works for me is just switching to other creative outlets. If I'm not working on music, it's writing, woodworking, drawing, filmmaking. Just staying creative seems to keep my momentum. ------------- "they locked up a man who wanted to rule the world. the fools they locked up the wrong man." - Leonard Cohen |
Posted By: ailgun
Date Posted: February 22 2007 at 15:37
|
Different tools or kinds of music for me..Guitar done , lets move to Software Synths to enjoy the spacey sounds for a while maybe record some..Then maybe a wah solo attempts or metal riffs. I just enjoy variety.
AI |
Posted By: StarsongAgeless
Date Posted: May 01 2007 at 01:56
|
If I'm having a tough time creatively, it usually helps me to do something completely non-creative for as long as I need to. I play a video game, or watch a movie or TV show. When I have the itch to create again, I'll go back to it, or sometimes things just pop into my head after having a break for a while!
------------- Check out the http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=71 - Unsigned Bands section! "Like the time I ran away, and turned around and you were standing close to me." Yes' Awaken |
Posted By: randyhiatt
Date Posted: June 06 2007 at 13:36
|
oh ya.... Like a fuel tank sometimes I need a re-fill. In weak times I like to do cover tunes. Covers that inspired me by my favorite bands (but do-able ones).
One good thing in doing covers is you know when your done. Another is a chance to learn something. Even the easy tunes have a catch in them that make you go hmmmm. I get a chance to work on my mixing too. ...and all this without the judgment of the material.
So many positives here, and by the time your finished your really sick of the cover idea which makes room for our own ideas again to seep out. ------------- Randy |