Members sleewell Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 what do you guys do when you write a really catchy riff but you cant take it anywhere or create other sections that go with it to actually make a song? i have this riff that i cant get out of my head that for the life of me i cant turn it into a full song. so far i have played it on acoustic and electric for close to 3 weeks now and in front of 2 seperate groups of musicians and am still stuck on where to take it. usually the more i play it and hear it back that helps and it starts to evolve into a song but those methods are not working on this one. any ideas? i plan to record a rough idea of it at lunch and post it here if anyone wants to try to help out. thanks, bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 use one riff for the song. It worked for: Fleetwood Mack - Dreamz Lou Reed - Heroin The Doors - The End Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 use one riff for the song. It worked for: Fleetwood Mack - Dreamz Lou Reed - Heroin The Doors - The End Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cirrus Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Don't try to write a song around the riffs, just write songs and eventually you'll have an idea that one of your riffs compliments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cirrus Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Don't try to write a song around the riffs, just write songs and eventually you'll have an idea that one of your riffs compliments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 just buy more fx. It's all about textures.nobody cares about the song, unless it's Morrissey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 just buy more fx. It's all about textures.nobody cares about the song, unless it's Morrissey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LoopQuantum Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Originally Posted by sleewell what do you guys do when you write a really catchy riff but you cant take it anywhere or create other sections that go with it to actually make a song?i have this riff that i cant get out of my head that for the life of me i cant turn it into a full song. so far i have played it on acoustic and electric for close to 3 weeks now and in front of 2 seperate groups of musicians and am still stuck on where to take it. usually the more i play it and hear it back that helps and it starts to evolve into a song but those methods are not working on this one.any ideas? i plan to record a rough idea of it at lunch and post it here if anyone wants to try to help out. thanks,bill Use the same riff for the verse, just drop the guitar and have the bassist play it in the verse section, and change up the drums. POP SENSIBLE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LoopQuantum Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Originally Posted by sleewell what do you guys do when you write a really catchy riff but you cant take it anywhere or create other sections that go with it to actually make a song?i have this riff that i cant get out of my head that for the life of me i cant turn it into a full song. so far i have played it on acoustic and electric for close to 3 weeks now and in front of 2 seperate groups of musicians and am still stuck on where to take it. usually the more i play it and hear it back that helps and it starts to evolve into a song but those methods are not working on this one.any ideas? i plan to record a rough idea of it at lunch and post it here if anyone wants to try to help out. thanks,bill Use the same riff for the verse, just drop the guitar and have the bassist play it in the verse section, and change up the drums. POP SENSIBLE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 you could also play the riff backwards during the verse, or play it in a major key.something gimmicky or stupid would be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougar Hunter Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 you could also play the riff backwards during the verse, or play it in a major key.something gimmicky or stupid would be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sleewell Posted January 3, 2013 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 good ideas all, thanks. this one doesnt have fx yet but i will add all the effects i have at the same time, lol i like what Loop said, that would most likely work for now and keep it basic however when i play it its like i feel a 2nd part coming and starting to happen but then every combination of things i try sounds like its forced and doesnt fit but its frusterating bc i know something should happen. thread is worthless with out the riff, sorry, i will post it up in a few hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sleewell Posted January 3, 2013 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 good ideas all, thanks. this one doesnt have fx yet but i will add all the effects i have at the same time, lol i like what Loop said, that would most likely work for now and keep it basic however when i play it its like i feel a 2nd part coming and starting to happen but then every combination of things i try sounds like its forced and doesnt fit but its frusterating bc i know something should happen. thread is worthless with out the riff, sorry, i will post it up in a few hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MadKeithV Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have several riffs like that, and they've been around for decades. I have written many other riffs since that combined into songs much quicker, and still I have those other riffs around. Fun fact: the one riff that started me off on my recently finished deathmetal project never actually made it into the project ;-). Just write more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MadKeithV Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have several riffs like that, and they've been around for decades. I have written many other riffs since that combined into songs much quicker, and still I have those other riffs around. Fun fact: the one riff that started me off on my recently finished deathmetal project never actually made it into the project ;-). Just write more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phrophus Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Use Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phrophus Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Use Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ENdtime Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'm not even in the songwriting process until I at least have a second riff.. Usually when i start up with a good riff, i usually get into a second riff pretty quickly and naturally. And hopefully a lot further.. I find my best songs get a significant amount done quickly.. Single riffs that stay that way for longer than 10 minutes generally are not the riff to build or start a song around.. For me anyway. If you keep trying to force the next part, it'll sound exactly that, forced. Just keep it in the roll a decks, and hope the day comes where you can use it again.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ENdtime Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'm not even in the songwriting process until I at least have a second riff.. Usually when i start up with a good riff, i usually get into a second riff pretty quickly and naturally. And hopefully a lot further.. I find my best songs get a significant amount done quickly.. Single riffs that stay that way for longer than 10 minutes generally are not the riff to build or start a song around.. For me anyway. If you keep trying to force the next part, it'll sound exactly that, forced. Just keep it in the roll a decks, and hope the day comes where you can use it again.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OverDriven Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Here's what I do when I have something catchy: 1. Record the catchy part and loop it 2. Start layering other parts that fit over it as you loop it. Everything you can come up with - several bass parts, several guitar parts, different drum parts, keys, etc. 3. Once you have your giant sandwich of parts on top of each other, start pulling some of the parts out (on the timeline) to make different sections of the song. Maybe pull out one of the bass parts and one drum part and make that the verse for example and then you can sing over that. 4. To bring the song to it's peaks, bring more of the parts together to build a huge crescendo (the chorus usually). To bring the energy down, subtract parts. This technique works REALLY well if you do it right. It's one of the best ways to quickly sketch a song idea out. After you have arranged everything and you're happy, go back and add in little details that will make the different parts seem more separate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OverDriven Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Here's what I do when I have something catchy: 1. Record the catchy part and loop it 2. Start layering other parts that fit over it as you loop it. Everything you can come up with - several bass parts, several guitar parts, different drum parts, keys, etc. 3. Once you have your giant sandwich of parts on top of each other, start pulling some of the parts out (on the timeline) to make different sections of the song. Maybe pull out one of the bass parts and one drum part and make that the verse for example and then you can sing over that. 4. To bring the song to it's peaks, bring more of the parts together to build a huge crescendo (the chorus usually). To bring the energy down, subtract parts. This technique works REALLY well if you do it right. It's one of the best ways to quickly sketch a song idea out. After you have arranged everything and you're happy, go back and add in little details that will make the different parts seem more separate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rock Hardness Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Can you lead over it? Write a song in the same key. Turn the riff into an intro, then use it for the lead break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rock Hardness Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 Can you lead over it? Write a song in the same key. Turn the riff into an intro, then use it for the lead break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 100 watt Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 It may sound strange, but if you have one or acess to one, try playing around on a bass. For some odd reason, I can come up with things to go in guitar riffs and leads, while playing bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 100 watt Posted January 3, 2013 Members Share Posted January 3, 2013 It may sound strange, but if you have one or acess to one, try playing around on a bass. For some odd reason, I can come up with things to go in guitar riffs and leads, while playing bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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