Members UstadKhanAli Posted February 1, 2012 Members Share Posted February 1, 2012 I can write on anything - even with only a pencil and paper. But it sure is inspiring to have a decent guitar, piano, gamelan, bass, or whatever it is to help it along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MargeHowel Posted February 1, 2012 Members Share Posted February 1, 2012 It varies for me. sometimes I write just in abstract musical structure, other times I suppose I write to a particular sonic effect. Just two different approaches. I don't really think in terms of "cheap" = "bad" though. Like toy piano, it's a particular TYPE of tone that may lend itself to some things, but I don't think of it as bad. was it Mason Williams that did $13 Stella ?? that sort of fits the sentiment I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beatpoet Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 The quality of the sound definitely is an inspiration for me to play the drums. I keep my kit tuned (obviously I have to, for recording), but some days you dig the sound and some you don't. When I'm just noodling around, having a bit of practise, I play so much more creatively if the snare is crackling and the toms sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 I don't really think in terms of "cheap" = "bad" though. Like toy piano, it's a particular TYPE of tone that may lend itself to some things, but I don't think of it as bad. Same here. I think of it more in terms of: what inspires me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ggm1960 Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 you still check though? Hehe, well sure! That's how I know I don't need to touch the tuning pegs. It's been quite a while now that I'm always plugged into my Digitech GSP1101 at gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yump Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 for you guys that have the skills to write songs in your head, that's great and it probably won't effect the muse or the music with a crappy instrument. i get inspired by tones, some days it sounds all plunk plunk, other times, a smooth strat tone or a biting tele or a great sounding synth will do wonders. Blue brought up an interesting thing about standing in line at the ATM, i wrote my best stuff and had more ideas when i was waiting for the MTR and at work. often hearing the whole tune, start to finish. with that type of idea, you just need the music, chord progression and melody, beat and then fill in the tones later. i use my cell to hum ideas or sing in some lyrics and give all info i can to what i heard. i have plenty of time now, to write and play but it's been dismal in the getting anything new going. WTH?! i'm sure y'all been there, "wow! this is awesome!" then 2 mins later, "{censored}! what was that again?" tones Do set a mood, like colors in a painting, if you don't have an idea where you are going and want to try to create something on the fly. my .02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phait Posted February 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 tones Do set a mood, like colors in a painting, if you don't have an idea where you are going and want to try to create something on the fly.my .02. Agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yump Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 sorry, another thing. what tone is "neutral or bad?" there is none, IMO. even the ear test tones some of us got in school back in 4th grade! lol! someone could use that in a tune also. what was that thing anyway? i must admit i read the title as "tone quality". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phait Posted February 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Well take a ~$120 digital guitar FX pedal compared to mic'ing a good amp or 2. The latter will sound better, and since I'll feel better about what I hear, I'd find it more inspiring to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MargeHowel Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 i must admit i read the title as "tone quality". THE OP might have meant it that way since " achieve better tones comes up (though I guess it could be "more fitting tones") "tone quality" is a tricky beast because of that "quality" dual meaning...I like timbre for that reason. It hints to qualitative, but not in the good or bad sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MargeHowel Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Well take a ~$120 digital guitar FX pedal compared to mic'ing a good amp or 2. The latter will sound better, and since I'll feel better about what I hear, I'd find it more inspiring to work with. It just depends...I've heard electric guitarists use the old beatles "revolution" example which, as I understand it, was direct into a channel strip that they let overdrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 I have a few studio buddies I've worked with for a good 15 years. We can practically read eachothers minds when it comes to writing originals. One of us may be noodeling around with an idea and the rest jump in and within litterally 5 or 10 minutes we have a song. I've written and recorded hundreds of songs with them that way. Its not that much different from what the Funk Brothersdid at Motown. Most of their stuff was written on the spot with little or forethought ahead of time. This kind of collaborative writing does take talent and experience and if you're the one throwing up and idea, the song may windup sounding very different than you originally planned. If you're anal about how "Your" song has to sound and if you're a controll freakabout how every part has to sound, then a freelance collaboration like that will never work for you and you may be better of writing solo. I know many musicians who cant work with others writing and its a shame cause they just dont know how much they're missing when you get three or four times the creative juice bouncing around in a room vs one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phait Posted February 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Yeah the only collaboration I've done is with a drummer, I'd let a bassist work his parts in too unless I had a specific idea for a part. But I'm a pretty independent person in everything creative I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted February 2, 2012 Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 brought up an interesting thing about standing in line at the ATM, i wrote my best stuff and had more ideas when i was waiting for the MTR and at work. often hearing the whole tune, start to finish. with that type of idea, you just need the music, chord progression and melody, beat and then fill in the tones later. i use my cell to hum ideas or sing in some lyrics and give all info i can to what i heard. i have plenty of time now, to write and play but it's been dismal in the getting anything new going. WTH?! i'm sure y'all been there, "wow! this is awesome!" then 2 mins later, "{censored}! what was that again?" tones Do set a mood, like colors in a painting, if you don't have an idea where you are going and want to try to create something on the fly. my .02. [bold added] Actually, that was Lee Knight... when I'm standing in line at the ATM I'm thinking about my balance as a rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yump Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 LOL! sorry bout that, Blue and Lee! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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