Recording/Writing process?

Okay so since I started recording from home my process has evolved quite a bit and I feel I've found something good which has kept it fresh.

Step 1: Get an idea. Usually when I jam alone or practice in between lessons I'll play something that catches my ear. I have several portable recorders (cell phone, mp3 recorder w/ mic, note to self machine) that I use to document these.

Step 2: Review your collection. Most of the ideas I record don't really turn into anything but with enough of them, there is bound to be something that is worth pursuing further. Listening to a tune after forgetting about it makes it sound fresh, and it helps to continue the writing process naturally.

Step 3: Record the first draft. This part takes a little bravery because you're flying on the seat of your pants. The idea is to play through all your ideas for the song and improvise an arrangement. I believe it is good to try this with several songs at a time so that you don't fall into any redundant patterns. Also, improvising lyrics is a nice challenge because it takes even more focus.

Step 4: Repeat this process with every other instrument, finalize lyrics and arrangement.

Step 5: Record final takes for the instruments and vocals, mix and master, upload!

Here's some of my werk: http://www.myspace.com/bettergangway

Good techniques!

I think everyone kind of has to find his own way -- but it can be really helpful to explore the way that others work. A lot of times we get stuck in our own grooves and sometimes it's nice to bump the tone arm into the next one...

FWIW, my technique is somewhat similar to yours -- although I often find the music, for me, tends to grow out of the lyrical bits as they come to me... I'm almost always writing with a guitar in my hands -- or, at the very least, the sense of the song running in my head.

I use a similar technique, but only at my computer. I will start by messing around on one instrument and think, "Hey, that sounds cool." So I'll hit record and then find at least two or three other parts to complement it. Before I just had a library of guitar, bass or keyboard riffs, and they started to all sound boring pretty quickly. Adding the other instruments helps force me into writing a little more and imagining right away where the song could go. I also find it much more rewarding than just listening to a library of riffs on a single instrument.

Now I just have to take the next step and write verses to go with my choruses, choruses to go with my verses, transitions, etc.

This is a great tip. I suffer from disregarding everything I attempt to write before it gets a chance to grow on me. Perhaps this is the ideal solution - record everything then listen back a few times and see what works!

Cheers!

Oh yeah, one other thing I do is bounce everything to mp3 as soon as I record it. I have everything in a single folder that I review on a regular basis. It's much easier than opening dozens of sessions in Logic.

I think this is a useful method for writing or at least useful in not losing those nice guitar parts that you write and don't want to forget for future use. There were times before I had recording equipment that I might have wrote a riff and liked it but upon time away never played it quite the same. Having those things recorded does wonders. As for me I'm usually in a guitar writing mood or lyric mood. Sometimes the two flow together but usually they are separate. Like I've written 3 songs (lyrically) over the past week but nothing guitar wise. I guess that's how I roll...unfortunately.