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Joined:
July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | Ever get the feeling you're writing a song already written? I absolutly hate this. If you've encountered this, what do you do? :confused: I' am trying to write a song right now, and my opening sounds really familiar, and I don't wanna further it if it's someone elses song. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | I've really struggled with song writing at times. When I was trying to write more, some songs came to me fully, and others took months of work. My advice would be to go ahead with the song. If it's just not right, file it away and wait for the right progression to happen later, or ask a friend if they can suggest something to make it better. Seems to me it's better to let it continue to flow rather than stop and be frustrated.
That said, I admit I haven't written music in a long while, but I'm thinking of getting back into it. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Almost every song written has elements of a song written prior to it. Think how many times you hear a songs beginning and then realize it is not the song you originally thought it was.
I would not worry about it. If by chance you publish the song and it becomes a monster hit and someone sues you and wins because of similaries, you will still be rich....just sharing the royalties! |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Don't worry about what the song sounds like, follow the inspiration and finish the idea. You can revise later if it's too much like something well known.
I think Jimmy Webb covered this a bit in his book, Tunesmith.
I wrote a song that several people think is a ripoff of Buddy Hollys 'Every Day'. However, note for note, it's completely different though it has the same chords. I inverted and twisted the melody so it's not at all the same, without losing the intended audio flavour. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 97
Location: Chicago | I've started writing hymns (I'm a hymn-snob...) and there are several ideas that I'm running with, but I'm stuck with finding the right progression for my song about Jonah. The mood and tone are right, but connecting lyrics with certain individual segments is really tough.
I'll come back to that one eventually. Now, I'm in the middle of writing something easy (it's a hymn about grace and mercy). ;) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | All you have to do is listen to some of the better known singer/songwriters to know that writing a truly original song is a very rare thing.
I heard a story about Paul McCartney once...the story is that "Yesterday" came to him virtually complete in a dream. He was convinced that he had heard it somewhere before, since songs didn't just come to him like that. He spent months playing it for friends, asking if they had ever heard it, before convincing himself that it was indeed original. |
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July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | Ah great news to hear! I guess I will continue with it then, see how far I can get. I have planned to ask another one of my guitar friends, but I'am too lazy to walk up the street. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 97
Location: Chicago | I think the best idea is to work on a ton of stuff at the same time. When you're stuck on one song, you break free with another.
Speaking of which, I just broke through on a hymn I'm writing about Ezekiel 16. |
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Joined:
July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | Hey that's good to hear! But that's kinda hard for me to do. I'am not the best writer so inspiration is kinda tough to put onto the guitar. But that'll change when I get decent at it. I really can't wait for the northwest OFC BBQ so I can learn some stuff ya know. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Don't get your hopes up about learning anything. Just a bunch of guys messing around with a bunch of great guitars. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | Sounding like...Borrowing...is one thing...
note for note...riff for riff is another...
Many of the greats have admitted stealing riffs...or reversing chords...from what or who they cite as their influences...
My motto is...if its too close...its a no go...
work with the Intros...Bridges...Chorus...add a tweak here and there...youll be surprised how much you can change it...
Maybe it sounds familiar...because its something that influenced you...??? Youll come across the song sooner or later and will be able to tell wheather or not its yours or someone elses... :)
http://www.myspace.com/styllheartandsoul |
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Joined:
July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | You guys are so modest. I bet you'd be able to teach Page a thing or two and no one here would know. But we'll see mark...we will see....
(no sacreligious comments intended if Jimmy Page happens to be your god.) |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Teach Page to drink, maybe...
:) |
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Song writing