I'm afraid of music

[fede]

Well, the title is meant to be eye catching.

The thing is, I love music, it something I learned to appreciate again. And it troubles my, because thanks to listening to the dmb and all that i picked the guitar back up, and fought my way into learning dmb songs, warehouse was quite a difficulty, after that it became a llittle less troublesome.

I studied only 1 year of guitar; I was 13/14 back then (2001) and I quit after I grew tired of it. Last year I started again, not taking any classes(sp) this time, just on my own, at home, playing dmb and nothin else.
I still have some songs to work out (rhyme, stone, billies, and 2 or 3 more) though. Also starting taking singing lessons encouraged me to restart the guitar.

The main point is, back to the title and reason of the post, I would really like to write my own music, but I'm awful scared, scared that I might be doing something stupid. I'm also fucked up because I don't have enough guitar knowledge to tab my own lyrics (should I have any).

I used to write short stories, (but one day I stopped being depressed everyday and have found it hard to do it again ever since) Sometimes it crossed my mind to write music, but never really had the nuts to do so, now it just seems harder (since i cant find the inspiration to write prose how am i supposed to put down poetry?)

Just what can I do?

Trying to open up here, be soft.

From brasil, greets.

Fede

[Andre_GT7]

where in Brazil do you live?

[fede]

I live in argentina, I'm (til this wednesday) staying here for vacations.

Why?

Fede

[Kahn]

Fede,

I suggest keeping a journal to write down thoughts, lyrics, music, feelings, etc...

This makes the writing process much more personal. Don't be afraid to write music. So what if it sucks? It will only get better with time. Don't expect to write a masterpiece after 1 year. It will take a LOT of time. Music is your friend, there is nothing about it to be scared of.

[i am sam2]

Fede,

I suggest keeping a journal to write down thoughts, lyrics, music, feelings, etc...

This makes the writing process much more personal. Don't be afraid to write music. So what if it sucks? It will only get better with time. Don't expect to write a masterpiece after 1 year. It will take a LOT of time. Music is your friend, there is nothing about it to be scared of.

all good points

[p1trick_82]

I live in argentina, I'm (til this wednesday) staying here for vacations.

Why?

Fede

Brasil kicks ass !!

having a nice time ? beaches ?

[fede]

Fede,

I suggest keeping a journal to write down thoughts, lyrics, music, feelings, etc...

This makes the writing process much more personal. Don't be afraid to write music. So what if it sucks? It will only get better with time. Don't expect to write a masterpiece after 1 year. It will take a LOT of time. Music is your friend, there is nothing about it to be scared of.

A journal of what kind?? Something small? Like a notebook?

Thanks a lot for your words khan. I appreciate it a lot.

Fede

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Definitely keep a journal. I write down all sorts of things in mine: rants, phrases, feelings, emotions, imagery...really anything that comes to mind. Songs come when i look through it and highlight the stuff i really like. Its hard to pull it all together and your first couple of songs my be bad, I know mine were, but the more you do it, the better you get.

As far as the guitar goes, I agree with Bob Dylan when he said all you need are "two chords and the truth." If you can play chords, you can write songs. The problem, as I have found, with starting guitar with dave matthews, is that I tried to write songs based around tricky riffs and odd chord formations which is really hard. If you break down songs to their most basic parts, you will find that it is simply a chord progression: E,A,D...G,C,D...D,G,Bm...E,A,B...C,F,G etc...

You not belive how many songs fit this pattern but sound different from one another due to other instrumentation. As a songwriter, stick to chords at first, develop some lyrics, then you can start to complicate the song with second guitar parts comprised of riffs and little fills.

Try not to get frustrated and understand it takes time to be a good songwriter. You never stop learning

Good Luck

[fede]

Geez, thanks a lot, both your words ha ve inspired me a lot.

I hope I can overcome this, I still have this notion that i won't do ok.

Fede

[MaveDatthews]

yo i have a similar post to yours Fede, it basically talks about how i am bored of guitar, i also get a little afraid to approach my own music. It goes...:
Do you need to know basics to write songs on guitar? Because every time i come up with a little catchy sound i always get lost. I know i have an ear for sound too, i know what is good but i dont know anything about my songs, ie: what key it is in etc... I know it takes creativity and time but i have all these little ditty's (i hate that word by the way) that could make good verses or chorus's. But the second i want to switch to another chord i just get lost. I have mastered all but a few of Dave's songs simply because i wasnt interested in learning them and never really got around to it, and a pretty big chunk of john mayer's songs and now it bores me to play covers. I want to be all about my own songs now. can someone offer some advice for me? It would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much guys. p.s. i have been playing for about 2 and a half years now. 1 and a half solid, but lately just been losing interest.

[fede]

I guess what I'm scared of the most is the frustration afterwards. It has happened to me that i really got into something (just like guitar and music right now), only to realise that all has been done before, so why bother?

It's really negative thinking, I know; Still, it doesn't compromise my whole life's thoughts, it just this matter right now. (Already gone through my pesimistic epoque)

Fede

[mangold]

dont be afraid man. no one says you have to share it, anything you write will mean something to you and you can just keep them... im actually debating not entering the song i wrote for the never knew contest because it has some really personal meaning for me and im not sure i want it out there...


dont fall into stereotypes of music, your music is yours. if you wanna pluck a g sharp every beat and read the 371st page of the dictionary backwards to the beat, then by god do it.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Do you need to know basics to write songs on guitar? Because every time i come up with a little catchy sound i always get lost. I know i have an ear for sound too, i know what is good but i dont know anything about my songs, ie: what key it is in etc... I know it takes creativity and time but i have all these little ditty's (i hate that word by the way) that could make good verses or chorus's. But the second i want to switch to another chord i just get lost. I have mastered all but a few of Dave's songs simply because i wasnt interested in learning them and never really got around to it, and a pretty big chunk of john mayer's songs and now it bores me to play covers. I want to be all about my own songs now. can someone offer some advice for me? It would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much guys. p.s. i have been playing for about 2 and a half years now. 1 and a half solid, but lately just been losing interest.

You definitely do not NEED a strong background in music theory to write songs. It certainly makes the process easier but you probably know more than you think from just playing. A lot of music is instinct and experimentation. I was just reading an interesting interview with John Mayer and they were talking about songwriting. He said something that, for me at least, hit home. He said many guitar players are just noise makers, meaning they come up with cool riffs, or little parts of a song, but when it comes to putting it all together, they have a hard time.

That is so true, I often come up with cool little "ditties" but the real fun and challenge, and it is very challenging, is to fully realize that song. As Mayer put it, " You gotta cross that finish line, it will keep you up at night, it will torment you, but when you do finally finish that song, it will be the best sleep you ever get" (Not verbatim, but from memory)

And don't worry about having to show your work to others. Not everyone who does this wants to be a rock star. But it is extremely therapuetic to write how you feel, sing it, and bang on a guitar. A lot cheaper than a therapist!

So just try, your first attempts will probably be bad, real bad, but I guarantee you so were every other artists first attempts. But as you go, you will get better.

[boy52]

well said buffalo.

[fede]

dont fall into stereotypes of music, your music is yours. if you wanna pluck a g sharp every beat and read the 371st page of the dictionary backwards to the beat, then by god do it.

That makes things a lot clearer, thanks praise!

Fede