Solo songwriting/Group songwriting

[Professor Riffs]

It's become apparent to me over the years that I write way better when working with a group. The interaction sparks things in me in a way that just doesn't happen when sitting at home by myself.

Thoughts? Musings? Bags of body parts?

[DreamwaveMusic]

I really enjoy collaborating with other musicians for composition, thats my favorite way to make original sounding music. Im always writing my own songs, but my band is great at stepping in and making suggestions or convincing me that there may be a better way for something. I have found that making original sounding music is much easier to accomplish with other musicians.

[Bellringer]

I usually come up with a basic melody and lyrics on my own (something you could play on an acoustic). The song always gains life with the help of fellow musicians in a recording process. I notice that if it is a band situation where people are comfortable with each other songs will grow and become better (or more interesting).

[dagosto]

I usually write songs by myself and then tech them to the band either at practice or by giving them a demo. Sometimes this works really well, sometimes not as much. I do like working on things in practice and we usually end up eleiminating some of the little crazy things that don't really add anything to yhe song.

[Nubus]

I've recently been playing with these guys that have played together for years. They seem to be beyond my scope of putting their music into words. When they talk about parts of the songs I can't follow them yet, but I'm trying.

[Whoopysnorp]

I've never really had much luck writing music with other people--I've found that I can tweak my songs to the way I like them the best by working on my own. However, I have noticed that on the couple of songs on which I collaborated with our band's singer on lyrics, they came out really good.

[Nubus]

There is an interview in the most recent tape op with Hank Shocklee. I always wondered how Public Enemy wrote songs, and it turns out they all worked together in the studio. Chuck D writing lyrics while Terminator X lays down scratching and the Bomb Squad guys searching for the right snare sample so Flav can play the Ensoniq. That's my favorite way to work. You need to have a group of people with a lot of focus.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

I've never really had much luck writing music with other people--I've found that I can tweak my songs to the way I like them the best by working on my own.

i agree, i've never had much luck writing with other people; but maybe it was the people i was playing with. they expected results quickly, and that's not how i work; also, most of their suggestions weren't very good at all.

[dolivas]

i tend to perform better in a band that is a group than solo. however typically it is me playing up because i want to steer that group in my own direction. So while I like and do better in the group format, if the other people in the band don't have the same general vision and ear for the music I wish to make I tend to get bored out of my wits playing with them or just brain dead when trying to add something to that group. I tend to be more cerebral and loose when I work as a solo one man unit though. Because their isn't any other ego to contend with in the first place other than yourself which is hard enough to begin with...