How do you refine between ideas, like sometimes i sit down to write something and just end with a mish mash of concepts like have a song that starts with a love song and ends with global issues. Basically, how do you make the songs make any sense? Maybe this is just a skill people have and I cant be taught about it?
@dob1997 Sounds like you have several different ideas that will make several songs. It can seem like three minutes is a lot of time to feel, but if you think about it, most songs have a very simple and short "now:" guy misses his wife, hey you're pretty, girl mad at her parents, etc. I tend to stretch that a bit and write story songs but it's still a small basic idea. Split it up.
1) "You have to write 50 to 100 songs, bad songs, before you can come up with your first good one." (Chris de Burgh, re-translated from a German biography; you're all too young to know him, anyway.)
2) Despite the joke being old: Mike Lombardo's Notebook is the name of my Da Vinci's Notebook cover band.
I kind of really enjoy it when you just pick up the camera and babble at it. It's seriously pretty brilliant. and i think one of the hardest things i've ever found with writing is definitely silencing that inner editor (that being why i have yet to succeed at nanowrimo :P) Also, i'm surprised about caroline selling so much more. I mean, I adore that song, but i love the other ones on refresh too!
i feel like when i write i've always "filtered" myself, as you say, but hearing how much more caroline sells compared to how you originally felt about it makes me feel much better, actually
I don't write music but I like to write stories and, even though the whole "practice makes perfect" concept, I've never truly looked at it as "you're always going to write something after." I feel like that's such a simple fact that I've completely overlooked until watching this, as well as the thing of personal judgement of something's quality. Wow. This seriously has helped me so much. Thank you, Mike.
I think that applies to all writing, really. I heard once that you have to write about 90,000 words before you can even begin writing something that will be "publishable." I imagine that translates in some way to songwriting. You have to just keep writing for awhile and push through it before you can really start seeing results.
I guess the same could be said of just about anything. Just keep trying.
Definitely think this applies to all writing, because of that I've just been pushing myself to write everyday about as much as I can. Can only improve! (I hope)
That's really weird about Caroline; I always felt it was the weakest track on Refresh. Incidentally my favourite is Goodnight Bright Eyes. I'd be interested to know what you thought was the best off that album.
What's funny is that this applies to all writing, not just writing music. As a novel/playwright I know for certain that 90% of what I write is gonna be crap before rewrite, and only 10% of rewrite ends up being good.
This problem is the bane of my existence right now, everyone thats hear my current material has told me to get gigging, and I have places I can play, but I'm still a few songs short of a setlist and then BAM. Writers Block. :(
Yuck. I have that problem too. Or I'll have all the lyrics and my mind will be in guitar mode but then as soon as I sit down with my guitar I can't hear anything stringy about the song anymore and I have to switch to piano. Then halfway thru it happens again and I have half a song on strings and half on keys. #insanelyamaturemusicianproblems
I guess my biggest problem is that I get started and I just can't add to what I already have, or I'm terribly afraid that everything sounds the same or my music doesn't sound original and isn't a good enough representation of me.
I challenged myself to write 10 songs this year, so I really just need to take your advice and do it and see what people think before judging for myself if it's awful.
Hey Mike, you forgot to censor the comments on these videos too.
anonymousdeity 6 days ago 2
How do you refine between ideas, like sometimes i sit down to write something and just end with a mish mash of concepts like have a song that starts with a love song and ends with global issues. Basically, how do you make the songs make any sense? Maybe this is just a skill people have and I cant be taught about it?
dob1997 3 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@dob1997 Sounds like you have several different ideas that will make several songs. It can seem like three minutes is a lot of time to feel, but if you think about it, most songs have a very simple and short "now:" guy misses his wife, hey you're pretty, girl mad at her parents, etc. I tend to stretch that a bit and write story songs but it's still a small basic idea. Split it up.
MikeLombardoMusic 2 weeks ago 2
@MikeLombardoMusic Thanks I think that helps :)
dob1997 5 days ago
Your hot... just saying I had to say that
theblue98eyes 3 weeks ago
I feel like I needed to hear this.
AlmostGingerLike 4 weeks ago
Good advice. Two things:
1) "You have to write 50 to 100 songs, bad songs, before you can come up with your first good one." (Chris de Burgh, re-translated from a German biography; you're all too young to know him, anyway.)
2) Despite the joke being old: Mike Lombardo's Notebook is the name of my Da Vinci's Notebook cover band.
the3halvesman 4 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos 2
I kind of really enjoy it when you just pick up the camera and babble at it. It's seriously pretty brilliant. and i think one of the hardest things i've ever found with writing is definitely silencing that inner editor (that being why i have yet to succeed at nanowrimo :P) Also, i'm surprised about caroline selling so much more. I mean, I adore that song, but i love the other ones on refresh too!
rarefiednight 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Mike went "Full Goldblum" in this one.
neafcy 1 month ago
i feel like when i write i've always "filtered" myself, as you say, but hearing how much more caroline sells compared to how you originally felt about it makes me feel much better, actually
silverrcircuit44 1 month ago
"90% of everything is crap." = Sturgeon's Law.
xNewtJ 1 month ago 2
I don't write music but I like to write stories and, even though the whole "practice makes perfect" concept, I've never truly looked at it as "you're always going to write something after." I feel like that's such a simple fact that I've completely overlooked until watching this, as well as the thing of personal judgement of something's quality. Wow. This seriously has helped me so much. Thank you, Mike.
evisruc 1 month ago
I think that applies to all writing, really. I heard once that you have to write about 90,000 words before you can even begin writing something that will be "publishable." I imagine that translates in some way to songwriting. You have to just keep writing for awhile and push through it before you can really start seeing results.
I guess the same could be said of just about anything. Just keep trying.
OnTheBigAdventure 1 month ago
Definitely think this applies to all writing, because of that I've just been pushing myself to write everyday about as much as I can. Can only improve! (I hope)
amyevekeegan 1 month ago
That's really weird about Caroline; I always felt it was the weakest track on Refresh. Incidentally my favourite is Goodnight Bright Eyes. I'd be interested to know what you thought was the best off that album.
JessopBlues 1 month ago
What's funny is that this applies to all writing, not just writing music. As a novel/playwright I know for certain that 90% of what I write is gonna be crap before rewrite, and only 10% of rewrite ends up being good.
ElleAri94 1 month ago
Someday I'm going to manage to take all of your wonderful advice onboard.
mickeleh 1 month ago
This problem is the bane of my existence right now, everyone thats hear my current material has told me to get gigging, and I have places I can play, but I'm still a few songs short of a setlist and then BAM. Writers Block. :(
JellyBaby3579 1 month ago
You wrote Caroline on a napkin in 5 minutes? That's pretty impressive. I love that song.
nicciweasley 1 month ago
Fingerless gloves. Interesting choice, Mike. XD
highlandssax08 1 month ago
Listen to everything.
But especially jazz.
TeeAreify 1 month ago
Speaking of Song Fu songs...I was listening to IAMSATE today.
Spintown7 1 month ago
Yuck. I have that problem too. Or I'll have all the lyrics and my mind will be in guitar mode but then as soon as I sit down with my guitar I can't hear anything stringy about the song anymore and I have to switch to piano. Then halfway thru it happens again and I have half a song on strings and half on keys. #insanelyamaturemusicianproblems
mollyclune 1 month ago
i would just start writting a poem and see how that works out since poems can easily be turned into songs and this is a ha bisky upload
kazooga1234 1 month ago
nice thumbnail.
derp.
emilythebravee 1 month ago
I would be interested to know which of your songs you like best versus the songs that sell well or are requested most often at shows and stuff.
I think this is an interesting concept.
LAshlieH 1 month ago 15
Thanks so much for answering my question Mike!!
I guess my biggest problem is that I get started and I just can't add to what I already have, or I'm terribly afraid that everything sounds the same or my music doesn't sound original and isn't a good enough representation of me.
I challenged myself to write 10 songs this year, so I really just need to take your advice and do it and see what people think before judging for myself if it's awful.
Thanks again!! :)
SaradactylMichelle 1 month ago 13
Good advice, thank you
TheColvination 1 month ago
no matter how crappy you think the material you put out is.... there is someone out there who is crappier!!! LOL I hope that helps! ;)
PinksSoSexy 1 month ago
@PinksSoSexy haha!!! :P
TheNargleWatcher 1 month ago