Seriously stuck

My musical output has dwindled, I used to make a bunch of stuff. I completed songs, now I hardly ever complete any and I am left with just loops of ideas.

How can I get inspired again, I love the feeling when you've been up all night working on a song and you just listen to it over and over, proud of the result. I haven't had that in a while.

I just don't feel the drive to make music, my room is too small and every time I want to use hardware I have to make room for it and set it all up, that's really stifling me. I think part of the problem is the atmosphere I am in. Not being able to make music has me so depressed, like I lost it or something. Its been slowly eating at me all year (2009) and I just want to make music again, and be proud of the result.

for me its all about accessibility. i have a bunch of controllers and use vst/i only, so its a few power-ons and i am ready to go.

i'm quite stuck too at the moment, though i know the problem is i need more gear.

Force yourself to do some exercises. Just take an hour or two every day to recreate a song, explore a new genre, make/find some samples, learn some new scales, clean up the studio(s), study theory, or even just analyze music/sound

  On 1/3/2010 at 12:05 AM, 42Orange said:

Force yourself to do some exercises. Just take an hour or two every day to recreate a song, explore a new genre, make/find some samples, learn some new scales, clean up the studio(s), study theory, or even just analyze music/sound

This sounds fun, for the past 2 months every night I lay back with my eyes closed and headphones on and queue up some albums, and give them my full attention. I love it. I even tried it with my music, but then felt like shit about it.

like 420 said exercise dynamics musically, have fun, try different avenue's, don't take it so seriously, find the fun factor again. You can also try getting more into physical exercising to kill depression. good luck brosif.

Try to focus more on only a sound, concepts, and what you are trying to communicate through your music. Try to find something that's important, and means something to you, and then create music through that thought process. Also try to create music based around the best moments/experiences of your entire life. If you can't think of anything then start actually living, take some trips, etc. Hope this helps.

if you find you can't write good songs, just do some silly wanky ones.

i have this thing i've been doing last few weeks:

setup:

1. sh101 ext clock synced to a yamaha dx100 (fm groovebox)

2. some fx on the aux sends.

3. a microphone

process:

1. program a groove on the dx100 (10mins, easy as pie)

2. possibly program the sh101's seq, or just switch it over to arp

3. hit record and just start singing/saying random shit into the mic

4. elbow the sh101 to trigger new arps, fux with the fx, jam out on groovebox

at this point, not much of it is stuff that i want to see the light of day... but it amuses the shit out of me. i think doing this is fucking hilarious. never fails to cheer me up, esp. on a day when i'm feeling creatively tapped

so, end point: do something stupid, easy, and fun. don't pressure yourself to write a symphony or you'll just melt down. this is supposed to be enjoyable

Thanks for all the replies guys, seriously. It means a lot and I think it will be helpful. I can't wait to try some of the suggestions.

  On 1/2/2010 at 11:41 PM, abreaktor said:

for me its all about accessibility.

same. I'm so fucking lazy it's not even funny. I need to have everything close by or else I'm not gonna make anything.

Well, based on your inital post where you mentioned that you are left with loops of ideas, I get the impression that your music is based around static loops and simple metrical divisions (i.e. four bar phrases and predictable intervals of time). Perhaps you ought to take some time to sit down and study some methods that you are unfamiliar with such as simple 2 voice counterpoint or basic harmonic theory.

Simply learning new concepts will open your mind to different avenues of musical development that, after you ineternalize them, should be second nature and give you at least a few ideas that will germinate into a host of possibilities.

If that fails, I would sit down with your favorite pieces of music and try to do an in-depth analysis of them that will help you determine what their appeal is for you. I often find that if I can reconnect with the reason that I love a piece of music it will inspire me to emulate it and learn to copy it's qualities.

Remove your internet access. You're going to make so many tunes you will have albums of music in a month.

  On 1/2/2010 at 11:39 PM, Spore said:

My musical output has dwindled, I used to make a bunch of stuff. I completed songs, now I hardly ever complete any and I am left with just loops of ideas.

 

How can I get inspired again, I love the feeling when you've been up all night working on a song and you just listen to it over and over, proud of the result. I haven't had that in a while.

 

I just don't feel the drive to make music, my room is too small and every time I want to use hardware I have to make room for it and set it all up, that's really stifling me. I think part of the problem is the atmosphere I am in. Not being able to make music has me so depressed, like I lost it or something. Its been slowly eating at me all year (2009) and I just want to make music again, and be proud of the result.

one thing i do when i finish a track is not listen to it again... until i play live or something... i find that listening to you ur stuff when youve finished it gives you too much of a sense of satisfaction... sound weird but it works... ive suggested it to many friends...

dont leave stuff unfinished for too long... FINISH IT!!! even if you think you really dont know where to go... just do it!!!

also... when i get a bit stuck i get new software, vst's... change editors... buy a new hardware synth and just plaaayyyyyy...

learn some music... ive gotten stuck plenty of times but it never last more than a couple of days cause i make myself learn some music... maybe ill put on some Mingus and figure out a chord sequence... or afx or whatever...

getting physical with music regenerates that essential spark...

and one more thing... DONT THINK YOUVE LOST IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

creativity never goes away

  On 1/3/2010 at 10:03 PM, reyde_espana said:

  On 1/2/2010 at 11:39 PM, Spore said:

My musical output has dwindled, I used to make a bunch of stuff. I completed songs, now I hardly ever complete any and I am left with just loops of ideas.

 

How can I get inspired again, I love the feeling when you've been up all night working on a song and you just listen to it over and over, proud of the result. I haven't had that in a while.

 

I just don't feel the drive to make music, my room is too small and every time I want to use hardware I have to make room for it and set it all up, that's really stifling me. I think part of the problem is the atmosphere I am in. Not being able to make music has me so depressed, like I lost it or something. Its been slowly eating at me all year (2009) and I just want to make music again, and be proud of the result.

 

one thing i do when i finish a track is not listen to it again... until i play live or something... i find that listening to you ur stuff when youve finished it gives you too much of a sense of satisfaction... sound weird but it works... ive suggested it to many friends...

 

dont leave stuff unfinished for too long... FINISH IT!!! even if you think you really dont know where to go... just do it!!!

 

also... when i get a bit stuck i get new software, vst's... change editors... buy a new hardware synth and just plaaayyyyyy...

 

learn some music... ive gotten stuck plenty of times but it never last more than a couple of days cause i make myself learn some music... maybe ill put on some Mingus and figure out a chord sequence... or afx or whatever...

 

getting physical with music regenerates that essential spark...

 

and one more thing... DONT THINK YOUVE LOST IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

creativity never goes away

hey these are very good advices! i'll try that

Ya, I was gonna say. If you think you need more gear to make anything good or be productive then I'd say you have the wrong mindset. Have fun with what you've got, learn everything about it, make it do things it wasn't "meant" to do. Make it your bitch

If you're not relying on music for a living(which I imagine is just about everyone these days), take a month or two off. When you come back the process will seem fresh and new ideas will come easily. At least that's been my experience.

Record Production Month is February:

http://www.rpmchallenge.com/

I've always found taking part to be very inspiring. It's a nice way to try out new ideas or methods.

put a donk on it

Only the strong survive..

It really sounds like you need a break, man. By break, I mean don't even THINK about making music. Forget your studio. Don't listen to your own music. Probably don't even listen to the music you are trying to create (your influences).

I spent 72 hours straight in the studio over New Year's weekend and believe me, the thought of making more music right now makes me puke. I cannot stand to hear a 303 right now (something I never thought I'd hear myself say).

  On 1/5/2010 at 4:00 PM, acidphakist said:

It really sounds like you need a break, man. By break, I mean don't even THINK about making music. Forget your studio. Don't listen to your own music. Probably don't even listen to the music you are trying to create (your influences).

 

I spent 72 hours straight in the studio over New Year's weekend and believe me, the thought of making more music right now makes me puke. I cannot stand to hear a 303 right now (something I never thought I'd hear myself say).

speak fo yo-self nigga. I be just getting started.

I admire your tenacity, Sneaksta. Maybe I'll give'r the ole college try tonight.

  On 1/5/2010 at 8:25 PM, acidphakist said:

I admire your tenacity, Sneaksta. Maybe I'll give'r the ole college try tonight.

what sucks is that I have to poop really bad and when i got up today, both toilets were fucked up and no one else is home. wtf is going on?

a gentle poop a good acid does not make, comrade.

frozen pipes wtf.

yea taking a break and getting some conceptual vision can help me loads, instead of copping bands I'm into at the moment, biting someone else's song/sound too hard. I kinda get into some self-study, crack open a notebook, start finding a healthier direction