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Looking to progress with progressions

gregmon79

gregmon79

Dec 20, 2012
27,397
19,561
46
Chicago IL
#1
Hey all. I've been playing for about 14 years now. I hope to learn so much more but sometimes I run out of direction. I can come up with riffs like crazy and I know I have a great ear and feel for what I like to hear. But a lot of times, that's all I end up coming up with, killer RIFFS. Most people can do that. I want to learn how to throw those riffs together to compose a great song. Where can I go, besides paying someone for lessons, or what are the best pieces of advice you can give on how I can learn better composition skills. I have been known to put together some good songs but a lot of times, again, I get stuck and can't figure out where to go next after I have a chorus or a verse or even a bridge figured out. Suggestions and constructive criticism very welcome. Thank you. I hope I posted this in the right place.
 
#2
Steal.

Well ok, don't outright steal whole songs, but what most people do is they "borrow" chord changes, rhythms, parts of melodies etc.. You can actually borrow outright from any music that isn't copyrighted which includes a lot of great classical music.

Sure, it's possible to try come up with stuff that's totally your own but it will probably take you 10X's longer, it won't sound as good and it will probably sound somewhat like someone has already done anyway.

I'm only recommending this because you seem somewhat stuck, some people write on their own and it's fine but really a lot of people actually do what I'm recommending whether they admit (even to themselves) or not.
 
#3
I have so many unfinished songs.. I've never really thought about stealing chord progressions or melodies, but I do write things that sometimes sound very similar to others. I think music has to be honest, and I like to come back to things. Oftentimes I write riffs or parts later in the future and realize that it can go with another riff I had already written.

Let it simmer, but make sure you're focusing on it and the song will come together when it's ready.
 
#4
MycooLeeyun said:
I have so many unfinished songs.. I've never really thought about stealing chord progressions or melodies, but I do write things that sometimes sound very similar to others. I think music has to be honest, and I like to come back to things. Oftentimes I write riffs or parts later in the future and realize that it can go with another riff I had already written.

Let it simmer, but make sure you're focusing on it and the song will come together when it's ready.
Click to expand...

I do this all the time, write riffs and come back to them. Try to put them together and use them at different times. I still get stuck. My soundcloud has like 60 unfinished ideas. As far as borrowing, John Lennon said it best, we all rip each other off. I agree. It's truly hard to find something out there that's purely original. It's out there though. I just think we all get inspired by what we hear most and go with it. I still get stuck. I just thought there would be some kind of "exercise" or lessons I could use to atune my mind to writing "better".
 

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