Creativity is a funny thing. One minute you're brimming over with ideas, the next minute you're feeling dry as the Sahara sitting desperately with guitar in hand and a blank screen of possibilities.
I think the biggest mistake in creatives is not systematizing the process. Stay with me here, I don't want to sterilize the process, I think you'll find this really helpful!
First Things First
OK, set the scene, you're written a fantastic song, there's lots of little extra riffs and details swimming around your head, DON'T do anything with them yet.
You need to record this song structurally, so start by roughing out guitar parts to a click, just rhythms. Once that's done then you can programme/record drums, they are your absolute base, you have nothing with drums! Then move on to rhythm guitars followed by lead guitars.
With that, you suddenly have a (hopefully great sounding) base to the song, from that the details can be added!
Then Go Crazy
From there, all those little (and not so little) lead guitar parts can be added in and experimented with .
This is the time for adding and experimenting, claps and other percussion, sure. Maybe a banjo? Why not! Point is here is where you can go crazy and see what you come up with, once you have the base
Then Add Vocals (if needed!)
Once you have all that, add vocals, you'll quickly work out when they are present if what you added is too much or not, it's the stuff that gets in the way of the vocals!
So there you have it, a little structure will help you to think creatively about the right bits at each point, but it will also allow you to systematize and so complete more music. After all, completing and releasing music is what it's all about!
So there you have it, a little structure will help you to think creatively about the right bits at each point, but it will also allow you to systematize and so complete more music. After all, completing and releasing music is what it's all about!
What are your thoughts? Is there anything I missed you consider essential? Comment below to let me know!
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