Jinder Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Hi all, I’ve been meaning to start this thread for ages. Everyone has their favourite guitar for a certain style of playing or style of music, but for the writers among us, which is the one that gets your creativity moving? For me it’s my 1990 Hummingbird. I’ve written with all my guitars, but this one is just full of songs. Every time I pick it up at home i write something, I’ve never had so many songs in such a short time from any guitar...it just fits under my arm and the tone makes me sing.. It makes me write in the way I used to a long while back-just playing, finding some great changes and making up melodies and babble over the top, before refining the babble into proper lyrics and shaping the song structure. For many years I abandoned that approach and wrote the words first, before alloying them to music, but the Bird is just such a joy to play that I can’t resist! My Dove and SJ200 are lovely writing instruments too, but the Bird is the king of the jungle. What’s yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassetman Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Hi all, I’ve been meaning to start this thread for ages. Everyone has their favourite guitar for a certain style of playing or style of music, but for the writers among us, which is the one that gets your creativity moving? For me it’s my 1990 Hummingbird. I’ve written with all my guitars, but this one is just full of songs. Every time I pick it up at home i write something, I’ve never had so many songs in such a short time from any guitar...it just fits under my arm and the tone makes me sing.. It makes me write in the way I used to a long while back-just playing, finding some great changes and making up melodies and babble over the top, before refining the babble into proper lyrics and shaping the song structure. For many years I abandoned that approach and wrote the words first, before alloying them to music, but the Bird is just such a joy to play that I can’t resist! My Dove and SJ200 are lovely writing instruments too, but the Bird is the king of the jungle. What’s yours? My J45 seems to write its own songs ...just throw the mind into neutral and music comes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalex Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 I use my Taylor Grand Concert for most tunes I come up with, it's a great little couch guitar. They start on that then I try them out on my Gibby's to see which one they work best on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 I usually have just one of my three go-to guitars out on the stand so I can pick it up almost anytime (I work out of a home office) and see what's what. Lucky for me, I've found tunes in all three. I can't put my finger on why one guitar (and not the other two) make it to the stand, however. For most of the summer, the maple J100 was always on hand, then came the li'l Kalamazoo upstart for a couple of months, but presently, it is the J45 within reach. It sure does sound pretty, here in the days of waning light. Whatever comes out, if anything, is likely to be mournful...but then, we all might expect as much from me. Exciting news (speaking of songwriting and guitar choices): I've signed up for a small songwriting workshop in Nashville, at end of January, guest-hosted by Mary Gauthier. I'm really looking forward to that, and all three of my gits are clamoring to be picked for the trip. Decisions, decisions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Ideas usually come when Im driving and listening to CDs. Never had much luck strumming away (sigh). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 I consider myself an arranger rather than a writer. I never seem to play much of anything as it was originally written. If you want a blues version of Wipe Out or a Cajun version of Wooly Bully I am there. I once arranged Paint it Black where the chorus was played as a waltz and a with a kazoo sitting in for the sitar. But for me the guitar is immaterial. I get an idea stuck in my head and I will grab whatever is nearest to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 It’s almost too varied for me to answer. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I will never be a good songwriter. I tried. Written about twenty. Mediocre I think. Maybe I need to get hit by lightning. Anyways... the J50 is the one. But the D18 is gaining... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 .....songwriting workshop in Nashville, at end of January, guest-hosted by Mary Gauthier. Bonus points for members that know the correct pronunciation of Mary's last name.......! For me the guitar doesn't matter......it's all about having the time to just wander about with changes, hopefully moving toward something useable. Sometimes there's a phrase in mind, other times it's the tempo of the changes that point a direction for meter and melody. Don't think I've ever taken a completed lyric to the guitar in search of.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 a J45 TV that seems to go everywhere, inside, outside, on the road, to town to friends, births many, Soon to be joined by a J-35 Vintage with a baked Adi top, and a 1.77 width ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 To date, my only acoustic is my J-45, but I will write on anything and without an instrument even around, just using my mind for the melody. I've written with a keyboard, although I'm quite a hack with one it will give you different ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 This is a timely topic. Ive found that Ive struggled to write songs, mainly because my vocals were strong enough in order to put toether melodies and have a workable, dynamic range. But I can pull off a tune these days vocally, so im getting back into it. ive wondered how writers approach the process. Do they start ith lyrics, a progression, a riff, vocal melody, or just a 'mood' ? Interesting how Jinder went from lyrics first back to guitar. im sort of not sure where to begin, right now a progression comes more naturally, but then i struggle to create a compelling melody over the progression, and lyrics, thats a totally different kettle of fish. Suffice to say, its quite a tricky them for me, but having said that I can feel that ive got many songs inside me aching to be released. I think it just need to knock over a couple, relatively simple ones and that will get the ball rolling. I recently bougth this book, will study it over the coming weeks and Xmas. https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Songs-Guitar-Expanded/dp/0879309423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511366402&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+write+songs+on+guitar In terms of which guitar seems to inspire me the most to write, i would say the Dove, as it has such a dynamic, rich yet clean tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 You all reckon Dylan just bought the right guitar ? Randy Newman bought the right piano ? Neil found would’ve been working in a warehouse had he not been given the right guitar ? Good grief people Tell ya what ... if a song doesn’t fall out of a guitar after a while playing why don’t you go down and catch fairies in the garden ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 You all reckon Dylan just bought the right guitar ? Randy Newman bought the right piano ? Neil found would’ve been working in a warehouse had he not been given the right guitar ? Good grief people Tell ya what ... if a song doesn’t fall out of a guitar after a while playing why don’t you go down and catch fairies in the garden ? Oooh, the blind boy has a severe case of the grunts ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatbaroque Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 The romantic side of me likes the notion of special guitars "full of songs" but the reality for me is any old guitar that stays in tune is ok for writing.It's hard work (for me)to get a song written so I suppose playing on a nice guitar like a J-45 helps a little in that the more enjoyable "sound" is around during the writing process. Once a melody is established I often write / rework lyrics in my head while walking to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mking Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I usually have just one of my three go-to guitars out on the stand so I can pick it up almost anytime (I work out of a home office) and see what's what. Lucky for me, I've found tunes in all three. I can't put my finger on why one guitar (and not the other two) make it to the stand, however. For most of the summer, the maple J100 was always on hand, then came the li'l Kalamazoo upstart for a couple of months, but presently, it is the J45 within reach. It sure does sound pretty, here in the days of waning light. Whatever comes out, if anything, is likely to be mournful...but then, we all might expect as much from me. Exciting news (speaking of songwriting and guitar choices): I've signed up for a small songwriting workshop in Nashville, at end of January, guest-hosted by Mary Gauthier. I'm really looking forward to that, and all three of my gits are clamoring to be picked for the trip. Decisions, decisions... The LG-1 gets my vote. Anne are you a member of NSAI? Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Faeries In The Garden ... Sounds like a good song idea. Now, dear HBird, what rhymes with “garden”? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 The LG-1 gets my vote. Anne are you a member of NSAI? Michael I am not; haven't thought to look into it. Hmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajay Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 I find that any of my acoustics will do, but when I try different tunings sometimes chord progressions just roll along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarrr Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Are you a ghost writer if you've sold guitars you've written with..... uhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 When writing the guitar isn't that important to me. Rather than an acoustic instrument it becomes a tool. What matters is the nut-width and action, which both must be no-issue and just work as smooth as possible. Yet I get the theard-Q. Certain guitars call for certain directions and if I was chasing, let's say a rag-time inspired idea, it probably wouldn't take place behind a big dread. The 12-fret is more in line with that etc. I'm certain everyone gets the 'logic', , , as persons, things, phenomenons, themes, situations and songs tend to have deeper nature, which calls for, if not vertical respect, then attention or awareness (also so you once in a while can experiment with goin' contra or challenging them). But sure, , , I can see my arms reach for Dove with the brain goin' : What do we have under the hood together right now, , , something different ?? And that would be fine. All in all there are no rules or guidelines carved in concrete when it comes to writing - a highly primal process that have you starting out as a raving caveman and ending up like a professor. Interesting ? Heq yes, , , that's why I must have done over 1000 in my time. An early bold starter here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Faeries In The Garden ... Sounds like a good song idea. Now, dear HBird, what rhymes with “garden”? Pardon.... I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden Or some guy named Hardin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Pardon.... I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden Or some guy named Hardin. It was a trap - waiting for someone to suggest "Martin"..... BOOM !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Beloved Guild D25... (said as i'm searching for my Gibson) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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