write an album

Writing my first album of instrumental guitar music. Style is rock-fusion inspired by my heroes—Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Vernon Reid, Andy Summers, Eric Johnson, Frank Gambale.

At least 12 songs. Notated in LilyPond, scratch tracks and demos recorded in GarageBand. Project management in NovaMind.

Composing schedule is 30 minutes every day (in the morning, so that I can get it done before the rest of the day’s duties interfere!)

I hope to rehearse a band and record the tracks professionally in early 2010. Will spend 2009 writing.

So far, I have 11 tracks started. The one that is farthest along is about 60% written. Most of the others are about 5% written (basic drumtrack and bassline, or a fragment of an idea/theme sketched out.)

Been working on it for a few weeks and am feeling good.

I began writing lyrics last night. I wrote about a high-school friend. So far (as it certainly will be revised many times) the song first introduces our pathologies and then discusses our growth as individuals through the years. It isn’t very uplifting or optimistic.

Earlier last week I came up with an idea for a concept album. I will now work on writing the lyrics and then the music. I feel that it’s time to apply what I’ve learned from music. I have to remember, however, that it will take some time to write (and then create) consistent and good music. I also must challenge myself so I don’t fall into formulaic repetition. It took Bruce Springsteen a while to write his “Born to Run” album, but it certainly paid off!!

but it’s hard to write anything worthwhile

I basically feel as if my music is my life. It is the thing I want to express everything going on inside of me to the world. It becomes hard to articulate and music allows me to say exactly what I want to. The issues I am having are really awful. I want to write my demo album, but I can’t seem to be able to execute what I want. I know I want to say something, but what? and how? I have everything I need! A mic, some instruments, some software for recording. Just need to get down to it!!

There’s no other feeling in the world to someone who loves music than the feeling of grooving to their own jam.

you get a great sense of self satisfaction

I’m up to 14 songs now ;} I wonder how many will get the chop?!

I hear what you’re saying about writing one song at a time, but I think that’s only part of it. If you don’t aim high you won’t get half way. You’ve gotta write like 40 songs, then and only then will you have cream to put into your album. Sometimes you get bored or can’t quite feel the song you’re writing, so what! Write another one when you’re feeling good about something else and come back to another one. Try to finish as much as you can on each song, but don’t get stuck on it, move on and come back!

I’m picturing 3 albums at this stage, if I actually get the first one out and done it’ll change to 4 or five albums I’m sure!

Using this approach I’ve found of got a lot of content and you can analyse yourself better, you know what you can write and why you write it, you can push yourself in new directions when you realise some things are too similar etc etc. Give it a go!

Q

Well, I’ve written lyrics and written music, but no doubt will be under constant polish. I figure I need 40 songs before I could select a few good ones, sheesh! But then what?! How do you get someone to help you produce them and put in all the little fills you never thought of?!

I’ve tried so many times to have a feel to an album and then try to stay within the parameters that I set form the onset, and it becomes to restricting. Just write songs. Eventually you’ll stumble onto a certain style that you are particularly good at writing and go from there.

Thats the approach im taking anyway. I have a few songs written. I’d like to complete an album by mid-2007, but set a few rules for it

1. Be open to new ideas
2. Take my time
3. Don’t compromise quantity for quality.

Thats about it! Lets see how far it gets!