What do you do when you get stuck in a rut composing? I'm in one now. :( All the good ideas I used to get while composing have stopped coming to me. :unsure:
I compose one song a day, and lately my ideas have just not sounded right! And I've got 11 songs in my "Unnamed" folder... I can't think of names for the ones that I make, and when I listen to old ones I've made, it just makes me depressed that for some reason I'm not getting any inspiration for composing, anymore... :cry:

Well it depends on how you're stuck. Usually I have the entire composition planned out before I even start writing: whether it's in AABA form, where the cadences are placed, which cadences... modulations, etc..

When I have done that, I usually do not get stuck: I'm not supposed to.. But I guess sometimes you will have a few variations/ideas that you will ponder on..

Go to a live concert somewhere. It's best if it's a small club or something. If it's a good band you'll walk out with at least 10 new ideas and you'll probably have figured out how to fix whatever you're working on.

I hit the piano really hard with my head. X_X I'm not kidding... it actually works out sometime because my head will accidently hit the chord I'm trying to sound out. :whistle:

Oh wow this is off-topic but I just found out that people used to think diminished-4th was the devil's chord and was avoided at all costs funny huh? :lol:

:huh:

Huh?

A diminished 4th is a major 3rd, which is an interval commonly used in music. Perhaps you meant an augmented 4th? If so, yes, that interval should be avoided. I didn't know that it was considered the Devil's work, though.. That's interesting XD Thanks for telling me that.

And Michael, that was extremely funny. XD XD XD

Hehe, I bet many intervals in the past were considered bad, some probably bad enough to considered to be the devil's interval. Now look at how the times have changed . . .

Anyways, when I'm stuck composing, I give myself a deadline. Then I force myself to work at it long and hard to finish it, no matter what. You might be amazed with what you can come up with under pressure. This usually works for me, unless I extend the deadline. :heh:

Well, I get stuck all the time :) When I do, I usually do something else, that has absolutely nothing to do with music. It works for me, sometimes...I guess you can't compose all the time without getting stuck.

I think the best way to get your brain going is to listen to some music and look for some inspiration!

Originally posted by Moebius@May 29 2004, 04:40 AM
A diminished 4th is a major 3rd, which is an interval commonly used in music. Perhaps you meant an augmented 4th? If so, yes, that interval should be avoided. I didn't know that it was considered the Devil's work, though.. That's interesting XD Thanks for telling me that.

And Michael, that was extremely funny. XD XD XD
Whoops yeah sorry I meant augumented, I was working on my theory homework at the same time which I hate, so I kinda got them all mixed up lol. I love that interval though, it sounds so cool lol.
And Michael that was very funny, hope you didn't hit your head too hard. I'm afraid of doing that, I'll probably crack my head open or something because my piano's really hard and my head's really soft. But then again, with all that hair cushioning it, maybe it won't.
Sorry for being off-topic.

gnomish, when you can't think of anything to write, it's probably when you should stop and go do something like take a walk in the park or go biking, or my personal favorite, go to sleep, anything that relaxes you. do something that takes your mind off the song or clears your head. i like sleeping cause when you dream, it's mostly something your worried about, and sometimes it may not make sense, but sometimes it will. you may get this great idea during your sleep. i dunno. i wake up and forget it for awhile until i get to the piano, then i remember.... hehe.... but yeah, try that... hope that helps.. o, and listening to music and going to live concerts does help inspire you.

sitting down hoping to get inspired by something or someone isn't going to get you far... go out and do something. inspiration will come to ya then....