How Long Does It Usually Take You To Write A Song? - Page 2 - Harmony Central Musician Community Forums

waterbed · 11-08-2009, 05:01 AM

lyrically:
they're either mostly formed before i start, in which case it takes 10-20 minutes or so... or i have an idea or some lines in my head that i flesh out into a song, which can take an hour and can be exhausting... or i have no ideas and just write, which can be the fastest method for me.
if i don't finish a song in one sitting, it probably won't get finished, because i've lost the headspace and rhythm and feel of it, but i often use lines in unfinished songs in new songs.

musically:
i just sit down with a guitar and make something up. 1 or 2 minutes and then repeat it a couple times to fit everything together. 5 if i'm struggling or i'm doing something unusual and i have to learn a part.
i try to avoid too much cliche, and have avoided a 1645 chord progression so far, but i have to consciously make myself do something unnatural sounding.

sometimes a song will just pop out fully formed while i'm playing around, but that's rare. instrumental "songs" are a near daily occurance, but lyrics and music in a coherent whole rarely happen. i can improvise a blues with varying degrees of success. other song structures are tougher.

after i finish, i may edit a song, especially the rhythms or keys. lyrically, if i edit a song, later i often find i like the original version better. it's about 50/50 on that.

djowens123 · 11-12-2009, 03:33 PM

20 mins to 20 years!

ariagracefield · 11-15-2009, 06:37 PM

it depends really on the thought process behind the song....although after doin a song I always think I could have done it better....

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11-08-2009, 05:01 AM	#21
waterbed Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 39	lyrically: they're either mostly formed before i start, in which case it takes 10-20 minutes or so... or i have an idea or some lines in my head that i flesh out into a song, which can take an hour and can be exhausting... or i have no ideas and just write, which can be the fastest method for me. if i don't finish a song in one sitting, it probably won't get finished, because i've lost the headspace and rhythm and feel of it, but i often use lines in unfinished songs in new songs. musically: i just sit down with a guitar and make something up. 1 or 2 minutes and then repeat it a couple times to fit everything together. 5 if i'm struggling or i'm doing something unusual and i have to learn a part. i try to avoid too much cliche, and have avoided a 1645 chord progression so far, but i have to consciously make myself do something unnatural sounding. sometimes a song will just pop out fully formed while i'm playing around, but that's rare. instrumental "songs" are a near daily occurance, but lyrics and music in a coherent whole rarely happen. i can improvise a blues with varying degrees of success. other song structures are tougher. after i finish, i may edit a song, especially the rhythms or keys. lyrically, if i edit a song, later i often find i like the original version better. it's about 50/50 on that.

11-12-2009, 03:33 PM	#22
djowens123 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 50	20 mins to 20 years!

11-15-2009, 06:37 PM	#23
ariagracefield Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 8	it depends really on the thought process behind the song....although after doin a song I always think I could have done it better....