Subject: sources of musical inspiration

Somehow, none of the topics I found here discuss sources of musical inspriation.

(Unless voting system flamewars inspire you, in which case I guess these are "on topic") :)

So let's start that right here.

So, first of all. Every time I've put my hands on a new instrument, either a physical or software one, I'll find myself creating a new song on it within the first hour. There's something magical about wielding one's will over things like that. Or it's a new mix of variables that makes you think about music in a whole new way every time.

Anyone else know what I mean?

It depends on the time of day and the people around me... I have friends who like to share their party favorites, depending on how much and what catagory the favorites are, I'll break out the studio toys and start jammin. Walking thru my city I'll start to create a beat or vocal pharse, which I write down on my notebook, go home and crank up GB3, but what inspires me the most is when I am at pow=wows and talk to other tribal family and I feel there emotions and their oral history from a time that has passed, but that we are still living. My dreams are another inspiration as well..... Macjams also reminds me of the talent that is in me and the rest of this universe :D

I find I get inspirition when I hear new sounds from my software or pick up a new instrument. I often will be sitting in a discussion and have an idea emerge from it that turns into a lyric and simple tune..... the ones I usually forget by the time I get to write anything :S ....

Mostly my inspiration comes from "beyond". I cannot control it. I simply let it happen. My muses pop in at the strangest times. But lately, inspiration has been sparked by conversations with the many people I communicate with. Be it my family, friends, or whomever... there is a story to be told in music!

I also get inspired by new instrument sets, especially buying new Jam Packs. Listening to the wide range of genres on this site has certainly changed what I write - I used to write mainly indie/ rock songs, but have recently being using beats and more electro/pop type sounds.

I find some songs start with inspiration, then take a lot of work to get them sounding right. Some just appear. I was washing the car last Sunday, and suddenly got a riff in my head - this has turned into a string sequence in waht appears to be a track where Cameo meet Britney Spears - weird. But I do believe you should let the song become what it needs to be, and not force it into a pre-determined sound, genre or shape.

Yep. I sometimes fear that this will mean that I will have one track for every instrument I own.

It also means that I can sort of compute the price of a track :-(

Victor.

PS I get my inspiration from a small mail order company in Indiana.

Another source of inspiration for me is nature. The raw sensory inputs.

After a snowstorm when the sun breaks out and I'm digging out the walk and the driveway, I usually just plod through the chore of shovelling, in a hurry to get on with other things. But once in a while, I'll pause, rest my hands on the shovel handle and smell the crisp air, see the snow on the trees, the brilliant blue sky, hear the wind in the pines. Forget everything for a moment... That's a time that inspires me. Sometimes it's literally a melody, but more often it's just the mood. Later, I'll try to recapture the moment in a poem or a song.

Ditto for lots of other similar things: thunderstorms, sunsets, hanging at the beach.

One other source of inspiration: stress.

I do my best initial work when I should be doing other things, especially when there's too many things to do and I'm all stressed out.

Refining that initial work needs to wait until have some actual spare time to polish it.

See these past threads (and feel free to add to them):

My Musical Inspirations
Favorite Songwriters
Favorite Album
Favorite Song
Favorite Cheesy Song (and why)
Favorite 1 Hit Wonders
What's On Your iTunes Playlist?

I am inspired by deadlines, the words of dead people in my head, and death in general (as an ultimate deadline approaching). And Suzanne.

You learn, after awhile, to take inspiration whenever --- and from wherever --- you can find it. New musical and softwarte instruments may have that effect, but so can just about anything in the world that surrounds you.

You just have to open your uncritical mind to the endless opportunities that abound in this world --- or, perhaps... even another world. ;-)

--- Joe

I agree, but I can't afford enough instruments to produce the needed songs :lol: So other things have to contribute. Silent times with God, books I read, Stories I write, the beauty of creation, the love of wife and kids, times of trouble, sadness, and death, playing with words.

Just put the antennae up, they'll come.

I've had a bit of trouble with inspiration lately. It's just not 'there'. But I also know it'll be back. Partly, I think it's because I've had carpal tunnel problems, and I don't 'mess around' on the keyboard or guitar - I'm just doing what I have to do for playing at church, and then, I'm working on college credits for my licensure, so I'm on the computer doing that, too. I know there have been people who work 12 hour days, have families to care for, and still find time to write music. They're inspiring, and far beyond me.

Another source of inspiration for me is serendipity.

Accidental configurations of life's events (sometimes called coincidences, good luck, miracles) drive much of my work. Sometimes I have been blown away by realizing that things just somehow worked out a certain way, and certain good things seems to have emerged from it. Had it been any other way, none of it would have happened.

My latest effort, Dissociation Break, http://www.macjams.com/song/22017 , was a strange combination of discovering MacJams and finding a commencement speech on the web - and it clicked. There are multiple very meaningful things going on there. Listen to the speech (I put a link on the song comments), think about MacJams. It fits. These things just happen. I'm always amazed when it does. Life is way cool!

I agree with Valley Pastor that Life/God provide an endless stream of inspiration, and that you just have to be attuned to it to feel it.

But while that is true, "just" being attuned to it can be a tremendous challenge at times, especially when life becomes unceasingly hectic, others seem to always be needing/wanting your time (and you're not very good at saying no), health issues arise, etc., so I suspect most of us can empathize with Krisyjo's situation. I finished a piece for 5 percussionists yesterday (yay!), but it was the first piece I have finished in about 11 months, and I have had other less lengthy dry spells in my career.

People sometimes ask me what inspires me in interviews, and I know that many of them are hoping I'll say something profound like, "long walks in the woods, prayer, and the songs of Tibetan birds," but, while those things can all be inspiring, probably the biggest source of inspiration for me is opportunity.

Someone wants me to write a guitar concerto, and already has several performance dates lined up with an orchestra; that's inspriring! Someone else wants me to write a percussion concerto for a January concert, and that too is exciting/inspiring. For some weird reason, after almost a year where I wasn't producing anything (although I was working full-time, I wrote a few short stories, and I also created my web site without any previous knowledge of HTML), I've got composing projects lined up that should keep me busy for the next year and a half, and it's all inspiring, because it means that people want to hear new pieces from me enough to go through the commission process, and plan performances.

It's also a bit nervewracking, because every time I write something I am fearful that it'll end up being embarrassingly bad, and nobody will like it, but usually I muddle through, so I try to hang on to that thought.

So, basically, having people wanting to hear your music is inspiring.

Kristyjo, we want to hear more music from you!!!

I call that the "Muses" - they can visit at any time - usually the most inconvenient times. Have you ever hummed a melody into your voicemail so you don't lose it? (I have... guess I'm a loony.)

Several instruments that I had in mind were big honkin' things. This cool piano with a "harpsichord pedal" comes to mind. Got it for the price of taking it away. It's long gone now, but I loved that beast. Not everything has to cost you $. There are things like autoharps, that I found inspirational, that you can buy for "a song."

Look into zithers, if you haven't yet. They are radically cool instruments: you don't even have to play these things: they play themselves!!!!!

But seriously, I hear you. Why does everything seem to cost you N hard earned bucks? It seems wrong somehow.

Ah, yes, other worlds. I like those a lot.

I hope you don't despair. When it's time for you to again devote some time to music creation, it will be clear. Sounds to me like there are other, very much more important things for you to focus on right now. Personally, I had to put my music on hold for a long while before I had the time to try it again. And here I am.