Comments on: How to Write Rock Music Like a Rockstar http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/ Mike Turitzin's essays and articles Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:31:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: miketuritzin http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/comment-page-1/#comment-2756 miketuritzin Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:44:18 +0000 http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/?p=852#comment-2756 Good to hear from you, Erin. (And nice music, by the way!) I've been having a little bit of trouble with freedom recently, as I still haven't completely settled on a style. I think it would probably be best just to set out to compose an acoustic number (or whatever) rather than to leave everything up in the air. Good to hear from you, Erin. (And nice music, by the way!)

I’ve been having a little bit of trouble with freedom recently, as I still haven’t completely settled on a style. I think it would probably be best just to set out to compose an acoustic number (or whatever) rather than to leave everything up in the air.

]]> By: Erin http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/comment-page-1/#comment-2752 Erin Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:38:57 +0000 http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/?p=852#comment-2752 Wow Mike way to pull it all together! A lot of this stuff really rings true with me. I tend to work solo recording ideas on my computer (with guitar, vox, etc) and fleshing them out until they become something. I would say the main tactic I use is to just improv ideas into the mic without worrying if they're any good and then going through and picking out the interesting ideas out of the garbage. At the same time #2 also resonates with me. The whole running music idea is what grounds me, it's like I can do anything but the creative challenge is also to make it work on a run. That actually helps focus me a lot. Wow Mike way to pull it all together!

A lot of this stuff really rings true with me. I tend to work solo recording ideas on my computer (with guitar, vox, etc) and fleshing them out until they become something.

I would say the main tactic I use is to just improv ideas into the mic without worrying if they’re any good and then going through and picking out the interesting ideas out of the garbage.

At the same time #2 also resonates with me. The whole running music idea is what grounds me, it’s like I can do anything but the creative challenge is also to make it work on a run. That actually helps focus me a lot.

]]> By: miketuritzin http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/comment-page-1/#comment-2718 miketuritzin Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:52:27 +0000 http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/?p=852#comment-2718 Good points, Kim and Joey. Kim, agree with you about writing. It definitely has a big inspiration component, but the "process" is much more clear and important. About having "one idea": I've noticed that I tend to come up with a lot of single ideas that I think are pretty good but that sometimes it's hard to make a song out of them. Usually if I can come up with TWO good ideas that fit together in some way, I can work with that, though. My musical tastes tend to veer away from singer-songwritery-type material, which I think is usually most straightforward to compose. I think that's why I've been so interested in musicians' songwriting processes. Good points, Kim and Joey.

Kim, agree with you about writing. It definitely has a big inspiration component, but the “process” is much more clear and important.

About having “one idea”: I’ve noticed that I tend to come up with a lot of single ideas that I think are pretty good but that sometimes it’s hard to make a song out of them. Usually if I can come up with TWO good ideas that fit together in some way, I can work with that, though.

My musical tastes tend to veer away from singer-songwritery-type material, which I think is usually most straightforward to compose. I think that’s why I’ve been so interested in musicians’ songwriting processes.

]]> By: Joey Worsham http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/comment-page-1/#comment-2716 Joey Worsham Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:24:31 +0000 http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/?p=852#comment-2716 Hey Mike, I'd never read your blog before, it's good! I've been writing and recording music and have played in various bands over the years, and a lot of these patterns are totally accurate to my writing process. I tend to focus on number 1 especially. Every song I've ever written that I've been happy with has been created revolving around 1 simple and unique idea. Most times it's related to the lyrics and the story I want to tell, but sometimes it can all be built around a unique riff or awkward chord progression or whatever. I also kind of have this idea that I don't actually write my songs, but that they're actually floating around somewhere in pieces above my head and that in those late night hours when I'm mindlessly strumming my guitar and singing some mumbled tune that they decide to talk to me and reveal their secrets....but that's just my process Hey Mike, I’d never read your blog before, it’s good! I’ve been writing and recording music and have played in various bands over the years, and a lot of these patterns are totally accurate to my writing process.

I tend to focus on number 1 especially. Every song I’ve ever written that I’ve been happy with has been created revolving around 1 simple and unique idea. Most times it’s related to the lyrics and the story I want to tell, but sometimes it can all be built around a unique riff or awkward chord progression or whatever.

I also kind of have this idea that I don’t actually write my songs, but that they’re actually floating around somewhere in pieces above my head and that in those late night hours when I’m mindlessly strumming my guitar and singing some mumbled tune that they decide to talk to me and reveal their secrets….but that’s just my process

]]> By: kim http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/how-to-write-rock-music-like-a-rockstar/comment-page-1/#comment-2714 kim Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:43:29 +0000 http://www.miketuritzin.com/writing/?p=852#comment-2714 Strangely, I have written a handful of songs and could not tell you how they were written. I never developed a practice for songwriting, even though in college I seemed to have the ability to write songs. I wrote songs back when I was under the impression that "inspiration" was what was required to create something. As for writing fiction and screenplays, it seems like "work" + "good idea" is more of what is required, rather than "inspiration." Writing is very analytical. Since music has a more aesthetic beauty, I have always been interested in what balance other people strike between these elements in music. Strangely, I have written a handful of songs and could not tell you how they were written. I never developed a practice for songwriting, even though in college I seemed to have the ability to write songs. I wrote songs back when I was under the impression that “inspiration” was what was required to create something.

As for writing fiction and screenplays, it seems like “work” + “good idea” is more of what is required, rather than “inspiration.” Writing is very analytical. Since music has a more aesthetic beauty, I have always been interested in what balance other people strike between these elements in music.

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