How I write songs.

One of my mentoring students recently asked me how I go about writing songs. As I was filming a response for him I realized that other people might be interested in my process as well. Here is a look behind the scenes!

[@HerkeveyHanoar]

Intersting thoughts, I've also notices that 90% of the songs I write on guitar will be around the same keys. I think what makes those keys sound good and feel comfotable is the ability to use open strings in chords. The open strings will only sound good in certain keys like Em and Am (suppose E standard tuning). A way I found that helps me get some different sounds out of the guitar in the same keys is using different tuning f.e open tunings, especially on the higher strings, that way I can still maintain the basic shape of power chords but add different notes. I usually like using dropped tuning (suppose drop D: DADGBE), so two variations I found that make alot of sense to me are 1. DADGCF (tune two upper strings one semitone up), lots of cool chords and makes sense for leads too as all strings but the root are in perfect fifths. 2. DADADE - kind of a stacked power chord with added 9, has a cool symmetry and lots of options About your point about less gainy tones, I actually agree a lot. I feel that many song ideas that I have, which I wrote when the guitar wasnt even plugged in just don't translate when using sims.. and just sound too harsh. Sadly I don't own any nice amps and I rely only on plugins.. Do you have any suggetion how to more of a pleasent dynamic tone?

[@JayMaasRecording]

With sims it’s really tough. If you are in a smaller space where you can’t disturb neighbors etc I’d get a solid tube amp and maybe an OX box. Not a cheap investment but I do personally love this combination.

[@chrismorrison5497]

Relate to this a lot. I naturally go to B Minor, A Minor, and E Minor. Sometimes if my stuff is sounding too "same-y" at times I'll look up lesser used scales for the genre and try to write around it. Works a few times. Also I spent like hours on the Neural Amp Modulator yesterday while writing. Really cool free amp sim things but hard to figure what gain to use to get that "singing" you talked about, so I went with some old reliables.

[@bigriff9946]

something i can relate to. always struggled writing music through amp sims and tend to have to write through an amp and cab and record my DI and use an amp sim later for a demo.

[@JayMaasRecording]

Glad to hear that I’m not alone! There’s just something about the dynamic response that’s important to me when I’m creating.

[@bigriff9946]

@@JayMaasRecording yeah to me there just doesnt sound like theres enough string definition but i also havent had to opportunity to use any really nice amp sims yet

[@StanDew]

Are you making an appearance at the 10 year letters home show in July? 🤔