How To Write Music When You've Got Writer's Block

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[@RamonRodgers]

Brilliant! I'm going to break out my D&D dice! 12-sided for the key. maybe 8-sided for melody. Great idea to break the block!

[@arthurmee]

Me too. I'm using my trusty 8 sided dice from my D&D sets. Trouble is, I want to relive my youth and play D&D again.

[@jwatt002003]

I like this! You should do these more often because I like pausing the video after the dice roll then comparing what you made with what I attempted.

[@guym1428]

Great idea! Post some of your tunes

[@Xaero188]

So simple and genious at the same time! Thank you so much!)

[@juliegagnemusique]

This is such a cool way to deal with writer's block. I will definitely try it out, thanks for the tip!

[@wizmos74]

One of best video i've seen on you tube,thanks a lot for wonderful idea when writing is blocked. Cheers

[@augmentedu-turn5071]

i love this method of breaking music block, especially if you have a lot of dice and a lot of types of dice, it allows for you to work with so many different bases for a song this method even helped me write one of my best songs about a year and a half ago too!

[@oskararnarson]

I've never had writer's block when it comes to music but that looks insanely fun.

[@ethansprague2005]

oskararnarson you will if your like me. I have written lyrics for 10 albums, 2 eps, and alot of bonus one off stuff, along with work in progress music. You will, it's awful

[@jaredlane29]

Even if you don't have writers block this is a great way to practice tons of things. Workflow, harmonization, improvisation, etc.

[@mattboscan]

I really liked the 1st one! Quite stirring. The 3,3,6,1,3,3 reminded me a bit of Bat For Lashes.

[@AlexNutaMtl]

And you don't have to use it exactly the way it comes out on the dice, but I hope it can get me started. Certainly better than just staring at the keyboard. Brilliant.

[@wyldwolf]

Be right back, gonna bribe my nephew for a pair of dice from his monopoly set.

[@Channel-Z]

Such a easy but creative solution! Amazing, respect!

[@Moujemusic]

Genius technique... And amazed by the outcome... Definitely trying it out!!!

[@dubtlils3071]

You are so smart and such an amazing musician I love you ;) … oops didn’t mean to add that last bit

[@everythingability]

Love it. You could get 7 if you ever (optionally) make two numbers next to each other that make 7, e.g 1,6,2 ,3,3,4 becomes a number of alternatives with 7 at the beginning and end. Love your vids. If you want a "digital" seven-sided dice I can whip one up in no time.

[@everythingability]

In fact.... less than 5 minutes... no fancy graphics or sound effects but editable code. a 7 sided dice editor.p5js.org/remarkability/sketches/uRSXTf-M0

[@everythingability]

And with, er, sound. editor.p5js.org/remarkability/sketches/6SroxkSbK

[@actualchrisreid]

Never thought of this an idea. Will have to use this the next time I am stuck writing a song.

[@dhudson0001]

I just wrote a chromatic scale on several small squares of paper then scrambled them up and randomly chose six. It works well.

[@kylejudkins754]

if you play DnD you should have a d8 laying around... i'd just suggest grabbing the first 1 3 5 you can and using that as your first note so you can atleast start in the tonic... or else you'd have to hope it was a suspension that happens to resolve itself

[@Textra1]

And you can change up the mode to get exotic pieces. Brilliant. I'm doing this tonight.

[@StefUllrichMusic]

I occasionally use a deck of cards (German version), which contains eight different types. Very useful.

[@mickkiller]

No need to buy dice, there's a big box in front of you that can do it instead. Using python: python -c "import random; print([random.ran dint(1, 7) for i in range(0, 6)])"

[@JeffMuzerolle]

Brilliant! Of course it's easier when you're as creative as Guy Michelmore!!!

[@kenapplegate904]

I know there was a note-picker linked below. But if you really want to stick with dice and you've got a quick deadline coming up and can't take time to shop/wait for them, this random dice roller can be of help. Standard RPG dice are included and there is a slot at the bottom so that you can call for dice with different numbers of sides. www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm

[@craigberry4051]

Cool idea!

[@cottoneyemoe]

For a full diatonic scale, you could get a set of D7 dice such as these: www.thediceshoponline.com/cat/41/sides/6/d7 Or D12 if you want to go chromatic. Or a different side count for any scheme you might concoct.

[@guym1428]

Brilliant! I was wondering about that actually. Chromatic dice! Most interestingly of course it favours all tones equally so you are not drawn to 1 4 5 more than 236.

[@MrSquare]

D8s are a lot easier to find (they're used in RPGs); I guess you could use those and then reroll for 8?

[@SenseiLeRoof]

@@MrSquare I'd think 8 could be an octave up from 1.

[@bouffantmoose]

Just your talent is inspiring

[@FedericoSolazzo]

Awesome trick :) Thank you, Guy!

[@ihaveriffs8261]

That’s pretty darned neat!

[@richardboyer210]

Thank you Your are very funny love what you do ;)

[@MyOwnWayMusic]

Love it 😊 where do I buy dice is the question..

[@DigitalX2008]

A realy fantastic idea.

[@frostgfx]

Nice way to start someting. I'd need 5 days to do the same thing though.

[@shauncollins5029]

Great Idea.

[@andrewdeck7945]

Thanks for this tip!!!

[@adamkris]

What a great tip! Thank you, Guy! :)

[@JamieClark]

use 8 sided dice. They're very common and cheap to find. 1 for root, 8 for octave. Also has a 7 on it ;) No need for 7 sided dice.

[@guym1428]

You can do it for modes of course as well - that works

[@SaileRetuer99]

I wonder if any famous score started like this, just going random... Do you use it often, Guy? Where did you get that idea? Its a big help

[@guym1428]

Who knows! Every now and again the dice throw up a famous tune so it's not fool proof. The idea comes from the insight that originality often springs from some kind of restriction. Only use these notes or these samples and see what you can do. Often too much choice is what leaves you staring at the wall.

[@jslaughter95]

You should look up how Nobuo Uematsu wrote One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy 7, it’s actually not far off from this and very cool to watch

[@laaarsas]

Hey Guy! I know you've recently made a switch from DP to Cubase. Now, I've heard that Cubase has problem with making use of multicore processors under certain conditions, for example when dealing with group tracks. Since I know you use to work with huge templates, I wonder what CPU you have in your master computer, and how well it handles your templates in Cubase. Cheers!

[@MarkBowenPiano]

Nice idea and one I've used in the past although with me I tend to lean more towards minor chordal tunes instead as I've always felt they tend to give me more to work with. I just think that major structures always seem to end up just too happy and almost 'silly' when I do that. Yours were great though. On an aside, are those Genelec 2029A monitors you're using there? I've got a pair and love them but was wondering if they're those or perhaps another model? Thanks for all the great videos. Wonderful work.

[@Tk5869]

So good. Thank you.

[@denis4older462]

Which Midi controller is that?

[@JoshuaHults]

The best tip I ever seen

[@TheHManShow]

This is GENIUS!!!

[@audionrg7840]

Lol ah ha what a clever idea! That was great thank you!

[@ngat0ry508]

I was thinking as to how you could fit 7 into this trick, then you mentioned it. There exists a 7-sided dice, but they look really odd.

[@joewakeford]

Lovely as always Guy! What's the audio interface you use with the nice big volume dial on the left of the screen?

[@guym1428]

Mackie Big Knob. Its a monitoring box. The audio card is a MOTU 2408 in my mac pro.

[@joewakeford]

+Guy Michelmore Ah lovely, you've solved the mystery for me, thanks!

[@betinkerbell2447]

Could you make a wright ears block for guitar

[@arnoldchristian9501]

Thank you !

[@brushyrunblacksmith]

I didn't see anyone recommend using a random number generator. Just google "random number generator". Then you can set the range from 1 to 12 or anything in between.

[@stanstevens6289]

Would it be an advantage to use 12 sided dice to include all the semi tones?

[@musicman0423]

Would have been cool if you used the minor scale

[@tolisgamer]

What midi keyboard is this?

[@ShamStalin]

wow this is actually fun!

[@RKSarathy]

Who's gonna notice your password on KZbin and steal your phone, Guy!😂😂😂

[@MartinJG100]

I'd keep quiet about that. There may be a few red faces in the industry whose cover might just have been blown! I wonder whether Mozart used a similar process. He knocked more music than was thought humanly possible. David Bowie certainly worked on randomness.

[@SimonTebbenhamMusic]

Aleatory music is well documented. I even had a module on it for my music degree. I like how it forces you away from preconceived approaches and over practiced forms. Good for ostinato figures in a repetitive minimalism kind of way. I had my piano in front of me and just came up with a belter trying that first one 131613, a minor triplet thing :) cool vid.

[@tomstickland]

Brian Eno had a set of random cards for when he ran out of ideas for music production.

[@VidadeProducer]

Just Awesome

[@MrPaolo101]

What a weird and wonderful solution.... im gonna give this a whirl.

[@jamesgrey13]

I already have six dice... I need 500 more, and some bigger hands, to help me write a whole song!

[@monkeymindbananas9550]

How do you pick a key?

[@francoisBonin-phils]

Wow!

[@Textra1]

Shouldn't you be using 8 sided dice?

[@Jellybeantiger]

Deep depression hereYou don’t have depression,one huge block in creating music,I hate myself too.

[@sunnylazic3597]

This is fun!!!

[@PaperMario64]

That's awesome :)

[@musicrenz24]

Is that Aleatoric, isnt it?

[@krissa9664]

i have ideas but my head just doesnt work with developing anymore :(

[@PrinceWesterburg]

No dice man!

[@mytonmusic1891]

HAHAHA. And again HAHAHA. This is brilliant! As are all your other video's. Maybe you should consider a job as composer in the music industry! ;-)

[@igorkovalenko7425]

cheers! cheers! cheers!

[@Harrysound]

Wow! *goes to order dice

[@user-ht9fr6eh9u]

Nutty professor

[@antoniocristiano23]

Genious! ahahah

[@LeeGee]

Musikalisches Würfelspiele!

[@bien.mp4]

Another technique is to take an old piece of music and transpose it hahaha

[@jordantothesmith]

*...adds pack of dice to Amazon cart*

[@MustacheVerra]

haha that's a pretty good tip.

[@bassManDavis1953]

Have raided all the games with dice in, oh dear what a shame😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

[@MarinaBrunoFilms]

Loved this video! Very helpful... Check out mine! I have different tips 😬

[@angerock49]

Step 1: be a brilliant composer 😂

[@Busyrobot]

this guys hella weird..

[@TheRobZet]

If you experience a writer's block you have no clue about your area of work or you lack experience. In other words you're an amateur.

[@hillehai]

I bet typing this made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[@janpomerans]

Oh really?

[@TheRobZet]

Hate won’t change reality. ✌️

[@hillehai]

You realize arrogance isn't exactly one of the most prominent signs of competence, right?

[@TheRobZet]

hillehai arguing with a random person on KZbin isn’t either