Nur Ein V Round Two "Spanish Lessons"

[MintyHandy]

Argh. This is the third week in a row that the process of writing and recording feels like work instead of pleasure. Being an occasional (whenever inspired) songwriter, I've not had to be disciplined like this before, and forcing the songs out is starting to feel overwhelming with everything else going on around here (most notably, full-time work and twin 4-year-olds.) This is also the third week in a row I've started writing an "I'm dropping out of Nur Ein" email, but then deleted it without sending it. How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

[wages]

Argh. How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

Ex-lax

Seriously tho, I can't offer any advice on that. I can write songs left and right if need be, but I also don't have a family to look after (just me and my wife!) and don't have much other stuff going on. Hang in there!

[Chris Cogott]

Argh. This is the third week in a row that the process of writing and recording feels like work instead of pleasure. Being an occasional (whenever inspired) songwriter, I've not had to be disciplined like this before, and forcing the songs out is starting to feel overwhelming with everything else going on around here (most notably, full-time work and twin 4-year-olds.) This is also the third week in a row I've started writing an "I'm dropping out of Nur Ein" email, but then deleted it without sending it. How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

I totally feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Work, family. That's why I get up as early as possible in the morning to get started and I'm NOT a morning person. It's hard to be creative at that hour but it's the only way I can get this done.

[Ross]

Argh. This is the third week in a row that the process of writing and recording feels like work instead of pleasure. Being an occasional (whenever inspired) songwriter, I've not had to be disciplined like this before, and forcing the songs out is starting to feel overwhelming with everything else going on around here (most notably, full-time work and twin 4-year-olds.) This is also the third week in a row I've started writing an "I'm dropping out of Nur Ein" email, but then deleted it without sending it. How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

Ina sick way i have enjoyed that thrill the past three years, alit like a college road trip during finals week or a roller coaster you are having second thoughts about half way up the first hill.

Hang in there, it's a heck of a ride. And enjoy your twins, I did not set my girls aside in the past either.

Nur ein!!!

[inevitableguy]

How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

Copious quantities of alcohol.

[Caravan Ray]

Argh. This is the third week in a row that the process of writing and recording feels like work instead of pleasure. Being an occasional (whenever inspired) songwriter, I've not had to be disciplined like this before, and forcing the songs out is starting to feel overwhelming with everything else going on around here (most notably, full-time work and twin 4-year-olds.) This is also the third week in a row I've started writing an "I'm dropping out of Nur Ein" email, but then deleted it without sending it. How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

I totally feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Work, family. That's why I get up as early as possible in the morning to get started and I'm NOT a morning person. It's hard to be creative at that hour but it's the only way I can get this done.

Nobody will think any less of you if you both just give up. Just think - it would be so good to just stop, wouldn't it.

Go on. You know you want to. Put your feet up. Relax.

[MintyHandy]

So after one of my collaborators and I busted our heads open for a bit making improvements, I went and put my feet up and gave up. And then dragged my sorry ass back to the keyboard, threw out two of the three chord progressions, rewrote the (few) lyrics I had, wrote some more, and so now I've got something. My second collaborator will add their sauce tomorrow, and the first will contribute a vocal to go with her lyric/progression/arrangement contributions. It's a small, gentle song, but an omnichord *may* be represented.

And, uh, just by virtue of the time spent pounding this thing out over and over, I believe my piano-playing skills have improved -- I'm going to see if I can get the piano part in one take with no edits. Thanks for the words of encouragement (and leisure!), I needed those. But fuck, sometimes this is really pulling teeth. No wonder I didn't do this sooner.

[frankie big face]

Minty and Chris, I experienced this feeling at a very specific moment during last year's Nur Ein (which I won, by the way--just some last-minute bragging before I give up the crown in a few weeks). The song was "Spider to the Fly" and the challenge was "composition must be through-composed". That challenge is already pretty contrary to my writing style (verse-chorus-bridge, you know) and during the previous week I had written a song that was essentially through-composed to meet the "lyrics must be in sonnet form" challenge. I really thought I was done. In fact, I just looked at my lyric pad and I have five abandoned ideas on the page prior to my final song! On the last day, my wife forced me back into the studio and made what I still think is a mediocre song, but I made it to the next round by the skin of my teeth and went on to win. So, no matter what, submit something! Everyone struggles through this composition and a year from now, you'll look back on this nice little collection of songs you have and be happy you stuck it out.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Yes, Nur Ein is most definitely a test of a musicians endurance. I tend to get so caught up in the instrumental and production process with only a melody and an idea of what I want to write about, that right towards the end I panic. When I panic I get complete writers block, then frustrated, then I panic some more.

Also, every year I give myself a theme to follow, which helps. That way as I'm going about life or watching a movie, etc, I'll see something that fits my theme, so I write it down. This year, obviously, it's imperfect relationships. But as the rounds continue, and I veer off course from my indented goal, that's when the fit hits the shan.

....then I just say efff it and write a song about beejayz and sangwiches.

NUR EIN!!!

[Rabid Garfunkel]

How do you all deal with the stress of forcing these songs out?

A bad day writing music is still better than a good day at work. /bumper sticker

Self-loathing, insecurity, and obsessive-compulsive behavior, heh. Sometimes you birth a monster, and sometimes an angel. But soldier on, my friend, and don't stop 'til it's done.

[wages]

Sometimes you birth a monster

Hey, I resemble that remark

[MintyHandy]

Your supportive words were awesome, everyone, and inspired me to start manhandling this into something I liked -- but it turns out that being a musician who sits down and concentrates for more than five minutes a time is, for me, completely incompatible with being a parent. Looks like I'm back to the 'ol "play and record for five minutes here and there when inspiration strikes" routine. It was a fun experiment, anyway. Good luck all!

[Ross]

... It was a fun experiment, anyway. Good luck all!

NOOOOOO!

[Niveous]

... It was a fun experiment, anyway. Good luck all!

NOOOOOO!

I second that. You're throwing in the towel? You've got a whole day left. Kids go to sleep. Don't give up.

[JonPorobil]

... It was a fun experiment, anyway. Good luck all!

NOOOOOO!

I second that. You're throwing in the towel? You've got a whole day left. Kids go to sleep. Don't give up.

I third that.

[Reist]

NOOOOOO!

I second that. You're throwing in the towel? You've got a whole day left. Kids go to sleep. Don't give up.

I third that.

I'll take your third and raise you a fourth.

[MintyHandy]

You're all very kind -- but tomorrow is Mother's Day. As much as I care about Nur Ein and music, I care about Liz more -- and as supportive as she is of me making time these last three weeks for Nur Ein (which is very supportive, by the way), there's no way I'm short-changing her on time and attention tomorrow. So my deadline was really tonight.

The good news is, I'm not throwing in the towel on Nur Ein, just on this round -- that was a "good luck all!" on the round, not on Nur Ein. I've submitted the scratch track I sent to my second "guest" (since it is the only complete track of the song I have right now.) Sadly, computer issues on her end prevent us all from finding out if her theremin and/or omnichord solos were going to be as awesome as I suspect. Good thing Liz contributed stuff lyrically and in the (theoretical) arrangement, so hopefully that's enough for "guest" status.

If I survive this round on the strength of the songwriting (admittedly doubtful), I'm still going to try to win this thing. I have my fingers crossed that the next couple of titles inspire something in me that let me write one of my one-hour specials -- that is, write songs in the family-compatible way I usually do my SongFight entries.

Now, my very patient daughter has been sitting on my lap while I wrote this, so I'm gonna tuck her under my arm and find out what my son's up to.

Meanwhile: NUR EIN!!!

[Ross]

Not really out. NUR EIN!!!

YEEEEESSSSS!

[Caravan Ray]

Bloody hell Minty - make up your mind.

There's more in-and-out in this competition than in one of Paris Hilton's home movies.

[MintyHandy]

There's more in-and-out in this competition than in one of Paris Hilton's home movies.

TRY THE VEAL!

[HeuristicsInc]

Looks like I'm back to the 'ol "play and record for five minutes here and there when inspiration strikes" routine.

Boy, do I understand that now. I recorded some vocals yesterday while holding my son. Got a bit of extra vocal at the end, too... fun, that.
-bill

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Got an email from one of my music-related subscriptions today that was... well, it had a wow moment in it for me, that crystalized what I was semi-consciously trying to do in this Nur Ein (well, rounds 1 & 2 and the aborted round 3... let's just forget about round Zero, heh).

Enjoy (or not, as the case may be).

The 6 Elements of a Strong Arrangement (INTERMEDIATE)
By Producer AJ - Musician and Recording Engineer

One of my favorite things about making music is that you can break all the rules! And yet, I'm about to share with you my thoughts on the 6 elements of a strong arrangement.

Why?

When you learn how things are normally done, you'll know how to break the rules in more 'ear-catching' ways. A genius knows the rules and chooses to break them in new and amazing ways. A newbie who doesn't know any rules confuses originality with a lack of experience.

no knowledge of rules = music that sucks

My arrangements became immediately stronger when I learned the 5 basic elements. (I've added a 6th - which I'll explain.) By learning the rules, I've found creative ways of breaking those rules to come up with something fresh.

Traditionally speaking, modern music arrangements are based on 5 elements. They are:

1. Foundation. This usually means the rhythm section - but only those instruments that are playing the same basic rhythms together. Drums and bass usually dictate the basic underlying rhythms - together.

2. Counter Rhythm. This is an instrument that is playing 'counter' to the Foundation element. An acoustic guitar playing the 'up-beats', or a shaker playing double-time are examples of Counter Rhythm elements.

3. Pad. This is a background textual sound that 'glues' everything together. Usually, it's a synth pad. But power chords, organ, or strings are sometimes used - depending on the style of the music.

4. Lead. This refers to the lead vocal, or lead melodic instrument.

5. Fills. This refers to melodic or rhythmic elements that fill the spaces between lead lines. An example would be lead guitar fills between the singer's lines in the verse of a song. Or a drum fill leading into the chorus.

-These are the traditional 5 elements. But to me, there's one more arrangement element:

6. Chorus Element. An instrument or sound that is heard only in the chorus of a song to give an emotional lift and to help the chorus stand out from the other parts of the song.

The next time you're in your car, flip through a bunch of different stations. Regardless of the musical style, you'll be able to clearly identify each of these 6 elements (nearly all the time). Whether it's Hip-Hop or oldies Rock-N-Roll, you'll find these 6 elements.

In my early attempts at arranging, I had a tendency to create too many parts. Although I was a good player, I kind of sucked as an arranger. I thought it was all about playing well, so I had a tendancy to add too many parts in an attept to create interest and build dynamics.

But once I truly understood these elements, I was able to build solid arrangements very quickly. Because of this, I was already making a nice living as an arranger in my early 20's. Not everything I did was brilliant, but it was all good.

If you'll take the time to dissect a few hundred songs, you'll gain an understanding of what I'm talking about. If you'll spend time building your own arrangements based ONLY on these 6 elements, you'll discover that you can create better arrangements with fewer instruments than you thought possible.

"In this awesome world of DAWs that have an un-limited track count, I have to stick to only 6 elements? Are you kidding me!"

Make a commitment to understand this. You'll make better music - and in less time. In fact, your mixes will come out better too. I'll explain why in an upcoming issue.