Do you write your own music?

[Em7]

I played guitar off and on for several decades before I started to write my own music. Granted, I wrote a song here and there, but I did not put any serious effort into writing music until about six or seven years ago. Now, I find myself in a situation where I no longer want to play cover tunes. It's not that my material is exceptional. It's that my material is my material, and the only to get better at writing music is to continue to write and perform one's own music.

With that said, do you write your own music? What are your motivations for writing you own music? For example, my main motivation for writing music is not career-oriented in nature. I am merely trying to leave something behind for my children. However, many people on this forum are still young enough to have a serious shot at having a viable career in music; therefore, I would expect a few forum members to be seriously trying to make it with their original music.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I do, it is part of my job.

 

[CantankerousCarl]

I was the guy who "broke up the band" after college when I got a "real" job. I always considered myself a better songwriter / producer than guitarist, but I get by. I started not having alot to say, and got out of writing, playing for about 15 years. Started back less than a year ago, and I am using these great PRS and a little BR-800 to finally create some more original music again.

Everything is strictly for fun, would not have turned down a music career, but never pushed it.

 

[CE-man]

I did most of my writing/contributing to original music about 12 years ago when the entire band was psyched about it. Even though we have a fair amount of original songs we only play a few live, as it seems people in clubs just want to get drunk and shake their asses to songs they know and can relate to. We play 99% covers and that's what works for us in our town. Here's one of our originals:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/6/24/3319823/A Proposal.wma

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

I do.

Mostly writing with other people for online collabs. Can be good fun and much less of a burden than trying to compose, and play / programme everything yourself.

Can't beat jamming and writing with a live band though. Unfortunately - at least where I live -most people seem to prefer knocking out covers. Don't mind playing a few but being creative is more exciting to me.

Love to make a career of it if I could (Nearly did 10 years ago) though I mostly do it for the fun... And it just about pays for the strings!

 

[Em7]

I did most of my writing/contributing to original music about 12 years ago when the entire band was psyched about it. Even though we have a fair amount of original songs we only play a few live, as it seems people in clubs just want to get drunk and shake their asses to songs they know and can relate to. We play 99% covers and that's what works for us in our town.

Playing in a gigging bar band and playing original music is mutually exclusive.

 

[CHARISMAFIRE]

Almost any musician can compose original music, but rarely any soul has a real song to sing.......My inspiration comes from everything, and everything is a gift of God. Whether or not one believes it or not, music does not have its origins with the race of man, it comes from heaven. Thus the only original voice is the one that reflects the glory of its creator, the origin and originator of all that is called " original ". After all, He said, " I AM, THE I AM ". Please no debate here, this is just the humble opinion of a man never without inspiration, or hope for that matter.......thankyou.

 

[alantig]

Yes - but not enough. Some times I feel like I'm getting the hang of it, sometimes I feel like the guitar is something I've never seen before. I hate those days.

 

[dmatthews]

I have in the past. Most recently 5 years or so ago. For some reason it comes in rare spurts. Mmmm Kay... sorry about that.
I tend to create songs that I can play all the instruments on. So, guitar, bass, drums and vocals.
I actively support those that create new music.

 

[Albrecht Smuten]

I always tended to write my own music... I remember my first trial at age 10 when I was still attending the piano lessons, which was kind of funny.
At age 13, when I became totally dedicated to grunge music, I dumped piano and started playing guitar on my own... since then I wrote a bunch of grunge/folk/medieval-style songs and never really learned any covers =))) (so when people ask me to play something, I blush and say "well, I don't know any songs to play")
Now I write music for both my bands, starting to take things more seriously, working on larger concepts rather than single songs... but still ain't famous!!! =D

 

[Boogie]

Playing in a gigging bar band and playing original music is mutually exclusive.

No truer words spoken. or rather

But that doesn't mean that you can't live a duality...musically. In the barren music venue wasteland in which I live, you play covers for peanuts and call it a day. Or you play originals in 4 bars for peanuts and 1 gig every two months...fighting with 50 other acts for the same time slot. A music career cannot be made here. Good thing I'm in IT. (/cynic mode)

We play 99% covers and that's what works for us in our town. Here's one of our originals:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/6/24/3319823/A Proposal.wma[/QUOTE]

I totally dig THAT! Is it crossover country? Pop? '80s flashback? Uhh, yeah!

 

[veinbuster]

I get bored very quickly playing something that has been done before, so I don't do it much. When I do it is to get out of a rut and switch pathes - in an "I wonder where this will take me" sort of way.
And I start far more than I finish, because I find the beginning fun and the end too much like work - and I already have a job.

 

[László]

I write music for TV, ads, documentaries, etc.

 

[Aldwyn]

Yes, but I have had some writers block for many years now.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Yes, but I have had some writers block for many years now.

A clear sign that you're too happy, Aldy.

 

[CE-man]

No truer words spoken. or rather

But that doesn't mean that you can't live a duality...musically. In the barren music venue wasteland in which I live, you play covers for peanuts and call it a day. Or you play originals in 4 bars for peanuts and 1 gig every two months...fighting with 50 other acts for the same time slot. A music career cannot be made here. Good thing I'm in IT. (/cynic mode)

We play 99% covers and that's what works for us in our town. Here's one of our originals:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/6/24/3319823/A Proposal.wma

I totally dig THAT! Is it crossover country? Pop? '80s flashback? Uhh, yeah![/QUOTE]

Oddly that's the sound you get when your band's influences are: Little Feat, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Saga, and the Beatles.......who'd thunk it?

 

[vchizzle]

Yes, because creation is the most enjoyable part playing guitar to me.

 

[MrEzzyE]

Yes, I do it whenever I have a chance to really put some time into it. Well... unfortunately that´s almost never. Luckily I have the coming weekend with my singer friend to compose and record some stuff at my "home studio" or should I say "summer cabin studio". Whisky and blues it will be. Looking soooooooo much forward to it!

 

[mad monk]

I can't write my name, let alone a song. Seriously, I have written a few. They all sucked. Stolen riffs stitched together with cliched lyrics that a grade schooler would be embarassed to repeat.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I can't write my name, let alone a song. Seriously, I have written a few. They all sucked. Stolen riffs stitched together with cliched lyrics that a grade schooler would be embarassed to repeat.

Sounds like you have what it takes to make it in the music biz! Maybe you were focusing on the wrong genre.