JH Michaels

That's hilarious.....I do exactly the same thing....sort of autopilot on the "yes dear" while I'm working out a rhyme or verse. I get caught at it though....she's gotten so she'll say something like "I sold your guitar, or I crashed the car...." huh? wha?

Thanks Starise.....good stuff....and free is usually a good price.

lol .....good to know Rudi....I'll keep an eye out for those two from here on out! and I'll tell her that the new travel guitar I bought was really a new set of diamond earrings when I left the store.....don't know what happened between there and home

Wow...good topic. I've always been interested in music, in singing, playing guitar and drums...(I sang "Country Roads" in my Vacation Bible School class to inconclusive reviews) and broke dozens of drum sticks by beating them against anything I could find. Unfortunately, to say that my mom and step-dad were unsupportive would be like saying the ocean is a small pond. Eventually, after a few years I gave in to "what was expected" and pursued a more conventional track and "rewarding" (pardon me while I yawn) career. Fast forward 45 years, then something truly magical happened. Out of nowhere I got a call from a private eye who was commissioned by my biological father to find me. He and my mom divorced when I was three and he had been trying to find me as I moved around the country over the years. I was skeptical of course, but he did provide convincing evidence. When we met, it freaked my wife completely out because we were virtually carbon copies of each other. Same build, mannerisms, hair (he had much less than me...yikes!) I found out that he had played in a band called Southern Comfort for many, many years as a drummer, and also my brother D (who I met for the first time then as well) is an accomplished bass and guitar player. So I picked up a guitar again. I really had my doubts when I started playing again, and had no confidence that I could even write a song but he kept telling me "goddam boy, it's in your genes, don't let no one tell you no different. Do what's inside and t'hell with 'em." and that's where I started writing my own songs. I looked around for some time trying to find somewhere to get more feedback on what I was writing and then I stumbled into Songstuff and the great group here. And I've never regretted it. Thanks John for putting together this site, and all you folks who write, perform, and produce music that take the time to critique and help. ~ JH

Shoot....that would vary from day to day....but for today, and the mood I'm in.....I would say "Soldiers of America" by Madison Rising. 'nuff said.

Chumpy and Dave.....Thanks for the help! You guys made my wife a happy woman! It's the first time I didn't have have to 'convince' her I needed a music accessory.

Hi folks.....I want to insert electric guitar tracks I play into some of my songs and I don't have a clue how to do it other than do an open recording through a mic.....is there some way to directly input into the DAW? My wife will thank you if there's a way to do it without having the amp cranked up. My DAW is Reaper 5.3 something. Any help would be appreciated!

Music is what emotion sounds like. I can't remember who made the quote, but it embodies how I feel feel about any particular piece of music or song. to me a great song has to make me feel and feel strongly. As an example, Stairway to Heaven is considered by many to be the greatest rock song ever......It never moved me, never generated any feelings, and so it's always been towards the bottom of my list of favorites. So go figure, why I would think that "I love Rock n Roll" by Joan Jett is a great song.....she can't sing per se, the song is simple and the lyrics aren't that great......but somehow the combination catapults the song way past what the components are individually......it's a song that makes me want to move, to yell "Hell yeah!" The thing is....and I think it may be true for most everyone, what we think is a great song will change according to our emotional state at the time. A last question.....If Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were stranded on a deserted island together.....who survives? Answer: America

For me .....they just "happen" whenever I have a "lightbulb" moment. I don't try to analyze the process because I think that if I do....it will jinx it and they will stop. Sometimes it will be a title, a catchy phrase, or perhaps I make an offhand comment to someone and think "Hey!" sometimes I'm just noodling on the guitar and I will stumble on a chord progression or even a single note that suggests a song. I hardly ever write a complete set of lyrics though until I have a feeling and mood in the music and some idea of the structure I want to follow and the story I want to tell. Even when that's settled I will often go through several edits to get what I feel is the right mix and rhythmn. That being said....it doesn't necessarily happen in a fevered pitch and a complete song emerges from the other end. I have songs that have not been finished and have been waiting for just the right inspiration to finish for a year or more and maybe I never will finish them, but that's ok. It's all part of this magic process I can't define other than it's a fantastic ride and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Another thing I try to remind myself is that not everyone will like what I write, nor will everyone hate what I write. We're all different and different things moves us, otherwise, the only song that ever needed to be written would be Kumbaiya. Thank heavens for that.

LOL....I've already claimed a reputation! Forever NOOB! (there has GOT to be a song in that somewhere!)

I can tell I'm new here because of the prominent "Noob" pasted over and if that wasn't enough, under where my avatar will be..... Anyway, Hi to all I'm really looking forward to meeting some of you folks (virtually). I play guitar and write songs and have been for the last year and a half. I guess my goal in this is to learn to write really good songs. To me, just having someone tap their foot, or smile, or even cry while listening to what I wrote makes it all worth every second. So here I am, on the Yellow Brick Road.....

Hi Everyone! I've been searching for a forum to help with songwriting that isn't defunct or not working properly! I've been writing my own songs for a little over a year and a half now and would really like some honest feedback for lyrics and melody. My wife has been my primary critic and I'm hoping that someone here will be a little less harsh.....lol. I love writing songs and wish life hadn't gotten in the way to interrupt music, but on the other hand, it provides me with a lot of material. So cheers all...I hope to get to know you folks better. 1. Do you sing, play an instrument or instruments? What instruments? Acoustic guitar (her name is Gracie) When did you start playing? 1979 - 83 then 2014 - present Did you teach yourself? mostly 2. Are you in a band or bands? No What is the name of the band? What do you play? What other instruments are in the band? Do you have a band website? 3. Do you write songs? yes Do you write lyrics, music or both? both Do you have a writing partner? no 4. Do you record your music? yes Do you use a home studio? If so what gear do you use? a computer with Audigy software and a Yeti microphone Do you use a recording studio? no Do you have music available on the web? if so where? no 5. What other roles do you perform in the music business? None Management? Label owner? Publishing? Promotion? Other? 6. Are you a tech head? ehhh....depends....software maybe. 7. What country do you live in? USA 8. What are your ambitions? to write 10,000 songs 9. Do you draw/paint/write stories/computer art/dance or other creative pursuit? short stories and essays What are your pastimes? songwriting, music, surfing, fishing, traditional archery 10. What would you like to get out of Songstuff? tips, feedback, networking, and conversation with people who get it. I think that covers the main musical things!