FinnArild

Through the years I have tried different things for fun or to experiment. Once I made up an ugly sounding bassline and tried to fit chords to it so everything sounded nice again. My old Amiga Dr.T sequencer had some auto-generation tools that was way ahead of it's time (this was in 93-94) that I tried out which triggered some neat stuff. When I sit wheeling with my guitareffects or synth - a cool sound often triggers a theme. "Ugly" and "nice" are of course all in the ears of the beholder, but technical experiments like this can often trigger creativity, allthough I so far never have dried up - music seems to pour steadily out of me (which is a bit frustrating now, since my studio is in boxes still as we are redecorating). Most often I already have a theme in my head before I even pick up the instrument or something comes forth while I'm working with arrangement of another theme. One thing I have started to do when I have a tune in my head, is not to "simplify it" into a C or Am or other "easier" key. If it's in F# in my head, I create the song in F#. This often results in other development than if I created it in keys I am more familiar with (then later I might need to tweak it to fit other themes or my voice).

Don't worry too much about the rip-off stuff, I've never heard one real-world example of this even happening. However there is a couple of things you can do to be entirely sure: - Record your stuff on a CD and post it to yourself. - Post it online f.ex. on Myspace and link it from these forums - that is also a proof. I would strongly recommend you to get some cheap recording equipment to record your stuff. Then get some others opinions about your music - ours, for example. This is part of what this forum is for - giving you real-world feedback of your efforts. While you wait for your equipment you could try posting some of your lyrics. Looking forward to hearing your stuff!

You need to rehearse nice and easy - and very, very regularly. Try 20 minutes of scales every other day for 2 weeks and see if things improve. Stop immediately if anything hurts.

I tried that, and didn't get too much sales from it. I learned a whole lot, though.

The drums are finally all recorded, and Micke has done an excellent job of it. The Testament album is pretty much finished as a concept now and only recording and some arrangement is left. But due to some extensive redecorating work at home - also involving my home studio - I will need to postpone the recordings a bit. A finished master is now scheduled for the new year. I'm exited about re-doing my home studio, though. This time it will be built with acoustics in mind and will have acoustic treatment applied to it - I'll post some pictures here of it when it's done. Source

Songwriting and arrangement go very much hand-in-hand with me. I work by constantly turning out demos, so arrangement comes in very much organic and layer based. I very often have a base arrangement in place on the first demo. When I do start on the final arrangement of strings, backing vocals or other stuff it often comes by experimenting, improvising and recording at the same time. Other times ideas to an arrangement comes when I'm "offline", so to speak. Then I try to hum it into my cellphone with an explanation and get it in as soon as possible.

The hook is often the first thing I write - the interest point of the song of which I build the rest of it around. I don't overthink it either, really - they just need to be there for me to think it interesting to continue on with the song.

I think vocal - or in musical pieces, the bearer of the melody - is more important. This doesn't mean the backing isn't important - only that it should be backing, not get in way of the focus and meaning of the song.

Anyone can learn to sing. And anyone playing an instrument and anyone writing songs should learn how to sing. To learn why they call it a "song". That's really what it's all about.

Vision of Angles - Genesis (Trespass)

If you're selling it? Use the hook in the refrain!

I use Excel a lot in projects just to have an overview of stuff and to plan out what an when.

Hi - as some of you know, I have a Cubase setup. I have different types of projects: First it's the idea projects where I just record in ideas and try to stick them into a folder structure of categories. After I had 2-300 ideas I found out it was smart to make .mp3's of all ideas so I can easily listen and put them together. Opening Cubase just takes too long. Then there's the song projects, where I have more or less a finished concept. If it's not for an album, I have this in another folder structure of categories. Then there's the album projects - here I create folder structures like "need lyrics", "to drums" - "with bass" and this changes as I work through the project. When I work out stuff, I start out with roughly arranging stuff so I have a pretty much working mix with bass, keyboards and all. Often I just record a refrain and verse and copy it around, stretch the time and play with it to get it just right. When done with that and lyrics, I start on recording phase. This time I had live drums, so I had to prepare the tracks for the drummer first. This meant recording some bass again and making sure nothing was out of beat for him. Then it's nitty, gritty work getting the bass on first, move on to the keyboards and guitar that doesn't need my Marshall amp. Then it is into studio getting grand piano, guitar solos and vocals on it. For this I need to mix it up again, so we don't waste time in the studio on that. Finally get the backing vocals and all extra arrangement in at home and send it off to mixing and mastering (with a LOT of guidelines). I usually oversee both pretty closely but try not to be too much of a pain in the butt. During this I will probably have played the same bass, keyboards and guitars 2 or 3 times ... it's a slow process, but it works for me.

Hah - already did that ... Anyway (no, not the Genesis song from Lamb - already did that too): Turn it On Again - Genesis (Duke) Edit: hm - http://forums.songstuff.com/index.php?showtopic=11267 proves that I infact didn't use Anyway yet... now theres a thought ...

Seven Stones - Genesis (Nursery Cryme)

One for the Vine - Genesis (Wind & Wuthering)

I always have music first, and more often than not, I start out by singing gibberish pseudo english through the song. Just to get a melody down. Doing this, I often get a nice hook or even the best part of a refrain. Sometimes I know what the song is about by this time, other times it comes later - but when it does, the work around research of the subject and looking for rhymes. At this stage I often sketch up what should happen in each verse - the music usually demands the number of verses - I make lyrics for music, not the other way around. Finally, I often tweak words late on - or my wife will read it and suggest something. Often you guys on the forum has suggested stuff.

The Light Dies Down on Broadway - Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway)

Excellent tool, John. All delays are mostly linked to the beat, but often I want to set the release time of compressors or the length of a pre-delay in a reverb to a fraction of the beat - and here this tool will be very helpful. Thanks.

Bands' websites are cover art today and for the future.

I have always used Photoshop. Tried the Gimp once, but got only pain. In addition I use Illustrator for vector work, Truespace for 3D work and Indesign for layout work. Examples? My website and my CD ...

Down and Out - Genesis (And Then They Were Three)

You Might Recall - Genesis (Three Sides Live)

- haha -not my style of music, no ... but a good friend.

Oslo school of nursing took care of the hospital facilities. It cost me some bucks to rent during the weekend.