Wednesday 5 December 2012

If you are a songwriter, You need to read this!!!

Ok so not all bloggers blog everyday. I Haven't had anything extraordinary to say really and unless you have something to say, maybe its better not to say anything, keeps things simple. I started reading Neil Young's Book Waging Heavy Peace.


 Its his first book and its very good and inspiring. Like all artists that are seekers as I am, i'm always looking for the secrets to the craft. The best places to start are your heroes. I've been a Neil Young fan since I heard the Live Rust album back in High School and like Dylan he is one of the reasons I write and perform on guitar. Here is a quote from Neil Young's book Waging Heavy Peace so, if you are a songwriter, You need to read this!!

"When I write a song, it starts with a feeling. I can hear something in my head or feel it in my heart. It may be that I just picked up the guitar and mindlessly started playing. That's the way a lot of songs begin. When you do that, you are not thinking. Thinking is the worst thing for writing a song. So you just start playing and something new comes out. Where does it come from? Who cares? Just keep it and go with it. That's what I do. I never judge it. I believe it. It came as a gift when I picked up my musical instrument and it came through me playing with the instrument. The chords and melody just appeared. Now is not the time for interrogation or analysis. Now is the time to get to know the song, not change it before you even know it. It is like a wild animal, a living thing. Be careful not to scare it away. Thats my method, or one of my methods, at least."

So there you have it. Learn the craft, write when the muse shows her head and get out the way!

1 comment:

  1. This is true for just about any of life's creative endeavours. Overthinking kills the creative mind and ruins the process.

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