Greetings Music After 50 Readers!
Recently a friend of mine & I had a long discussion about how music historians will document the creative period of the 1960’s that produced what came to be called the “Classic Rock” genre of music. While I certainly respect the generation that decided they were not going to automatically adopt the belief system of their parents, I cannot help but believe that great music did not end with the untimely deaths of Jimi & Janis and that our commercial airwaves do not necessarily reflect this. In short, if I hear the opening chords to “Bad Moon Rising” or the outdated chorus to “Under my Thumb” one more time I’m going to......
Why Not Write Your Own Songs!Now before you get upset with me please understand that I was born at the tail end of what is considered to be the Baby Boomer Generation so I am entitled to at least my opinion. Also please consider that in most cities in the US where I have traveled, when I scan the FM tuner in my car from 88-107Mhz, mostly what I hear is the intro to “Bad Moon Rising”. Of course there are options for music listening that include satellite & internet radio but that is not really the point of this article. I want you to consider that yes “Classic Rock” is great, as is the music of your youth no matter your generation; but the music you play does not have to be the repetitive songs you hear on the radio. WHY NOT TRY YOUR HAND AT WRITING YOUR OWN SONGS!
Experience Matters!Now I am not going to tell you that it is easy to write a great song because it is not. However I am going to tell you that it is fairly easy to write a song that is meaningful to you and likely will be to your own group of musician friends. Looking back at our “Classic Rock” heroes it is an obvious that a great many young white musicians made their fortunes stealing the wisdom, licks &
mojo of older black blues musicians. (who often died penniless) My point is that you, the readers of Music After 50, like Willie Dixon & Howlin Wolf, have many interesting life experiences or “
mojo” that need to be put into songs of your own!
Getting Serious!There are a great many ways to improve your songwriting skills including, carrying a notebook with you at all times to jot down fleeting ideas that might be otherwise forgotten. Parceling a little time, several times a week, for writing helps improve your skills whether your aim is
punk rock polka or
The Great American novel. Morning seems to be the agreed upon best time of the day for writing by many famous writers/poets. Studying the lyrics of your musical heroes can also uncover invaluable insights.
Imitation; It is a well documented fact that early in his career Bob Dylan not only adopted the songs of Woody Gutherie but even also adopted his Oakie dialect and speech patterns. (It worked out OK for him despite the obvious drawbacks in NYC)
Start Writing!Songwriting, like any skill, takes time to master and only gets better with practice. Patience with a difficult song is also important. Consider that Leonard Cohen had written approximately 80 verses to Hallelujah over a 5 year period before he considered the song finished. While I am sincerely hoping that one of you becomes the next Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Loius Armstrong, Woody Gutherie or Bob Dylan I would be ecstatic if some of you decide that now is the time to start writing your own songs!
Grab a notebook & pen, a glass of wine, your mojo and your instrument and start writing!
If you have a comment on this posting please feel free to send along an email to:
dlarsen@completelyoblivious.com.
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Doug Larsen is President of Completely Oblivious, Inc. makers of Pointless Picks®. He is also an avid musician, songwriter & fisherman who calls Highland, Michigan home.
