What Do You Do?

RawrItsRaptor · 09-13-2009, 01:04 PM

When you have a riff that is so open to new ideas but, you can't think of anything that blends well with it? I have this 10 measure riff that I really, really, like but, I can't think of anyway to keep carrying on. I feel like screaming!:scream

8Fingers · 09-13-2009, 01:09 PM

What do I do ?
Well I think in something that blends with it LOL
If you can't,go to sleep,maybe next day a melody or a chord progression will come to your mind.
Sometimes you have to search in your mind and not in your guitar.
The more different styles you listen the easier will be composing parts to blend.

RawrItsRaptor · 09-13-2009, 01:13 PM

Yeah I have been sitting on this riff for almost 2 days now. I am having major writers block haha. I think I am going to just take it simple with a simpler chord progression and see how that works.

Rotatous · 09-13-2009, 01:39 PM

This might just be one of those situations where you need to use your knowledge of music theory to finish writing a song. Maybe you should just write it out.

vampiregenocide · 09-13-2009, 02:08 PM

I tend to just mess about, jam on the riff. Sooner or later, I'll like something and I'll keep that and work with it. Its just trial and error.

If you aren't feeling it, put it aside and try again later. You need to be in the right frame of mind to work on something.

leftyguitarjoe · 09-13-2009, 02:18 PM

Play the riff over and over again while shredding over it and call it an instrumental.

RawrItsRaptor · 09-13-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftyguitarjoe

Play the riff over and over again while shredding over it and call it an instrumental.

Haha. Its actually a pretty odd riff. There is one guitar doing tapped triplet eighth notes, another guitar doing tapped straight eighth notes, a third guitar (which will likely turn into the bass riff) doing an almost military style rhythm, with a final guitar doing a backing synth type feel. It gives the entire song a really cool effect.

Scar Symmetry · 09-13-2009, 03:14 PM

what I like to do is something Meshuggah made use of a lot on Obzen, you take an initial idea and you build on the same idea, developing it so it's the same theme or feel but different from the parts that come before it and after it.

Electric Red, This Spiteful Snake, Pineal Gland Optics and Dancers To A Discordant System are all perfect examples of this method, especially Dancers To A Discordant System.

Valserp · 09-13-2009, 05:34 PM

If I can't build anything around a riff to connect it to something else - I drop the riff.
Maybe it will come in use for another song...

budda · 09-13-2009, 05:37 PM

I wait and jam on it occasionally and see if anything comes to me. jamming with others helps 100x i find.

Rotatous · 09-13-2009, 05:57 PM

Sometimes (not too often) I can just imagine it in my head, and directly translate it to guitar. Sometimes its some really complex shit though, and takes a lot more time.

ubarhax · 09-13-2009, 06:09 PM

make a variation of that riff.. play it backwards, move the notes around, keep the same rhythm but change the notes

Customisbetter · 09-13-2009, 06:35 PM

I take a shower. I ALWAYS come up with stuff in the shower...

RawrItsRaptor · 09-13-2009, 06:37 PM

Well one part is I already did alot of layers on this riff. So I wanted to add on to it but, it is a different style than what I usually write. I usually write (what has now become) generic*djent*/*chuggah* but, this riff is kinda like a mix between happier Bulb stuff and the heavier Cloudkicker. I really like it I am just horribly stuck.

EdgeC · 09-13-2009, 07:19 PM

Play it in a different key. THe amount of times i've been in the same situation and I simply play it in a different key and other riffs all of a sudden work with it.

I have heaps of riffs (which i think are awesome) that I cant seem to put anywhere so i record them and just keep them. I just pulled out one that i wrote months ago which is now being used in a song im working on.

InCasinoOut · 09-13-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customisbetter

I take a shower. I ALWAYS come up with stuff in the shower...

Haha, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who comes up with cool stuff in the shower.

...although I forget what I came up with by the time i'm out, dressed, and playing my guitar.

Joeywilson · 09-13-2009, 07:45 PM

sing the riff in your head over and over going into the new parts/riffs and then play whatever sounds right

sometimes there are just riffs that don't want to go with anything. dont force it because it will show through in the final product.

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09-13-2009, 01:04 PM	#1
RawrItsRaptor Let's Get Invisible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sarasota ,Florida Posts: 882 Thanked: 24 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What Do You Do? When you have a riff that is so open to new ideas but, you can't think of anything that blends well with it? I have this 10 measure riff that I really, really, like but, I can't think of anyway to keep carrying on. I feel like screaming!:scream In this light we sail, As the water lays under our sky.

09-13-2009, 01:13 PM	#3
RawrItsRaptor Let's Get Invisible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sarasota ,Florida Posts: 882 Thanked: 24 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah I have been sitting on this riff for almost 2 days now. I am having major writers block haha. I think I am going to just take it simple with a simpler chord progression and see how that works. In this light we sail, As the water lays under our sky.

09-13-2009, 02:08 PM	#5
vampiregenocide A Chap Called Ross Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hertfordshire, England Posts: 15,103 Thanked: 273 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I tend to just mess about, jam on the riff. Sooner or later, I'll like something and I'll keep that and work with it. Its just trial and error. If you aren't feeling it, put it aside and try again later. You need to be in the right frame of mind to work on something. My Photography Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/rosswildishphotography Dissonant Media - The news source for new alternate/progressive music! Check us out: http://de-de.facebook.com/pages/Sawbridgeworth-United-Kingdom/Dissonant-Media/126448677394107 http://www.youtube.com/user/DissonantMedia#p/a http://dissonantmedia.tumblr.com/

09-13-2009, 02:18 PM	#6
leftyguitarjoe Correct-handed Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 2,226 Thanked: 183 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Play the riff over and over again while shredding over it and call it an instrumental. "Yeah, sometimes when you're cool, you spontaneously combust into a fireball of awesomeness" - RenegadeDave

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09-13-2009, 01:09 PM	#2
8Fingers Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 1,142 Thanked: 69 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What do I do ? Well I think in something that blends with it LOL If you can't,go to sleep,maybe next day a melody or a chord progression will come to your mind. Sometimes you have to search in your mind and not in your guitar. The more different styles you listen the easier will be composing parts to blend.

09-13-2009, 01:39 PM	#4
Rotatous SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin TX Posts: 528 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This might just be one of those situations where you need to use your knowledge of music theory to finish writing a song. Maybe you should just write it out.

09-13-2009, 03:14 PM	#8
Scar Symmetry Ex Whiny Bitch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 15,688 Thanked: 377 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	what I like to do is something Meshuggah made use of a lot on Obzen, you take an initial idea and you build on the same idea, developing it so it's the same theme or feel but different from the parts that come before it and after it. Electric Red, This Spiteful Snake, Pineal Gland Optics and Dancers To A Discordant System are all perfect examples of this method, especially Dancers To A Discordant System. Ever noticed how some people are real dicks on the internet, but when they post something involving their band, they make the effort to be nice? Funny that...

09-13-2009, 05:34 PM	#9
Valserp Only plays 1 string Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 749 Thanked: 24 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	If I can't build anything around a riff to connect it to something else - I drop the riff. Maybe it will come in use for another song...

09-13-2009, 05:37 PM	#10
budda Guiterrorizer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London ONT Posts: 18,906 Thanked: 174 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I wait and jam on it occasionally and see if anything comes to me. jamming with others helps 100x i find. _______________________ J S Moore pickups: www.tonefordays.com Rock on!

09-13-2009, 05:57 PM	#11
Rotatous SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin TX Posts: 528 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sometimes (not too often) I can just imagine it in my head, and directly translate it to guitar. Sometimes its some really complex shit though, and takes a lot more time.

09-13-2009, 06:09 PM	#12
ubarhax SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 176 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	make a variation of that riff.. play it backwards, move the notes around, keep the same rhythm but change the notes

09-13-2009, 06:35 PM	#13
Customisbetter WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 8,455 Thanked: 76 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	I take a shower. I ALWAYS come up with stuff in the shower...

09-13-2009, 06:37 PM	#14
RawrItsRaptor Let's Get Invisible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sarasota ,Florida Posts: 882 Thanked: 24 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well one part is I already did alot of layers on this riff. So I wanted to add on to it but, it is a different style than what I usually write. I usually write (what has now become) genericdjent/chuggah but, this riff is kinda like a mix between happier Bulb stuff and the heavier Cloudkicker. I really like it I am just horribly stuck. In this light we sail, As the water lays under our sky.

09-13-2009, 07:19 PM	#15
EdgeC Songs in C# Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wollongong, Australia Posts: 338 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Play it in a different key. THe amount of times i've been in the same situation and I simply play it in a different key and other riffs all of a sudden work with it. I have heaps of riffs (which i think are awesome) that I cant seem to put anywhere so i record them and just keep them. I just pulled out one that i wrote months ago which is now being used in a song im working on.

09-13-2009, 07:45 PM	#17
Joeywilson Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 959 Thanked: 8 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	sing the riff in your head over and over going into the new parts/riffs and then play whatever sounds right sometimes there are just riffs that don't want to go with anything. dont force it because it will show through in the final product.

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