Writing the music in my head

[garrettendi]

Even before I became a musician (a bad one), I was able to come up with almost entire songs in my head. I could imagine riffs, good guitar solos, etc etc. Not just rock/metal but other genres too.

I have been a musician now since 2003, and while I'm not that good, I have been able to write some pretty decent songs, and held my own in a rock band from 2005-2010 as both a rhythm/lead guitarist and songwriter.

I now play piano as well as I can play guitar (not good, then) and I can compose drum beats and bass lines.

But the point of this post is: I still don't know how to get what's in my brain, into my hands/guitar/computer/etc. I'll come up with lyrics and a melody in my head, but eventually because I don't know what notes are in my brain the final result ends up being whatever I came up with while noodling on the piano or guitar.

I have far from perfect pitch, poor relative pitch, and my knowledge of theory is a little better than basic, but not enough to just "know" what I'm imagining in my brain.

So please - does anyone have any ideas on how to get what's in my head, to my hands?

[amanise]

Sounds to me like you need a system, and then to stick with it for a while until you either get some results (i.e. finished songs - if that's your goal) - or if you don't get any results, it might show you what you need to change to get closer to your goals.

I think the best bit of advice I ever read was just that - whatever you do, be systematic about it. That way you aren't casting yourself to the whims of your creative impulses. If you have a system, there will always be something you can be doing if you don't feel that creative. When you're on a creative spree, your system will keep things on track in a production sense for you. It's symbiotic. The muse feeds the system and the system supports the muse.

But be prepared to write words first and then set them to music - and vice versa if the music presents itself first. Be prepared to flip on that one. Start something even if you haven't finished the last one if a burning new idea interrupts you - but then go back and finish what you were working on once you've made that interrupting idea safe for later. And don't listen to people who tell you what to do on forums. They're all mad.

[Sam Spoons]

It sounds like you need to do some ear training. What you need is to recognise the notes in your head and translate them onto the piano. So, to start with, spend a few minutes each day sitting at the piano and think of three notes in your head then try to play them on the piano, when you've worked out those try a different three notes and so on. Eventually you'll become better at playing what is in your head.

[Random Guitarist]

Ear training, it will help you to hear the intervals between the notes in your head and get them into the world.

[Arpangel]

All I can say is practice, practice, and more practice, note recognition and stuff like that becomes second nature after awhile, I started piano when I was 10, it's like riding a bike, things just stick in your head.
But, I was practising whenever I wasn’t at school, every waking moment, and I soon realised I wasn’t going to become the next Daniel Barenboim, enter synthesisers, exit music theory and playing ability.

[tea for two]

Even before I became a musician (a bad one), I was able to come up with almost entire songs in my head. I could imagine riffs, good guitar solos, etc etc. Not just rock/metal but other genres too.

I saw a Chilli Peppers vid Flea and John Frusciante hummed out their parts thereafter played what they hummed. Humming into your phone prehaps.

I doubt I've ever had any such in my head, I can't recall having even one lick in my head because there's nothing between my ears lol so I couldn't offer anything other than humming. Some others on this thread have had ear training, theory training. I had early Classical trainining aged 12-14 since then nothing. Untold millions song writers instrumental composers have no training yet they are able to write compose wonderfully.

[OneWorld]

I would confer with others that mention ear training. The important thing is to be consistent, say 15 minutes a day as mentioned. Also learn about harmony so at least you'll have an educated guess at which chords might be needed to underpin the melody. And like rats, where it is said no one is further than 2 metres from a rat, apply the same to your guitar, where possible keep it within reach, and when something comes into your head, get it under your fingers.

I got to the point where when I got a tune in my head, I could guess the chord/key. In have to admit I have had formal training, having studied on music courses, but I struggled to keep up with my fellow students, they had been playing music since their early years. But irrespective of that, at least I knew what I should be aiming for. It's just like an athlete in training, they do it regular each day and work towards their goal.

Also listen to other music and try and play along with it, you'll recognise patterns and cliches and especially when it comes to those that are 'stars' we ask ourselves "Who would have thought of putting that chord there?" that's what makes their music so special.

What I am trying to say, is become an 'active' listener, music is like a job of work in some respects, just like anything else. It's like giving up smoking, you don't notice any improvement, no progress, and then one day you wake up and you say to yourself "WOW, I've cracked it"

One other thing to mention, if writing songs as opposed to instrumentals, no matter what key the tune in your head is, one you start committing it to becoming a song, eg writing down the chords etc, be mindful of the vocal range you have. I have often got half way into writing a song, then get to the point, I want to include this note and that, but it is beyond my reach and no matter how hard I try I simply cannot hold a note if I go beyond my range. So if required, change the key to accommodate your voice

[BWC]

Ear training, yes, I agree. For me though, there was an "Aha!" moment, after many years of studying theory, where the relationships between all the notes (and even the notes between the notes, to an extent) just suddenly made sense, in a way that's hard to explain briefly. Again, for me, that made translating head to hands, as well as picking up new, to me, instruments far easier than ever before.

[garrettendi]

Thanks everyone, I think there's been some excellent advice, as usual for these forums.

I think the general gist here is ear training... so that is something I clearly need to develop!

[MOF]

Can you sing these melodies close enough (pitch wise) to what’s in your head? If so, then record them and then loop a note at a time in your DAW and create a note on a midi track and move it to where it sounds the same pitch.
I do this routinely so that when I come to arranging the song I’ll usually change the pitch and I’ve got my guide melody track for reference.

[garrettendi]

It's funny you say that, I have started doing similar to that with a vocal line in an older song. I've sung some of it into Melodyne to find the notes. I think there's a thread about it in the Musician's Lounge: A slap in the face!

[Sam Spoons]

Whether theory would be useful (or writing dots) is for you to decide but it certainly isn't essential so just go with the flow. You will certainly pick up some theory along the way but don't feel you have to.

[Albatross]

I saw a Chilli Peppers vid Flea and John Frusciante hummed out their parts thereafter played what they hummed. Humming into your phone prehaps.

Yep, humming/singing/lala ... ing the parts out is pretty much standard practice.

[amanise]

The one about choosing they key that's within your vocal range up there will save a lot of potential rework and transposition half way through a project (he said from bitter experience) - but things can be pitched down as well as up so not even that's a rule in tablets of stone. There's also jamming with other people whenever you can for your ear training. Fun and inspiring too.

[BWC]

Whether theory would be useful (or writing dots) is for you to decide but it certainly isn't essential so just go with the flow. You will certainly pick up some theory along the way but don't feel you have to.

Sure, don't bother with any of that "education" stuff, just figure it out the slow way. Personally, I pretty much always find learning things to be useful. There is a trap to avoid. Some people become so obsessed with theory and/or technique that they forget to express anything. Otherwise, though, I don't see how it could hurt, or why you wouldn't want to learn.

[Sam Spoons]

Whether theory would be useful (or writing dots) is for you to decide but it certainly isn't essential so just go with the flow. You will certainly pick up some theory along the way but don't feel you have to.

Sure, don't bother with any of that "education" stuff, just figure it out the slow way. Personally, I pretty much always find learning things to be useful. There is a trap to avoid. Some people become so obsessed with theory and/or technique that they forget to express anything. Otherwise, though, I don't see how it could hurt, or why you wouldn't want to learn.

Let's not go there again...

[BWC]

Let's not go there again...

You did, so I had to respond. Happy to leave it there though.

[garrettendi]

I’ll just say I’m very happy to learn theory. I like learning how things work, a love that ended up getting me a career in computers.

I know enough to know which chords are in key, and I know a little about where to add an extra note to get spicy, but that’s about it.

But I’ll learn more

[BWC]

[OneWorld]

I’ll just say I’m very happy to learn theory. I like learning how things work, a love that ended up getting me a career in computers.

I know enough to know which chords are in key, and I know a little about where to add an extra note to get spicy, but that’s about it.

But I’ll learn more

Same with myself, I got a great job in computing and I could trace that right back to what I learned in the theory of music, and I am ever so thankful for it, for once in my life I got a proper, fulfilling and interesting job

[Giocast]

i'm new here, i've only skimmed over the replies but am very at home with what's happening to you garretendi as mine has gone on for at least 40 years. I'm not sure if this bit is similar but typically i'll wake up and the tune and sometimes lyrics are "playing" and as i become more awake i will initially think "it's just a song" and probably someone elses, but then it literally dawns on me that it's come from me because i don't think i've heard it before. I have 3 compositions at the moment that made it to a recording as a result of this. I'm guessing everyone knows the Paul MCartney story with the song "Yesterday"? if not, then when you read it in full, it should hopefully be an inspiration to you, the bit i can't get my head around is that in music form only, it got kicked around for a long time before suitable lyrics were decided on and then completed. Apparently Ringo early on, would sing it, replacing "yesterday" with "scrambled eggs" which probably didn't help overall!

I do have a strict process in attempting to transfer from brain to audible reality which i can add in another post. It's gone on for so long that i know that this is the best way for me.

[calmposer a]

I’ll just say I’m very happy to learn theory. I like learning how things work, a love that ended up getting me a career in computers.

I know enough to know which chords are in key, and I know a little about where to add an extra note to get spicy, but that’s about it.

But I’ll learn more

absolutely, study it from the bare basics - melody, harmony, rhythm.
Written theory, as well as Ear Training which addresses this too, like others suggested.
Happy to give you some exercises if you're interested.

[CLUBTURBO]

Yeap, The Ear Training Will Help.
Also Getting A Voice Teacher Will Help.
A Good One As Well, I Mean Some One With
A Killer History Will Be Really Good To Have.

Even More, And Most Of All.................

Just Keep Writing Music And Recording Music.
I Love Writing Drum Parts In Ardour And
"Goofing" On Guitar So So So Much.

I Can "Write" On Keys, Guitar, And On The
Grand Staff, Its Just A Way To Keep The Flow
Moving In A Forward Movement.