… a blog post from Chairman’s Corner.

Hey there music lovers. Lately I’ve been thinking about the different ways that folks go about songwriting, as there are obviously tons of options (especially in a band environment). As a result, this week we’re going to focus our attention on the unique challenge of collaborative songwriting.

When it comes to songwriting, of course some bands have just one person calling all of the shots. Others may have just a couple of folks making decisions with the tunes…while some bands have every single member chiming in with riffs, arrangements, and even lyrical ideas (a truly collaborative vision; this is the approach that the band I’m in usually takes).

I find collaborative songwriting to be really fun (although it isn’t always easy)! It’s like having an in depth conversation with your bandmates – and eventually a live audience gets to hear the final results of the dialogue.

When writing music with other folks, one of the biggest challenges is that everyone may be hearing the song differently. As a result, your bandmate may present an idea that (to your ears) sounds totally preposterous. Before you know it, you may just wind up in an argument about a song that’s comparable to one of Siskel & Ebert’s most heated debates. However, I’ve learned (the hard way) that it’s really important to put your ego aside, and to at least TRY everyone’s ideas out – instead of immediately going into battle mode. Sometimes, all it takes is just trying out your bandmate’s idea once or twice in order to understand where they’re coming from. Your bandmate’s idea may just be exactly what the song needed (even if it might not seem that way at first). This approach will hopefully allow your bandmates to be open minded about your own ideas as well.

Even if your entire band is on the exact same page with how a song should sound, it can still be quite difficult to communicate ideas! Trying to suggest when a change in a song should occur can be nearly impossible if everyone’s looking at a specific part differently (or counting the part differently in their heads). Sometimes, instead of trying to explain when a change should occur, it may be best to just play the part (with the change included) for your bandmates – so that they can try to understand what you’re going for.

The largest benefit to collaborative songwriting (IMHO) is that all of the band members get to feel like the songs are THEIRS – as opposed to feeling like a hired gun who is simply hanging out on stage to express someone else’s ideas. Ideally, the collaborative approach makes for stronger songs as well – as you’re utilizing the talent and input of everyone around. Many bands that I enjoy contain folks from a variety of different backgrounds and influences. Songwriting that combines various influences (especially influences that don’t normally go together) often makes for more compelling and original tunes.

Songwriting with others can be incredibly humbling. Sometimes, I’ll be chomping (champing?) at the bit to try out an idea that I’ve been excited about for an entire week or two – only to find out that it doesn’t really work upon trying it out at band practice. Being able to take some criticism (and suggestions!) is key in these situations. Of course, different bandmates may have different strengths. Some band members might be best with frequently coming up with riffs; others may be talented with arranging; while yet others may be strong with lyrics and melodies. Pulling all of these strengths together can be very rewarding. It may be difficult at times, but sometimes, a song may come together really easily as well (always great when that happens)!

At the end of the day, it’s all about respect and having fun. Even if your bandmate’s idea sounds ridiculous at first, trust that there just may be a solid reason for that idea. A band is like a family. Just like a family, sometimes you may take your strong connections for granted. However (in my opinion), it’s crucial to remain professional with your friends and bandmates – and remember to treat both them AND their ideas with respect. I promise that the results will be beautiful.

Cheers,

Jeffrey “Chairman” Couch

Music lover, creator & collector

chairman@spinneymedia.com

Chairman currently enjoys freaking out & creating panic with his spastic band Nasalrod, which is based in Portland, Oregon. He created this blog to share his serious love of music, the arts, and physical media.