General Music Chat

So I've been through an emotional roller-coaster lately dealing with heartache. As for all musicians, music is an emotional outlet that helps us express what we're feeling. What's strange is that over the weekend I wrote a few songs driven by the emotions I was feeling. Unlike other times, the music wasn't just an expression of feeling, it was more of my soul bleeding out. It's just a strange epiphany for me I guess. It's almost bittersweet. I love the songs, but hearing them stirs up all those same emotions. Maybe it's that I'm still dealing with it I dunno.

So has this ever happened to you? Did you find yourself hesitant at all with writing new material?

The first 4 songs on my profile were inspired by these emotions. Especially "Reasons". It's almost hard for me to listen to at this point...

interesting topic, and you are correct.

At a time in my life that I was completely and utterly miserable, crap job, no money, living with a girlfriend who knew only how to nag a man to death... I wrote the best music of my life.. unfortunately, it was the late 80's... so it's all dated haha, but yeah, it was very moody and wonderful music to me, and I've never quite been as miserable, nor written any music quite as beautiful as then..

I'm getting close on the misery recently though.. hahahaha - and we're going to be writing soon, so I'm crossing my fingers

It's really an interesting feeling to deal with. Not necessarily in a good way either. Definitely a double edged sword!

Our front man wrote some songs at the beginning of our band experience basically on the same vein. Now that he has found and married his Life Mate he will no longer play or sing them.
Let it out !! Move on !!
Strong emotions while being exhausted by work has caused me to write more than anything else.
Yes let it out and move on.

To me my songs are like babies. So I can never abandon one even if it came from a place of pain. My wife is ok with me still playing songs about exes too. These little snippets of time are just that - the past. If the song is gripping and makes you hurt then maybe you shouldn't play them. For me the beauty of melodies, harmonies, chord progressions etc overrules all of that. Of course I LOVE sad songs.

Yeah, no doubt music is cystalized emotion.
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Probably 1/2 my songs were written when I was emotionally charged.
I'm talking music - not lyrics.
There are a couple of songs which I avoid completely, because they bring me down. There's no doubt that they're beautiful - just waaay too sad.
I won't play them unless I know that I'll be playing at least 20 minutes of upbeat music right afterwards.
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It does, indeed work 2 ways.
Strong emotions will lead to a song with strong emotions.
And a song with strong emotions can pull them right back out of your heart, for all to see.
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Here's something apropos . . .
I have 2 songs I still play, which are melancholy/sad; both kind of pretty songs ("Folks I Knew," and "Nothing in life is Free.")
These 2 songs I both discovered by accident; I found both just by practicing, just trying new guitar techniques which I had never used in any song, ever.
. . . no overwhelming emotions poured into them during creation.
So, ok, they're both melancholy-sounding, but they don't affect me excessively; to me, they're just pretty songs.
BUT - once in a great while, I'll hear the songs playing w/ "new" ears, - and "Whaam!"
It's like my best friend died or something - my eyes'll actually start flowing, for no reason at all. . . . surprises the hell out of me.
. . . happens maybe every 7 - 10 weeks or so, never in public.
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And - with music written by other people - it happens maybe once every 2-4 years; not very often. But it has to be a really, really good song to grab me . . . one out of a thousand.
Only certain kinds of music, though, unless there's strong memories attached to a specific song . . .
Then that song acts like a spigot for my emotions . . .
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The next time you guys are feeling any strong emotions - good or bad - sit down with your instrument, and try playing something brand-new. try some of those 'crummy chords that don't fit any song,' and make something up that you don't mind hearing . . .
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You just might write a personal "#1 hit."

I've written a lot of stuff, like many ppl in here, & much of it has been triggered by personal trauma-inspired emotions. Going back to them, years later, I can enjoy it, as if I were watching a movie about someone else's life. There are definitely some gems in there.

For me, when I'm going through those tough times, & I write about them, I can end up wallowing in the tune, which can exacerbate the low-down feelings, for sure. It also can extend the time I have to deal with them. But there's also something strangely cathartic about delving so deeply into it all...it's almost as if the bad stuff is worthwhile if I'm producing such beautiful music, & it's okay to wallow for a bit.

Eventually, the next tune pops up in my head, & I'm immediately ready to move on. That's the exact moment I'n sure that the worst is over, that I've moved on.

Nothing wrong with that at all, omho, as long as YOU are controlling the feelings, to a degree. If true despair pops up, then perhaps it's time to set the guitar down for awhile, & get busy with other things until you can control things a little better. Busy is best, I've found, when depression rears its ugly head. Busy with music is good until you discover yourself becoming too involved with the bad, & quit living life on the outside as well.

well said P

I'd have to add to my post, that when I reflect back on the miserable times, I actually reflect back with a weird kind of view, almost happy, I think about all the "alone" time I got with my guitar and headphones, the rare 1 or 2 nights a week that I was able to escape the misery itself, and let the music take me away.



Good times lol.

About 4 years ago I wrote a song for my brother who passed on in 92 and I still haven't performed it because I still have a hard time just playing it.

I won't perform it until I can do it without breaking down.


"music is the food of the soul"