Think More Than One

One of the things my recent exploits has made me realise is that I'm thinking too singular. I'm trying to become not just a multi instrumentalist but a song writer and I need to start to think like the band, to feel like a band - to "Be The Band"!

That's hard especially when one of the biggest issues I've had - I do have, is thinking of a song I'm writing beyond the instrument I'm playing at the time. I've seen my teacher Tom listen to something I've written and in his head he hears the drums, bass guitar and other assorted instruments. It's so cool but so far beyond me, and when Zak helped with the blues song it blew me away. Sometimes I feel so very far away from these guys it seems too far but I'll keep trying.

I know much of that comes with experience so it's a case of figuring out how to get that experience. These recordings have helped because where I've been laying down a track instrument by instrument, when I listen back I can start to hear when they compete for space, where there's room for call & response. When space is needed, when an instrument needs freedom to shine - I'm starting to anyway, it's hard (I use that word a lot but it's justified)!

To quote one of the funniest TV characters ever "I have a cunning plan" but that's a bit of fun and I'll let you in on that one another day. For now I'm studying the dynamics within existing songs and that'll keep me busy for a while.

This is a good opportunity to get in some theory too! Even learning how to use space is an art.