Do you ever work on tracks in your head?

tdm · Joined: Apr 09, 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Canberra

There's only so much time in a day when you can sit down at your computer.

robsol · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:45 am Post subject:

Well... nothing is black and white so I can't say that I don't even think about tracks when away from the setup. However, I think it is better to not be too obsessed with one thing, thinking about it constantly... many people seem to go crazy that way, whether it is money, mathematics, God or whatever. Going crazy is not always a bad thing though...

If you are really deep into something, I think it is useful to let go of it and let it simmer in the subconscious for a while. You don't have to work hard all the time to be efficient.

Acoustic Interloper · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 7:32 pm Post subject:

A E J O T Z · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 5:03 am Post subject:

Music continually plays in my head. When I'm not paying particular attention it's like a mockingbird outside a closed window. When I pay attention it's like stepping outside under the tree. Sometimes, without my assistance it's very loud, like when I'm taking a shower. I often exit the shower with a new line in my head that I have to hurriedly notate (with my own screwy notation) or scat or play into a recorder. On more than one occasion I went from shower to synth and worked for an hour on a tune before getting dressed. Surprised

But closer to what I think is your question, sometimes I'm kind of stuck for a "next part." A main theme will play in my head and I'll carry it around with me, semi-deliberately trying out different accompaniments.

My compositions mostly just build vertically while yours (Anliyix) build vertically and horizontally, so I figure head-composing is quite different for you.

TripMX · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 1:37 am Post subject: Haha, tracks in my head

I think it's funny because I thought I was the only one who would do this kind of thing. I'd think of melodies, and then start to hum them....if I like what I've come up with, I'd try to transpose those "melodic thoughts" into actual music.

mode · Joined: Sep 30, 2017 Posts: 17 Location: SE England

Solipsis · Joined: Jul 09, 2018 Posts: 15 Location: United States

With me it's different. I usually go to my favorite website for composing music and I will upload a loop or sound that I think is promising. I experiment with it by adjusting the tempo or pitch, reversing it or doing something else. Then I would add some other loops or sounds to it to see if it blends well. I don't have a mental image of a tune or melody but rather I work it out on a diagram in the online studio that I use.

1roomstudio · Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:04 pm Post subject:

Yes ... I work on tracks in my head... and melodies and harmonies and orchestration etc.

It’s not the most productive way to work, for me personally, but if I can’t sleep because “I have too much on my mind” then, instead of counting sheep, I’ll work on music... sometimes even music theory... like... what are the various spellings of a diminished 7 b9 chord and their resolutions... or possible guitar fingerings for those same progressions. I make some progress... and I fall asleep. 😴

On tracks? Same thing... ideas bubble up from the subconscious all the time. If I can’t get to my DAW, I’ll ponder this thought and if seems worthy.... I’ll find some way to jot a note.

The “Notes” App on my phone is my new favorite App. 😎