Hateful Chains

An idea about a riff started playing in my head, so I wrote it down. I like to use the same structure The Cure often uses in it's songs, in Pictures of you for example. In this song the elements and sounds are gradually introduced, and only until they are all present, do the vocals and verse kick in.
This allows for a simple song to last longer, and for the listener to get into the mood.

I've been using this structure a lot lately, but I think it would need a twist of some kind for it to work for me: a modulation, a sudden change, a break even. Anyway, it's a good basic way to write ideas down. Once I've written the guitar -part, the strings/synth just appear naturally alongside it in the next cycle. Brains... They never cease to amaze me.

Of course, this is just the start of a new song. Just the first idea. It might get buried for a long time. it might also start looping in my head and gather new material. It might tell me what it's about, and start forming lyrics. Or some lyrics I already have might be just right for it. You never know.

For writing down I use mostly pen and paper with musical lines, aka sheets. It's the fastest way for me. Also useful is notation software. I currently use Muse score, because it's free. When working further on a song I use a tracker software, namely LMMS, (because it's free). Some might think it funny to use this kind of software, but I think it's a practical way of presenting the general idea of a song to other band members, current and possible ones. Also because I'm not very much of a guitar player.

Isn't this dead tree just magnificent?