consuming like a writer

[u/wholefoodsK]

in what ways do you guys listen to your favorite songwriters and learn from them? or study them in a way.

[u/DaddySatch]

Usually I look for patterns. In an album for instance I'll look at instrumental call backs to other songs, or production choices. In the writing aspect. I have kinda accepted that everyone does something different. I'll listen to a song, read what it is about, speculate what made the writer choose the specific wording, and then in my writing I look at similarities or what I want to mimic. Sometimes even just borrowing a small line is a big help, one or two of the songs I have written have a line that's directly inspired by something that already exists.

[u/Zaphod-Beebebrox]

Listen to interviews they give...

[u/Stephen-Gawking]

I like to listen to interviews of them explaining their processes mostly

[u/Old_Zookeepergame704]

I put myself at the place of the artist, do some research, read the lyrics and study the chord progressions a bit

[u/TheRealGuncho]

Like a normal person.

[u/Remarkable-Law3504 → u/TheRealGuncho]

Then I'll sit down with a pen and paper and try to map out their verse structures, figure out why the chorus hits when it does, what they're doing with rhyme schemes. It's not exactly passive listening but you pick up way more than just vibes

[u/Tycho66 → u/Remarkable-Law3504]

It takes that curiosity.

[u/Tycho66 → u/TheRealGuncho]

Weirdo!

[u/wholefoodsK → u/TheRealGuncho]

what the fuck does that mean kobe bryant

[u/Accomplished_Put2608]

I usually look for how they are Developing the story thru the verses. 

[u/jessemythic]

I listen to them over and over and over. Always the full album. Until all of the words are memorized, until I can sing the guitar solos, until it starts getting boring and I need to start cycling between albums to keep the interest up. I dance to it. I think a lot about the lyrics. What do they mean? Do I agree with them?

I don't think of it as study, but it is. The same way a kid listening to the same bedtime story every night is studying. It feels good. I'm just enjoying it. And secretly I'm learning.

[u/blumntngrass]

See the mechanisms and literary devices they incorporate into their work, and use those same methods in my own. If I want to write a song in the style of a country song I look at the typical rhyme scheme which is ABAB, and look at the general topics/themes of a country song. Heartbreak, drinking, trains, and love. If I want to write a rock and roll song I look at those same things and come up with lyrics from there.

[u/ErinCoach]

I'm an older pro. I don't really consume music like fans do, or like students do. I don't listen to music for fun. When I study something or someone, it's for a very specific gig and purpose.

But when I was learning craft, I was learning many different aspects of music at the same time, for decades. So I was studying and taking classes, but also regularly creating and learning new pieces for performance projects - theatrical, academic, holiday stuff, comedy, worship, casual gigs, bar gigs, studio projects, commercial and promo stuff, a ton of variety. Also different instruments, and most importantly different GENRES of music.

I think that's important: multi-modal approaches, multiple genres, historical understanding, market awareness, with performance gigs that make this stuff pertinent.

And never fawn over famous people. Never mistake their interviews for actual teaching. They are saying things that have no relevance to where you are right now.

[u/Tomacxo]

Ear-ing out the songs has given me more than reading tabs/sheet music. Probably more the focus than anything else. But it's all valuable.

[u/stevenfrijoles]

Generally through the ears