Songwriter Forum > The Writing Process

Good advice for song writing on the move?

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Gododdin:
Hi all - first post here!  I play guitar (reasonably) and keyboards (not very well) and though I've been playing covers for years, I want to get into song writing.  At home I sit down with my guitar (usually) and can work up a chord sequence fairly easily, but I work full time and spend a lot of time out and about (in car).  So I'd like something unobtrusive that I can take with me as a musical 'notepad'.  I can use a pocket dictating machine for the melody and a notebook that I carry for lyrics but for the life of me I can't keep or hear chords in my head.  Roland used to to a gadget called the Pocket Music Assistant (PMA-5) but that was years ago, and there was also the slightly larger Yamaha QY series, but they were awfully complicated to use.  So, I want to record chords on the move - any ideas?  It doesn't have to be high tec either - if I could do it with a harmonica for example, I would - but I don't think it's possible.  I'm not looking for something to produce a a finished work, just an "idea recorder" for chords.

Thanks, G

tone:
Hmmm - interesting dilemma!

Thanks for joining the forum by the way, hope you find it to be a great resource :)

I have one thought - might be a bit of an odd one though... What about one of those air powered keyboards?  I don't know what they're called but it's like a cross between a recorder and a keyboard, and it looks like it's for kids.

Kind of like this one:

(Will be around to discuss in more depth when I get my broadband reconnected - using public access at the moment)

:)

Gododdin:
Hi Tone -  and thanks for your reply.  You know, that might just fit the bill!  :)  I will do some internet research - I believe it is called a 'melodica'.

tone:
Excellent - let us know how you get on?

Eltoniobonio:
I write my songs 'In my head' so to speak. When a melody pops in to my head, i hum it into the voice recorder on my mobile phone. If the idea is strong enough, it's not difficult to pick up the guitar and work out your chords when you get home.

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