Food For Song #4:When should I demo my song?
When should I demo my song, is a question that gets asked by many songwriters in my feedback classes and private lessons. I thought I might shed a little light on the subject.
There are songwriters who demo their songs only when they feel their songs are finished, and there are songwriters who demo their songs in different degrees of completion. I have lived in both camps.
If there is a rule of thumb, I believe you should only demo a song when you deem the song is finished. If your song is finished, then a good demo can obviously shows off your song as you intended it.
For this conversation, we’ll talk about demoing unfinished songs. Let’s just assume that you have the ability to record whenever you would like. And, as you might realize, this is a good thing, but also part of the problem of demoing unfinished songs. These days, songwriters have the ability to record in their own homes directly into their computers. So, unfinished songs are recorded all of the time. And because they have a demo of their unfinished song, unfortunately, the tendency to want to play it for others becomes a lure. So, songwriters are playing unfinished songs and showing them to listeners who tend to perceive them as finished songs. You can see the dilemma that arises from this. We are potentially lowering the standard of what constitutes a well written song.
To make this matter more confounding, I have spoken with many songwriters who tell me that they booked recording studio time and the song that they are demoing isn’t completed. This makes no sense to me. So, on the morning of the session they realize, ‘Oops, I need a second verse or a bridge to my song!” And then, because there is no time to conceive this section, it doesn’t get written and the missing second verse or bridge becomes the guitar solo on the demo. Burnin’ solo, but still it is an unfinished song! And to add insult to injury, the writer is playing this recording as the finished goods.
So, why do these songwriters feel this urgency to record and show their unfinished songs? Maybe it is because of the ‘cool factor’. A songwriter gets to say, “Sorry, I can’t go out with you guys on Saturday, I’ll be in the studio recording my new song!” Yes, this might be cool to say, but, if the song is unfinished, wouldn’t it be a better use of time to finish it first. Then record a demo of the completed song, and when it becomes a hit, then, ‘you can be really cool!’
A more serious point is that the level of craft needed to finish a song takes an enormous commitment, dedication and much hard work. So, maybe it is just easier to demo half of a song rather than a whole one! Or, this unfinished song syndrome could just be attributed to laziness.
For years, I used to demo unfinished songs. It wasn’t so much that sections weren’t written yet, it was more that, and I hate to admit it, some of the songs weren’t good ideas in the first place. And, there were structure, lyric, melody, harmony and rhythm problems as well. Yet, I believed with all my heart in my songs, and I demoed them and showed them, but I was demoing incomplete work. I have a truckload of these demos from my early years as a songwriter along with the rejection letters. But looking back, I realize that these drafts of songs were each in an early stage of development, and it was because of some need that I had to demo the song that made me push to get them recorded before they were baked. When I listen to some of my older demos, I cringe, as I am painfully reminded to how misconceived they were. I also find myself re-writing these songs in my head, still trying to make them better. My early songs were incomplete, and at that time in my life, I didn’t have the patience to roll up my sleeves and finish them. Yes, patience counts in songwriting!
But, glass half full, there is a very positive result to this tale of my demoed unfinished songs. From demoing these half baked songs, I learned an enormous amount about songwriting, what works and what doesn’t. I also learned about the studio process, the technique of recording and I developed some pretty good ears along the way. Reflecting back, I realize that this was the way that I learned how to write a song. It is from these demoed unfinished songs that I became a disciplined writer who is extremely proud of his work. I learned by doing.
Fast forward. I don’t approach demoing this ways anymore. I try to finish a song before I demo it. For me, it simply eliminates my having to explain what a song is supposed to be saying, or what a listener is supposed to feel. The song speaks for itself.
Even though I am opposed to showing unfinished work, I still demo my songs in an unfinished state. In fact, I am obsessed about hearing my songs in all states of completion. But, I don’t show these recordings. These are my work tapes and they exist because they are part of my work process. I truly believe that the more you listen to your song, the more it helps you think it through which helps you develop it and bring it to completion. I just don’t show these recordings. They are not for pitching, or showing off to your friends.
So, what would you do? You made a work tape/demo, you like the result, but you feel that you should get some feedback. I get it! You are too close to the song and need some response to your new creation. So you play it for someone you know in the industry. And, when you play this work tape, you even precede the playing with the disclaimer, saying, “Remember this is a work tape and the song is unfinished. I’m still working it!!!” Now this person you play your incomplete song ‘worktape/demo’ for…loves it, and within a blink of an eye, sends your MP3 with your unfinished song to his/her friend who knows the lead singer of a very famous band, and 15 nano seconds later, you find out that they love it too….and then, ‘oh no!’ they record it……Now you are stuck listening to your unfinished song all the way to the Grammys. Ok!!! A little far-fetched, but what if it did happen this way. You would have to live with your unfinished song forever. Or, maybe you could get used to it! Hmmmm. Food for song!
Here is my suggestion: Record your song at every stage of its development, from the minute it explodes from your brain. Record this moment!!!! Sing it into your phone answering system if you have to, but record it and keep this original demo. You will want to come back to it to remind yourself of the moment that inspired you to write the song in the first place. As much as I truly believe that the key to developing great songs is rewriting, knowing that first impulse of the song is an essential part of the songwriting process. Now as you are developing your song, even if it is a first verse, make another work tape. Again, use, your phone, your pad, your computer and old cassette machine, doesn’t matter what you use. Then, listen to that version of your song. Think about it, let it germinate, work it some more and then record another work tape. Keep doing this until you have finished your song. The listening will enhance the song you are writing and you will be learning recording skills along the way. Note: It is very interesting to listen to your work demos in sequence when the song is complete. It will teach you a lot about your songwriting process.
With technology affording us the ability to instantly record, there is no excuse not to develop this system. Demoing as you go. As I said, each time you record your song, you will learn from it. And, when your song is finished, then you can record the ultimate demo that you can play for the world to hear. And maybe then you can go to the Grammys and hear your finished song!
See my other blog posts Food For Song http://www.randyklein.tumblr.com/tagged/Food-For-Song
An also related subject: How do I know when my song is finished? http://randyklein.tumblr.com/post/114597607054/food-for-song-2-how-do-i-know-when-my-song-is
More thoughts? Questions? Comments. Please feel free to chime in.
Coming soon: You Can Write A Song, Randy Klein's new book on songwriting.
Randy Klein is available for song analysis and critique, master classes, and private lessons. [email protected]
