In this continuing series on Capturing Song Ideas, we discuss various methods songwriters keep from losing their great fragments of inspiration.

Using built-in answering machine and voicemail for recording phrases and melodies has become the lifeline for many musicians - especially musicians on the road. In a cramped tour bus, where everyone trips over everyone else’s things, it can be a challenge to keep a notebook in a safe place. Staying in a different hotel room every night often means that lyric fragments on the back of receipts get left behind on the nightstand.

Voicemail and answering machines are passive, unobtrusive, and easy-to-use - even for the most manic technophobe.

Let’s look at some practical uses:


The Answering Machine Method:

If your spouse or roommate doesn’t mind the seemingly disturbed and cryptic-sounding messages you will be leaving, your home answering machine is the lowest tech “tech” solution there is.

Call your house phone and leave a message with the phrase or melody line you desire to remember. When you get home and check your messages, write the phrase down in your notebook. Simple.

If it is a melody line, write out the notes (if you can write notation), or scribble down the chord progression. Even if you get home and can’t document your messages, at least you can save them for a later date where you WILL have time to get it down in writing.

Doh! What do you do if your roommate or spouse answers the phone? You can either (a) tell them to write down the lyric or phrase, or (b) tell them to let the answering machine pickup.

Cel Phone Voicemail Method:

Imagine this. You are walking down Broadway in New York City and you walk past some NYC natives deep in conversation. One of the people shouts out a phrase that resonates with you. Reach in your pocket. Flip open your phone. Call yourself. Leave a message with the phrase.

Just like the “Answering Machine Method” above - when you get home from your travels, check messages with your notebook at your side.

Is it really that simple?

Singer/Songwriter Tristan Prettyman has mentioned how she uses voicemail when on the road to preserve lyric or melody ideas.

As Always. Consistency Is Key

This method, as well as all the other methods to preserve your musical ideas requires consistency. Always be on the lookout for phrases and words that inspire and resonate with you.

As a songwriter, make a conscious goal of capturing at least ONE lyrical idea per day to voicemail.

Are you a wired musician? Are you a gadget type? Are these solutions too low-tech for you? If so, read the next article on saving song ideas to your iPod.

In this continuing series on Capturing Song Ideas, we discuss various methods songwriters keep from losing their great fragments of inspiration.

Capturing Song Ideas: The Complete Series

1. Capture song ideas: Capture at all costs
2. Capture song ideas: Notebook Style
3. Capture song ideas: Voicemail Style
4. Capture song ideas: iPod Style
5. Capture song ideas: Computer Style
6. BONUS: Capture song ideas: With washable Crayola Window Markers