2013/02/16 08:46:38
davdud101
Hey, everyone. This question is gonna be really subjective and strange... But I'm wondering about you guys' views on this:
Is it OKAY to take chunks of your own songs and use them in different compositions? 
For example, in my case, I want to directly rip the bridge from a song I did, instrumentation and all, and use it as the basis for a new song I'm thinking of producing. Think that would work?

2013/02/16 09:01:19
garrigus
As long as you own the copyright to the material, you can do whatever you want with it.

Scott

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2013/02/16 09:04:28
Guitarhacker
Sure.... 


Of course you can. You own them. 

However, by doing so you are limiting to some extent the creativity you would have. If the song it comes from is a finished song, this would especially be true. If it's a non-finished song, then certainly, use it to create something finished. 

If you are grabbing from a finished song, the "new song" will, by fact of having a borrowed or stolen part in it, have to sound at least something like the other song. While this could be OK if you are placing your music into a music library, it's not generally something you would strive to do intentionally. 

To create a unique style in your music is one thing.... where someone who is familiar with your music could recognize a new song they never heard before as being from you... that's cool, even desired. 

What you do not want is a bunch of songs that all sound the same. 
2013/02/16 09:36:21
jacktheexcynic
you can definitely steal it. if you are ripping from an "unpublished" song, then you're the only one who'll know

if you've already put the original song "out there", then you should consider from your fans' perspective what directly copying part of that song into something new will sound like. only you (and your fans) can really answer that - it depends on your style, genre, etc. but more than likely, it may be perceived as a gimmick to cover a, well, lack of creativity. i've never heard any artist that directly copied a part of their song into a new song unless it was some sort of live mash-up/medley, even though we could all probably name artists and bands whose hits seem like they took last year's single and put new words to it (see: nickelback).

from an artistic standpoint, we all would like to say "my art is about me", which gives us license to do whatever we want. but if it really, truly was just about you, none of the rest of us would ever know about it. art is meant to be shared, to inspire others to more creativity. while there are definitely true artistic geniuses out there who are both recluses, yet so in touch with their own humanity that they can speak directly to our souls - you'll probably not find them cloning parts of their previous work either.
2013/02/16 11:16:36
bitflipper
It's been common practice for many years. People have even strung song fragments together taken from the best parts of unfinished songs. The second side of Abbey Road, for example. Or one of my favorites, Brian Wilson's "Smile".
2013/02/16 11:29:12
Bristol_Jonesey
Nobody ever told Zappa he couldn't do it - and he was a master at it, constructing entire triple albums from previously recorded guitar solos (Joe's Garage)
2013/02/16 11:49:13
tfbattag
It's a great way to start a concept album. It can give you a thread that weaves all of your songs together.
2013/02/16 11:55:14
Bristol_Jonesey
tfbattag


It's a great way to start a concept album. It can give you a thread that weaves all of your songs together.

Absolutely.


Look at albums like The Wall, Topographic Oceans, Misplaced Childhood, Tommy, 
2013/02/17 17:53:13
offnote
that would be one bridge too far...
2013/02/18 14:39:35
amiller
It's not something I would do ordinarily.  However, I would use the bridge idea (modified) from one of my songs in another song to create a thread through a piece of work.  Pink Floyd's The Wall comes to mind.
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