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I have gone through different phases in my music writing. There was a time when I used a little exercise - incorporating all of the twelve notes in the chromatic scale - to get me going. I used this technique for a while, but I don't any longer because I am going back to simpler melodies. Originally I moved away from the simple songs because I thought they were too simple.

Paul Simon#7

MusicCreativityEducation

About this quote

What does it mean?
The writer moved from using complex chromatic exercises back to simple melodies, realizing simplicity has value.
In plain terms
He returned to simple songs after trying complex ones.
What can you take from it?
Simplicity can be more effective than complexity.

Where it applies

  • songwriting
  • musical education

Putting it to work

  • focus on melodic clarity
  • reduce unnecessary technicality

Questions to consider

  • When is complexity necessary?
  • How does simplicity affect listener engagement?

Another view

Simplicity may limit expressive possibilities for some genres.

More from Paul Simon

  1. Well its great to do a neighborhood concert. I hope everyone can hear us. I hope that the sound is good. I hope we are blasting Central Park West and Fifth ave…

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  2. I write from instinct, from inexplicable sparkle. I don't know why I'm writing what I'm writing. Usually, I sit and I let my hands wander on my guitar. And I s…

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. I didn't want to repeat the same notes in the second verse that I used in the first, so I wrote out all the notes of the song and all the notes that were missi…

    Permalink to quote #5

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