By JASON TRACHTENBURG

Truly inspired songs are not written, they are created. (Yes, as if out of thin air.) It is the songwriting collaboration between the human writer and some higher force that brings great songs to life.

Sure, average songs can be worked on and put together in reasonably listenable fashion. Unfortunately, radio and the mass media are not concerned with presenting the public with "above average music." The middle of the road is just fine, thank you very much. (Or, so they want us to believe.)

This then brings up the question of "what is good music?" and "what is bad music?" Music is like anything in that everyone has their own opinions of what is good or what is bad. Therefore, everyone thinks that their own musical tastes are the best. And how can you blame them? Music is a highly personal thing. Everyone likes what they like and that's what makes the musical world go round.

The universal forces that affect creativity are evident when looking back at various periods of musical history. Was it coincidence, or something greater, that allowed musical stylings from different eras to have a certain sound or feel that can mean the song could only be from that said era? Is there the impression that everything has already been done before? Maybe, maybe not. Re-releases, remakes, remixes and retreads represent revealing realizations about the current state of popular music.

With that said, I'd like to now concentrate on my own songwriting philosophies within the creative process. To begin with, I can only write songs when inspired. Forcing the issue rarely works. In other words, there needs to be a calling. When called, I sit down at the piano or with a guitar and let the new song fall into place. The fresh chord patterns come flying fast and furiously. Any distraction will prevent the song from going to where it needs to go.

The songs often write themselves. By this, I mean that the chords in the verse often help to write the chorus of the song. There can be similar directions, but with each one (the verse, the chorus, and the different middle sections) taking a different path.

Lyricly speaking, it's always good to have some sort of topic or theme for your song. This is advantageous in that you can keep coming back to that topic or theme for lyrical inspiration or direction. Let the words blend together in any way that fits. It doesn't matter if it doesn't necessarily make sense to you now. It will eventually make sense as the song comes together.

Melodies are interesting things. Where they come from nobody knows. Where they are going is anybody's guess. Fooling around with various chords is always a good way to create new melodies. Don't be afraid of weird notes, they are often the most brilliant.

If a melody isn't coming to you, I offer up these suggestions. Take the first two chords of a song that you like. Play them at a completely different tempo and style from the original song. Then construct your own melody from those chords. (It's easier than it sounds.) Then take it somewhere, musically speaking. Somewhere new!

A good middle section of a song can make a good song great. (This is the part of the song that pops up after several verses and choruses and usually is only heard once or twice at the most.) Some tips on constructing a middle part are as follows: Drop down or go up one or two whole steps on the note scale. This will take you somewhere entirely new. Get extra busy with your bass line. Let the bass line become the lead melody of the middle. Go to a minor chord. Get real heavy on us. Go ahead. The possibilities are infinite.

Jason Trachtenburg is a Lake City resident.