Songwriting Tips Thread

BawmKackio · 09-10-2009, 04:19 PM

Just Let It Happen
I think sometimes when writing songs we get too wrapped up in ourselves. Sometimes we start with a cool guitar riff or a general concept in our heads and we get started, and it's GREAT, and then before you know it you're at that point where you start to realize that this is a lot harder than you wanted it to be... and your AMAZING idea is starting to sound like a who's the boss re-run, everything's so scripted and it just feels dirty.

I think that sometimes for those of us who really enjoy the storytelling capabilities of songs, or the atmosphere they can create, we can get too emmersed in FORCING the lyrics to go the way we wanted them to. Suddenly we're working our guitars / pianos / slide whistles AROUND the lyrics, or trying to make them sound too cool for school, afraid of sounding vulnerable or something at certain times. Once you start trying to force a song to go somewhere it starts feeling un-natural and I guarantee that it will be obvious both to you and the people who hear it.

My favorite songs that I've written have always been the ones that started with a guitar riff or a general idea. Sometimes it's something I thought of earlier in the day and sometimes it's something that just comes to me after messin around for a bit. (ahem with the guitar that is) ...From there I start piecing together the chords and usually just start singing something that comes to mind. Not always words, sometimes just humming or mumbling in a new language I created for that exact moment.

Before I let myself begin filtering my thoughts, I grab my audio recorder and just go from there in sections. I'll stick to the verse for half an hour sometimes, just playing it over and over and singing some random stuff over it. Then I'll move to the chorus and do the same. Then maybe a bridge, an outro, a pre-chorus, a mind altering acoustic guitar solo with invisible wah wah... etc etc et-friggin-cetera.

Once I've run out of steam and I'm starving, I'll go grab a beer and a bag of chocolate almonds, then I'll sit down, munch on some choclatey almondy' goodness, sip my Stella and listen to my recording and write down the lyrics I sang, sometimes they're difficult to make-out so I'll write down what I THINK I was saying.

Next step is organizing them into a solid structure and using the parts that make sense to me.

I've always found that I get the most satisfaction out of those songs. Both while they were new babies and also whenever I play them.. I feel like I connect with those songs the most because there wasn't any filtering done to them. They're honest and they're straight from my soul. You can't **** with that kids.

jb.is.a.machine · 09-23-2009, 12:15 AM

write music about the littlest things possible, because sometimes you can come up with some amazing lyrics.
a song about sweating

floodgates open,
clear blanket crashes on down,
all to be heard is a crashing sound... something like that

bit weird but its a start

Ace · 09-26-2009, 06:09 PM

^ huh?

Nicktarist · 09-27-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

^ huh?

You write about small things because it forces you to write about them in your own style. If you write about big things you end up writing something that somebody else has written.

OceanAndSilence · 12-20-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicktarist

You write about small things because it forces you to write about them in your own style. If you write about big things you end up writing something that somebody else has written.

true although those lyrics weren't the best.

MistahhE · 01-06-2010, 10:06 AM

youtube.com/watch?v=Rqr5vqQrHK8[/url]

~~ciceroproducer~~ · 01-10-2010, 04:53 PM

Looking for lyrics? They are all around you. Learn to listen. People often take time to say funny things, wierd things, profound things. These lines are all for free. I've written tons of songs. Many started by hearing something that someone said to someone else or me. Try listening. The world is full of great lyrics..................

BillyShears · 02-07-2010, 08:11 PM

Write Songs about things you did in the day as an exercise
If you look back on things you've done and thoughts you've had during the day, you can actually produce some pretty interesting lyrics. Even if you don't, it's a great thing to do to keep you sharp.

dedicated · 02-19-2010, 08:40 PM

I can relate to the section about revising. I probably edit my work 4-5 times. First, I'll get the idea and just quick write it down somewhere. Then when I copy that into my notebook, I usually decide on some changes, and then when I type it into the computer, I usually find a few things I could change. And even when I'm just singing them around the house, I'll end up thinking, "This line fits here better", or something like that.

jamieharrismusic · 04-07-2010, 03:33 AM

I like what you said about writers block. I think its VERY important to recognize when one is not in a writing mode. Sometimes not writing at all can be of benefit to a thriving musician simply because it will keep him from writing a weak song. (I speak from experience)

01-06-2010, 10:06 AM	#116 (permalink)
MistahhE Groupie Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1	check my new **** youtube.com/watch?v=Rqr5vqQrHK8[/url]

01-10-2010, 04:53 PM	#117 (permalink)
~~ciceroproducer~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1	Standard tip from the old school Looking for lyrics? They are all around you. Learn to listen. People often take time to say funny things, wierd things, profound things. These lines are all for free. I've written tons of songs. Many started by hearing something that someone said to someone else or me. Try listening. The world is full of great lyrics..................

02-07-2010, 08:11 PM	#118 (permalink)
BillyShears Instrumental Octopus Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 65	Write Songs about things you did in the day as an exercise If you look back on things you've done and thoughts you've had during the day, you can actually produce some pretty interesting lyrics. Even if you don't, it's a great thing to do to keep you sharp. __________________ What's this you say? Well, it's an exercise in futility, I do it twice a week to stay in shape.

09-10-2009, 04:19 PM	#111 (permalink)
BawmKackio Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 6	Just Let It Happen I think sometimes when writing songs we get too wrapped up in ourselves. Sometimes we start with a cool guitar riff or a general concept in our heads and we get started, and it's GREAT, and then before you know it you're at that point where you start to realize that this is a lot harder than you wanted it to be... and your AMAZING idea is starting to sound like a who's the boss re-run, everything's so scripted and it just feels dirty. I think that sometimes for those of us who really enjoy the storytelling capabilities of songs, or the atmosphere they can create, we can get too emmersed in FORCING the lyrics to go the way we wanted them to. Suddenly we're working our guitars / pianos / slide whistles AROUND the lyrics, or trying to make them sound too cool for school, afraid of sounding vulnerable or something at certain times. Once you start trying to force a song to go somewhere it starts feeling un-natural and I guarantee that it will be obvious both to you and the people who hear it. My favorite songs that I've written have always been the ones that started with a guitar riff or a general idea. Sometimes it's something I thought of earlier in the day and sometimes it's something that just comes to me after messin around for a bit. (ahem with the guitar that is) ...From there I start piecing together the chords and usually just start singing something that comes to mind. Not always words, sometimes just humming or mumbling in a new language I created for that exact moment. Before I let myself begin filtering my thoughts, I grab my audio recorder and just go from there in sections. I'll stick to the verse for half an hour sometimes, just playing it over and over and singing some random stuff over it. Then I'll move to the chorus and do the same. Then maybe a bridge, an outro, a pre-chorus, a mind altering acoustic guitar solo with invisible wah wah... etc etc et-friggin-cetera. Once I've run out of steam and I'm starving, I'll go grab a beer and a bag of chocolate almonds, then I'll sit down, munch on some choclatey almondy' goodness, sip my Stella and listen to my recording and write down the lyrics I sang, sometimes they're difficult to make-out so I'll write down what I THINK I was saying. Next step is organizing them into a solid structure and using the parts that make sense to me. I've always found that I get the most satisfaction out of those songs. Both while they were new babies and also whenever I play them.. I feel like I connect with those songs the most because there wasn't any filtering done to them. They're honest and they're straight from my soul. You can't **** with that kids.

09-23-2009, 12:15 AM	#112 (permalink)
jb.is.a.machine Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 8	write music about the littlest things possible, because sometimes you can come up with some amazing lyrics. a song about sweating floodgates open, clear blanket crashes on down, all to be heard is a crashing sound... something like that bit weird but its a start

02-19-2010, 08:40 PM	#119 (permalink)
dedicated Groupie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18	I can relate to the section about revising. I probably edit my work 4-5 times. First, I'll get the idea and just quick write it down somewhere. Then when I copy that into my notebook, I usually decide on some changes, and then when I type it into the computer, I usually find a few things I could change. And even when I'm just singing them around the house, I'll end up thinking, "This line fits here better", or something like that.

04-07-2010, 03:33 AM	#120 (permalink)
jamieharrismusic Groupie Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7	I like what you said about writers block. I think its VERY important to recognize when one is not in a writing mode. Sometimes not writing at all can be of benefit to a thriving musician simply because it will keep him from writing a weak song. (I speak from experience)