Starting a song

[hobo]

When ever I write a song I start with the title of the song first. I'm just wondering where you other songwriters start out at and how you approach your songwriting to write a song.

[Mark Wein]

I usually stockpile lyrics...if I come up with a cool riff or chord progression I'll work out a melody for it and then try to see what lyrics work with the mood of the music....then it just gets ground out from there....

[Jake S.]

I'm good at getting some cool guitar riffs (usually sort of Schenker type stuff) but I'm not great at melodys and I'm terrible with lyrics...Probably doesn't help that I don't sing...

[Mark Wein]

I'm good at getting some cool guitar riffs (usually sort of Schenker type stuff) but I'm not great at melodys and I'm terrible with lyrics...Probably doesn't help that I don't sing...


It took me many songs before I really felt like I was doing anything good. Even now I think that if I have one good idea in ten then I am doing pretty well...sometimes you just have to write and write before you start making yourself happy... ;D

Trying to sing (even if you don't think that you are a very good singer) will help you see and feel how the melodies that you think are good and strong are put together....the more music you experience the better you will be at creating your own....

[hobo]

I usually stockpile lyrics...if I come up with a cool riff or chord progression I'll work out a melody for it and then try to see what lyrics work with the mood of the music....then it just gets ground out from there....



stockpiling lyrics, cool, never did it like that, for me I start a song and finish it and then start another song, this seems to work best for me

[hobo]

I'm good at getting some cool guitar riffs (usually sort of Schenker type stuff) but I'm not great at melodys and I'm terrible with lyrics...Probably doesn't help that I don't sing...


Hi Jake, singing, well me too, I simply can't sing but I don't let that stop me from writing lyrics for songs. would like to hear some of your cool guitar riffs, do you think you can post them here :)

[Jake S.]

Well, I have about 2 minutes of a song (just rhythm guitar) but I haven't been able to record it at all...My Dad makes albums of Electronic music (kinda like techno, but more melodic) so he has keyboards/recording equipment that I can use, but he lives 1 1/2 hours away from me, so I only visit him every couple of months. As soon as I record the song, I will put it up here...I'm hoping I can get some bass guitar and drums in it also with my Dad's keyboard. It sucks because I still haven't found anybody to start a band with...I know a couple people, but they don't take it as serious as I want it to be.

[hobo]

When ever I write a song I start with the title of the song first. I'm just wondering where you other songwriters start out at and how you approach your songwriting to write a song.



Just wanted to add a little more to this: After the title, I use my imagination. I approach this in 2 ways.

But first, how many of you feel that you are using your imagination when writing your songs.

[hobo]

When ever I write a song I start with the title of the song first. I'm just wondering where you other songwriters start out at and how you approach your songwriting to write a song.



Just wanted to add a little more to this: After the title, I use my imagination. I approach this in 2 ways.

But first, how many of you feel that you are using your imagination when writing your songs.






In the above I mention I just use my imagination when I write songs. I really use 2 ways to approach it.
1. I use, "what has been" (what's true)
2. I use "What would it have been" (maybe a dream-state of mind thinking)

It's a simple approach to songwriting that I find works for me


hobo uncle sam

[hobo]

Thought I'd add a little more to this thread.

Ok, When starting out and writing I make every word tell a story. Of course there are them little words, but they help tell the story.




hobo uncle sam

[hobo]

Well it's been a little while since I posted here, but I been really talking about how I go about writing a song.

I'd like to say that when I write those verses, I want them to be as strong as possible. I mention in another post that I try to have evey word tell a story. Those words should have a place in your heart. I think by doing so, the listener will truly connect with your song.

[White Gold]

Well, I have about 2 minutes of a song (just rhythm guitar) but I haven't been able to record it at all...My Dad makes albums of Electronic music (kinda like techno, but more melodic) so he has keyboards/recording equipment that I can use, but he lives 1 1/2 hours away from me, so I only visit him every couple of months. As soon as I record the song, I will put it up here...I'm hoping I can get some bass guitar and drums in it also with my Dad's keyboard. It sucks because I still haven't found anybody to start a band with...I know a couple people, but they don't take it as serious as I want it to be.

I have the same exact problem with my band mates...:HB:

[mosiddiqi]

All my stuff is co-written with my GF..she stockpiles lyrics, phrases and records any melody ideas, and I record everything I play..used to be on an old tape-player, now on a line6 backtrack..which is a great little tool.

I/we review the recordings when we have time (which is the biggest problem at the moment) and anything that jumps out, we flesh out a basic arrangment and then we record a "quick" version asap on Reaper and go from there....

[White Gold]

I'm good at getting some cool guitar riffs (usually sort of Schenker type stuff) but I'm not great at melodys and I'm terrible with lyrics...Probably doesn't help that I don't sing...

Hey! Me Too!:aok:

[tyoc]

haha, never wrote a song and not spell about lyrics.

Sometimes I write open verses (the ones that doesnt have the rules), but I dont see how I can put a song over the words :S.

Perhaps tweak a little the words? or should I start first with a selection of style for the song?

Hahaha, a problem that I sometimes have, I will say that Im more at the side of rock, metal and shred (thougt I dont do much, but like listen), and sometimes the words I write are more about how I feel or see something.

Perhaps the problem is not the style, but not have try it already a complete song :S.

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

I usually stockpile lyrics...if I come up with a cool riff or chord progression I'll work out a melody for it and then try to see what lyrics work with the mood of the music....then it just gets ground out from there....

I do this as well. I'm terrible about giving my songs titles.

[Mark Wein]

I do this as well. I'm terrible about giving my songs titles.

I've always liked titling a song with something other than the main lyric...

[White Gold]

Those are always better sounding...

I always appretiate the song more than that happens...

[hobo]

"strong verses", I wrote earlier about how I needed my verses to be "emotionally" strong as possible. I think when I write, my lyrics simply have a special meaning and they connect to the emotional side of me, maybe that is what I meant by wanting the lyrics to have a strong feeling of strength in them


hobo

[hobo]

It's been a while since I posted any thoughts on how I go about writing my songs. I've noticed that on one of my threads here, what I said was mentioned in a blog on the forum here, so I'm happy people are still dropping by this songwriting post.
I've been writing on how I write, it's because I'm not at all interested on how other people write and I'm not suggesting to anyone how they should write a song. A song that I write is like the air I breath, no one breaths the air for me. An when I understood this I knew I was writing for me.
I mention earlier that I start with a title, this gives me a strong foundation to build upon and the lyrics are the frame of a house. And what's inside the house is what my heart feels as I write. I see that everything needs to be connected in one way, this is what I strive to accomplish in my songs and as a songwriter. "Connections"

here is something I wrote and how I tried to build a song using " ever word needs to tell a story"

[Alex_DeLarge]

I'm a beginner but I spend much of my time trying new chord progressions and things. I record pieces of them sometimes and I use them as backing tracks and try to put some melodies to it. I try to write the vocals with the guitar, cause my singing is awful, so then I could give the music sheet to a singer or something. But none of my songs have made more than 30% far. :o

[Suhnton]

For me, generally the bass line comes first. Then I'll try hang some jangly guitar stuff off that since I'm not very fond of straight barre chords. Lyrics are always last, and first I'll record a dummy vocal of the melody and phrasing and harmony parts. I'll listen to that for a few days (or weeks) trying to come up with some words that will fit. So in the end, my lyrics usually end up being more a collection of snapshots rather than one cohesive linear idea. Then I give the song a stupid song title loosely based on the theme, but which are not part of the lyrics. I think I stole that idea from Minus The Bear.

[mosiddiqi]

For me, generally the bass line comes first. Then I'll try hang some jangly guitar stuff off that since I'm not very fond of straight barre chords. Lyrics are always last, and first I'll record a dummy vocal of the melody and phrasing and harmony parts. I'll listen to that for a few days (or weeks) trying to come up with some words that will fit. So in the end, my lyrics usually end up being more a collection of snapshots rather than one cohesive linear idea. Then I give the song a stupid song title loosely based on the theme, but which are not part of the lyrics. I think I stole that idea from Minus The Bear.

Interesting, as I always find your songs always have a really strong and present bass lines...for a lot of people bass seems to be an "afterthought".

[paulowski]

I'm a beginner but I spend much of my time trying new chord progressions and things. I record pieces of them sometimes and I use them as backing tracks and try to put some melodies to it. I try to write the vocals with the guitar, cause my singing is awful, so then I could give the music sheet to a singer or something. But none of my songs have made more than 30% far. :o

Maybe worth some of your time to get your singing better. You don't have to be an amazing singer to map out demonstration vocals on to a track of music. My singing got better as I studied music and scales......the notes get into one's head, more and more. Plenty of stuff on the net, but it's beneficial to just hum the notes as you play the major scale, for starters. Once you get accurate with that, try "lahs" and "ohs", and then "ees" etc. Then move onto to using words. Then start holding them for longer and longer.

You don't need to go louder than your speaking voice.......but you do need to give it a go, rather than write yourself off totally. A person's voice is their natural, free instrument and can be improved if the will is there. Playing helps with singing, and vice versa.