Tips And Questions

[Permanent Solution]

Read other people's lyrics a lot, it's a good place to start, don't worry about rhyming, whatever sounds good is great.

[knoblet2005]

hi all can you please rate this song that i just wrote... heres the link.
http://www.mxtabs.net/tab_versions.php?path=Guitar,m,811,Misc,Beginner+-+My+First+Song+Please+Rate,188218
could you either rate it in the corrections or can you email me at knoblet2005@yahoo.com
cheers all

[theredwonder]

Cool. This turned into a spam thread and i didn't even need to touch it.

[Zoltar]

hi all can you please rate this song that i just wrote... heres the link.
http://www.mxtabs.net/tab_versions.php?path=Guitar,m,811,Misc,Beginner+-+My+First+Song+Please+Rate,188218
could you either rate it in the corrections or can you email me at knoblet2005@yahoo.com
cheers all


no offense buddy but theres a different thread for getting people to rate your stuff, i forget which one..but if you post it there alot of people will review it

[Zoltar]

I, or my band, have no problem at all coming up with really sweet music but none of us can write lyrics, i dont know if theyre all afraid to or what but i try and i just cant find a topic, i try to look for topics in life but it ends up being stupid cause my life is boring, writing about being bored is also boring.


I found that a really good way to get inspiration is just watching the news every night, reading the newspaper once in awile, time magazine, all that. take system of a down, A perfect circle (new CD "eMOTIVe"), and rage against the machines for example, most of there stuff is about war, or some kind of current events which is good cause everyone can relate to it. As for those who are in school right now, learn everything your tought, read the crappy books they tell you to read, and research the crappy stuff they tell you too....its may be boring as all **** but every single piece of knowloadge you have will at some point benifit your songs....
and to RyMac59 I posted this link awile ago...but here it is again --> http://www.musesmuse.com/schind.html .... this is a GREAT article songwriting as a whole, and espeachally for finding inspiration for your songs.

[Zoltar]

this may be a dumb question...is there any advice anyone has for improving your singing ability as a whole...i can write lyrics, I can play guitar, I just have a crappy singing voice....

[Necroses-bass]

this may be a dumb question...is there any advice anyone has for improving your singing ability as a whole...i can write lyrics, I can play guitar, I just have a crappy singing voice....



stick to the pitchyou feel comfortable at, and record it then listen to it, if it still doesn't sound right you shouldn't sing because that will screw up your normal voice and that can cause permanent damage to your vocal chords.

[Permanent Solution]

this may be a dumb question...is there any advice anyone has for improving your singing ability as a whole...i can write lyrics, I can play guitar, I just have a crappy singing voice....
Jam Session.

[Zoltar]

stick to the pitchyou feel comfortable at, and record it then listen to it, if it still doesn't sound right you shouldn't sing because that will screw up your normal voice and that can cause permanent damage to your vocal chords.


I could be wrong, but I dont see how singing can permanently mess up your vocal chords...explain...

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Well, screaming can damage your larynx's vocal folds if not done properly (or just straining your voice in general), possibly paralysing them or even causing a hemorage. It's not pretty, just look up some larynx diseases/disorders and you'll see what I mean.

[LoniLogic]

i do not sing prof., but the best way i know how to find your singing voice is to start at the begining.. the scales..do re me fa so la ti do.. as long as you can finda pitch that you are comfortable in high and low.. this should be a start..and i do agree with A Perfect Sonnet, do not try to scream if your not sure of your pitch, tone, etc. you could cause serious damage to yourself..

[danny12397]

does anyone know where i can get drum tabs for thin lizzy, dancing in the moonlight cos i cant find them anywhere

[TheOneThatBleeds]

^that has nothing to do with lyrics, stay on topic buddy

[do_dear_do_kill_me_do]

and even the one about twisting my nipples [that one didnt work either, i sounded like a dying animal])


awww, **** you twisted your nipples?
I can't believe you're that desperate....

[wahil]

Do you guys find listening to music whilst writing a song helps or hinders? Coz I kinda find it strange, it ****s with the flow. But then I'm thinkin when you're writing, maybe ya dont need to think about flow to much, rather concentrate on the words. I'm not quite sure. I remember in Anthony Kiedis' auto bio, he said he had to write a song and he went home and put Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watch Tower on repeat for inspiration.

[DMBdude]

If you have any tips...post them here...if you have any questions...post them here

I ask all members to visit this thread once in a while and see if you can help someone out.


Can anyone help me!!! everytime i start writeing a song i get cool riffs and stuff but i can never finish a song because i don't know what else to add and what fills sound good. then when i start to write my lyrics i have almost the same problem, i get some good parts then i don't what to add or to make a chorus. then i can get the rythme quit right with the lyrics. so can anyone help please!!!!!

[dustindow]

okay i can write music easly but i cant every think of how to add lyrics...help

like where do i begin..

[Dead_Trench]

Since this is a songwriting and lyrics thread, am I allowed to post instrumentals?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Audio Arena is better for that.

[Dead_Trench]

Can you post your tabs there?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

No, but you could in one of the instrument forums. This forum evolved into more of a "post your lyrics, and and mp3 if you have the music and stuff with it" forum.

[humph42]

OK, I have a bit of a problem. When I get down to writing about something, it usually turns out really well - but I'm always stuck for inspiration. I have some sort of mental block when it comes to thinking what to write about. Seriously, everything usually comes out depressing, which isn't what I want at all; I'm not a sit and sulk sort of person. I haven't got a love life to talk about (hence the theme of being depressed), so I'm just stuck. It really angers me, because I usually just sit still with a pen for an hour.

[Dead_Trench]

I had that same problem too. I'll tell you what helped me. What you need to do is listen to lots of different music. If you always listen to metal or stuff then try some good old classic rock. Switching it up should atleast give you some good ideas. Also, read alot of of the stuff in this forum. Reading what other people here have wrote gives me inspiration.

[EdwardTheGreat]

Do you reckon that rhyming evry line in songs is good, or do you hate rhyming songs? Or do you fall somewhere in between? Just wanted to know what people thought. Personally I lke rhyming, but only if done in a certain way eg. Iron Maidens Paschendale - German war propaganda machine/ such before has never been seen.

[Spectrum]

Rhyming is a fickle beast. I will not approve a set standard for rhymes in a song. It's like saying "you need to do this in your chord pattern and that in your melody in every song". However, you need to find the rhyme scheme that works for you. A structured song can be a very good thing, but there are times when free form is more than necessary to help convey the overall feel of the poem/song.

If, say, you were going to write a twenty-minute long song, it might not be a good idea to have every line rhyme, throughout the whole thing. If you want a structured feel, go for rhyme schemes. If you feel you want a much more free feel to it, try altering the rhyme scheme to something more obscure, or just forget the whole "rhyming" business and go for diction and clarity of ideas.

I'd personally worry most about message and flow than set rhyme schemes. I've seen songs on here that work with very rigid rhyme schemes, but at the same time I've seen and loved pieces that had no rhymes at all.

-Mike

[Nightvision]

Good advice. Rep++

[killboypowerhead]

im a perfectionist. simple as that. my band has been together for about 2 years and theres maybe 6 or 7 originals that we've actually kept and still play together. songwriting is the most frustrating thing in the world for me. should i use ideas that i think are mediocre and see if people like them or....?

[God Is On The Radio]

I have a probablem when a write my lyrics I always rhyme but some times I dont want to. What should I do?
I have a probablem when a write my lyrics I always rhyme but some times I dont want to. What should I do?
^^^^

Don't rhyme

Did I understand you wromg?


hahahahahahaha well said

[Spectrum]

im a perfectionist. simple as that. my band has been together for about 2 years and theres maybe 6 or 7 originals that we've actually kept and still play together. songwriting is the most frustrating thing in the world for me. should i use ideas that i think are mediocre and see if people like them or....?

If you get an idea, write it down/play it/record it (on tape). Even if it's a mediocre idea, it could still turn into something awesome. I personally am a perfectionist as well, and I can't stand things that feel sub-par. However, almost any idea can be turned into a great one. So if you get an idea that you think might work, don't trash it. Present it to the other guys, and see what comes out. It might be that the idea just needs a little bit of fine-tuning or some specific change. Any chord pattern can be spiced up with an awesome instrumental (like a solo) or maybe a meter change (if you can manage it, times like 7/8 are always interesting). And what sounds mediocre to you may sound great to someone else.

Think of Hoobastank. And how famous they are, despite being the faceless posterboys of mediocrity in modern rock.

Actually, nevermind. Go for awesome. :D

[TheUnknownProject]

I find I can write (imo) really good choruses for songs, but I suck at writing verses. I find it hard to write about a central theme or story that relates to the chorus.
Any advice?

[mshort813]

I find I can write (imo) really good choruses for songs, but I suck at writing verses. I find it hard to write about a central theme or story that relates to the chorus.
Any advice?
I'm sure you know this already but I'll try to help you out. Choruses are general idea of the piece and the verses are there to describe something else about the song in detail. If you are having no trouble writing the chorues, then that's great, just think about what they are about to make a verse out of it. Then you write a verse about a certain incident or describing what happened in detail.
Hope it helped. Good luck to you.

[LOSBassist]

Masturbate at least 6 times a day, it can do wonders for you, also make sure that you use lubricant, or it may be a little irritating

so THAT'S Why they do it!

[ObscuredByClouds]

does anybody here write peices of a song and like a week later have a finished song?
Thats what i do and i need to stop, because when you go to add on you can't think of anything good enough to fit. i need to start writting complete songs at one time, instead of adding a chorus here and there. does any body else do that, and if so do you feel the same way?

[ObscuredByClouds]

guess not

[MASTER_OF_PUPPETS21]

while ur tryin to get to sleep hav a book beside ur bed so if u get an idea write it down

[shinboxe]

Hey, U probably dont know me
But ive got to tell u about this
http://www.cashfiesta.com/php/join.php?ref=shinboxe
this site is giving u alot of money just by seeing commercials.
ive got the last check for 150$ just by sitting one hour on the computer a day!!!
i think its worth it as an extra income
ddont u?

[mshort813]

Hey, U probably dont know me
But ive got to tell u about this
http://www.cashfiesta.com/php/join.php?ref=shinboxe
this site is giving u alot of money just by seeing commercials.
ive got the last check for 150$ just by sitting one hour on the computer a day!!!
i think its worth it as an extra income
ddont u?
okay I don't know what this has to do with songwriting, but if it's stays true to its word, then I'll do it. Thanks, I guess.

EDIT: I would, but it gives popup ads and spam, you need a credit card to do the offers, I'm not going to sit at a computer doing useless **** for an hour(irony), and I don't really need money right now. Actually, I do need money, but I think I'd rather earn it doing something not like this. I did refer you though, so there's 1,000 points or so.

[Manic-Stereo-Feeder]

Hi. I've got a question about writing lyrics. Is it wrong to sometimes 'borrow' or even 'steal' a line or two that you like and using them in your own way? I've tried writing my own stuff quite a lot but I very rarely write something that I will like if I come back to it later. Quite often I find a line that says what I'm trying to say better than I can. So I'll change it a little and icorporate it into something that I'm working on. Is this a bad idea or is it acceptable from time to time? Let me know what you think. Cheers.

Ps. Do lyrics always have to rhyme as well? I always find it really hard to get my lyrics to rhyme without it sounding too forced.

[Spectrum]

Hi. I've got a question about writing lyrics. Is it wrong to sometimes 'borrow' or even 'steal' a line or two that you like and using them in your own way? I've tried writing my own stuff quite a lot but I very rarely write something that I will like if I come back to it later. Quite often I find a line that says what I'm trying to say better than I can. So I'll change it a little and icorporate it into something that I'm working on. Is this a bad idea or is it acceptable from time to time? Let me know what you think. Cheers.
Hmm. This is an interesting question indeed. If you use a riff or a bit of someone else's song in your own, it's called "sampling", so what do you call it when you use another's lyrics? Plaigarism, if you don't give them credit. To the best of my knowledge, it is acceptable to use a lyric written by someone else; however, it is cheating, unfair, and presumably illegal to claim it as your own. Changing it a little and working it into your own piece also would likely require credit given to the original author.

Basically, I'm not saying you shouldn't. I am, however, saying you ought to be careful while doing it. If it works for you, do it. That's one of the basic rules of writing a song, in my opinion: if it works, try it.

Ps. Do lyrics always have to rhyme as well? I always find it really hard to get my lyrics to rhyme without it sounding too forced.
I fielded that one in this (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6898663&postcount=1028) post, which you could also read by scrolling up. Simple answer: no. Go with what flows.

[God Is On The Radio]

me and my bandmates write a riff and i just write around that...

[JessJansen]

My friend and I are going to be writing some music within the next few months and its jsut a project we are doing . But we are both really influenced by tool and there works. We both write alot of music that sounds like tool but i was wondering if it mattered to what your writing outcome would sound like if ur surroundings were different such as which music you were listening to or if u had candels around,stuff like that.

[Electric Riley]

Or drugs? Nah, I don't think it would change much. Listening to Simply Red while trying to write might have a negative effect though.

/Is listening to Simply Red.

[Spectrum]

Your environment can certianly impact your songwriting. Not nearly as much as the mood you are in and what events have had influenced you recently or lastingly. Also, what music you were just listening to or are big into have a big effect. Since I started getting into Yes and Rush, my writing has taken a grander, more sprawling, and all around more Progressive approach. Since I started developing a Radiohead fetish, my lyrics have been darker and more complex.

Now, back to environment. The atmosphere of where you are can influence your work - are you in a crowded space, or an open one, and does that affect you? Are you in a peaceful setting, or somewhere more noisy and distracting? Do you live in a city, or in a rural environment? Is it dark, or well-lit? These things can impact your mood, your mindset, and even your creative energy, as well as the feel and possibly the instrumentation and color of your music. Sometimes, certain aspects of or objects in your surroundings can provide inspiration. In fact, creating a mood in your environment can pull out ideas and things and affect your writing. Such as being in a room, seeing just by candlelight. So keep in mind where you are and what's around you when you are writing.

[darkevent89]

I'm not really sure if I can post this here but I don't know where else to put it...

Anyway, I'm in a black metal band and if any of you guys do listen to some black metal bands, (Burzum,Bathory,Dark Funeral, Darkthrone etc) I was wondering how I can train my voice to get that black metal sound. Everytime I try to go along with a black metal song my voice gets all scratchy and my throat hurts.


Me and my band are also into some other stuff like hardcore, punk, emo, etc. Bands like From First to Last, Hawthorne Heights, Avenged Sevenfold etc. But in most of these bands they tend to sing a lot. Were gonna play a song by "From First to Last - Ride the Wings of Postilence" pretty soon and he sings really high in this song so i want to know how i can train my voice to get it like that.


I really need some tips on this. Help will be really fcking appreciated

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Jam Session

[Corupt2057]

Jam Session
what he means is take your post to Jam Session Forum they will be of more help to you

[Phade]

I'm not a writer by any means but I have been trying my hand in it as of late. Everyone has to start somewhere. But what I would like to know is if someone could explain to me exactly what a "hook" is. I have a basic idea but I dont understand it enough to incorperate it into my writing. Thx

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

A hook is a catchy guitar line phrase that ties into the song, and can be commonly repeated. It's basically the thing that "hooks" you onto the song and makes you want to listen to it. Hooks are good, but not always necessary for music to be successful. Hope that helped.

[Spectrum]

Hooks can also be subtle and built in as opposed to the common style of a "reach out and grab you" hook. Like Radiohead's Kid A album is full of hooks that you have to listen to the album multiple times to even hear, they're so subtle. Often times, the hook is the main riff of a song (Blues Traveler - "Hook". Irony, but a great example.), or is the chorus section. Usually, in modern music, if the hook is the chorus riff, then it's going to be harder and louder than the verse riff.

[Phade]

Thx alot. That brought light to alot I was questioning. Much appreciated.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Another good example would be Embody The Invisible by In Flames. The first guitar line is the hook, and I think most will agree it's very catchy.

[Rico-drummer]

I have a probablem when a write my lyrics I always rhyme but some times I dont want to. What should I do?
O.k i had the same problem when i started out.You have to try and write from the heart,Writh things(Phrases)that make a big emotion.Cut out whatever crap words that are dull.Use a thesaurus to substitute sum words.You can rhyme,Just not too much.

[gttvc]

yo. i am trying to improve my sarcastic/dark humour (alot of nofx is sarcastic/ misfits are dark, just for examples) in lyric writing. i was wondering if anyone knows any good authors/books that are dark or sarcastic that i could read. i'm a fan of vonnegut (welcome to the monkey house), bradbury (f 451), heller (catch 22). any help or tips is appreciated.



"hack the heads off little girls and hang em on my wall."

yea. i know.

[Permanent Solution]

Poe.

[LivingDeadBoy]

Edgar... Allan... POE!

[morrissey]

yo. i am trying to improve my sarcastic/dark humour (alot of nofx is sarcastic/ misfits are dark, just for examples) in lyric writing. i was wondering if anyone knows any good authors/books that are dark or sarcastic that i could read. i'm a fan of vonnegut (welcome to the monkey house), bradbury (f 451), heller (catch 22). any help or tips is appreciated.



"hack the heads off little girls and hang em on my wall."

yea. i know.
Oscar Wilde.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Danzig wrote about B-List horror movies :rolleyes:.

[gobrowns19]

Hey, I am new to these forums, but not MX itself.

I have been playing guitar for about half a year. I can figure out a song i like to play, although some take longer than others.

Anways, with that aside, I have a really great friend, and I promised her that I would write her a song, except i have never written a song before. I have basically spent these last two days thinking of something. So far i only have a short little riff I like. Thats why I was wondering if you guys could help me with music theory (I wont have trouble with lyrics, but I feel I have to make the song first), because where I am currently stuck is trying to get another chord in, because i just cant hit the certain sound I need.

I just took time to reread what i wrote, and it makes little sense...

Ok, basically, what comes to mind when i play my riff is "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, kinda the feeling of regret, yet i cant explain it. (And also for some reason "FreeBirdd" -Lynyrk Skynrd, but again i cannot explain it.)

I also have been trying to figure out if i want a central chorus (like a country song :eek: ) or just a smooth running on ( like a Pearl Jam song :thumb: )

Anyways, to wrap it up, i need to something to keep it going smoothly. (Lol, probably should have said that in the first place.) So thanks for reading the long post and thanks for any help!

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Keep fooling around with different chord combinations until you hit the one you want. The trick (when you don't know theory), is going off what you think sounds best. I don't know much about chord progressions, so I just go with what sounds good when I write music to my lyrics. It works if you put enough effort into it.

[bomber]

is this the right place to come for help with vocals? i'm trying to get better at singing incase my band need a singer. We play rock/metal and i was wondering if there is anything i can do to improve/roughen up my voice?

[toodazedtooconfused]

can someone please tell me how to C tune from standard?

[Spectrum]

Keep fooling around with different chord combinations until you hit the one you want. The trick (when you don't know theory), is going off what you think sounds best. I don't know much about chord progressions, so I just go with what sounds good when I write music to my lyrics. It works if you put enough effort into it.
That is some good advice, I think. Really, when it all comes down to it, music is about feel. Does it feel right? Is the mood correct for what you're trying to do? Do the lyrics and the music match, or at least work effectively with each other?

Now, about writing chord progressions. There are tricks and tips for that. Unfortunately, I'm not the greatest at constructing progressions, in my opinion anyway. What I do know is that you want to write a progression that creates a mood, one that flows well with your song. It doesn't even have to be hard - girls go gaga over simple progressions like Oasis' "Wonderwall", Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", and Howie Day's "Collide". Coldplay's "Green Eyes", "Warning Sign", and "Yellow" are all relatively simple songs. In fact, you could even recycle a progression that worked well for your mood or lyrics and simply spruce it up a bit so it sounds like your own. It's a very common trend in popular music to do this; it even occurs during many Classic Rock numbers. ("Stairway to Heaven" uses the main progression from "All Along the Watchtower" as a riff at one point, and I can't tell you how many other places I've heard that progression used.)

Overall, though, simple is the key. Think of the songs you find to be romantic, pretty, or "girlfriend" songs. Their not too hard to follow, right? I mean, when it comes down to it, awesome songs like The Mars Volta's "The Widow" is a very simple song at heart, but is made great by instrumental talent, particular instrumentation, dramatic flourishes, et cetera. So, my best advice to you musically is - keep it simple, but go for poetic elegance.

Sample progressions:
E - C#m - Am - E
G - G/F# - Em7 - Cadd9 or Cmaj7
"Wonderwall" (pick a key. any key.)
two of mine that are a little more involved:
C - B7 - Em - A - F - G
C - G/B - Bb - F/A - Fm/Ab - Gm - D/F# - F (this is really just a progression revolving around dropping the bass by a half-step every change)
Both of mine are best played on piano.

I hope this helps. And good luck, gobrowns19.

[Liquid Fantasy]

i have this problem....i can't start a song without the title cuz the title is what gives me the ideas (by the way i'm from venezuela so don't mind my errors in this post)

[Liquid Fantasy]

so... what do u recommend to me?

[gobrowns19]

Wow, SpectrumGuitarist, that really helped a lot. A huge thank you. I cant even explain but that could not be explained any better, thanks a ton!

And thanks also to A_Perfect_Sonnet.

I'll let you all know how this goes, and thanks again.

[Lt. J. Page]

alright now when u are writing a song its probably easier to write about wut is happening and how u feel but do u necisarily have to? :smoke:

[Spectrum]

alright now when u are writing a song its probably easier to write about wut is happening and how u feel but do u necisarily have to? :smoke:
You don't have to. Both of The Mars Volta's albums, both of Coheed & Cambria's albums, Rush's "2112", and much of Yes' songs (when there was a story) are about an overlying, fictional story (in the case of Co&Ca and "2112", it's a futuristic Sci-Fi). You don't need to have a song be about a real personal experience or about someone or something you know. You can write about anything you want. You can write a romantic/love song, but it doesn't even have to be for/about someone you know (happens all the time in music). Some people even create lyrics simply to set a mood.

Or, if you're Thom Yorke, you could write a bunch of lines, put them in a hat, and draw them out randomly... if you do, though, you get Kid A.

Just make sure it's readable, listenable, but most importantly works for your specific goal. If it is good poetry, that's a huge bonus. That's all that really matters.

[Spectrum]

so... what do u recommend to me?
Hmm... that's something I haven't heard of before. I'll have to think about this one for a while, and then I'll see if I can give you some good advice. But for now, all I can think of for advice is just for you to think up all the coolest, catchiest, original, and interesting song titles you can pull out of your head. Write them all down, and see what inspires you. If it doesn't inspire you now, an idea might come later.

[Liquid Fantasy]

thanks spectrum guitarist that is very helpfull.
i try to do that, if something good comes out of it(it probably will) i'll tell you right away.

[flamesofbodom]

How come if im in the mood to write i draw a blank sometimes? Like i want to write but cant.

[Spectrum]

Don't try too hard. In fact, don't try really at all. If you're in the mood to write something, don't even think about the fact that you're trying to write something. If you fixate, nothing productive occurs. If you're in the mood, just let it be that: the mood. Mood drives music in huge ways. Just let it flow naturally. If something strikes you, write it down and save it. Just go where the mood or the thought takes you.

[Permanent Solution]

Don't focus on what you're writing, just write and work on rearranging what is coming out later on. If you're too intent on writing you end up blocking yourself off to the reason you wanted to write in the first place.

[harmonica_man]

What the best way to get inspired. I cant get inspired ever since I quit smoking so much dope!! What gives?

[Spectrum]

I'm gonna guess that your mind associated the dope-smoking with the inspiration-getting. Now you subconciously think that you need the dope to be inspired. Actually, I don't really know if that's right or not. I'm just taking a Psych 101 class, and I think I know everything.

Take a walk in a wooded area on a nice day. Relax. Take your mind off of things. Look at the trees. Look at the sky through the trees. Listen to the wind and the trees. Or, if you live in a city, do the same thing witht he Urban Jungle.

Just try it once. If that doesn't inspire you to do something, like maybe write a bit of poetry, or maybe pick up an acoustic guitar... well, then, darn. Mostly, though, inspiration just has to come. You can't really force it. I mean, taking a walk is naturally conducive to letting your mind wander, but you can't really try to find inspiration. It kinda hits you, and you gotta take what you can get.

Am I making sense?

[mshort813]

What the best way to get inspired. I cant get inspired ever since I quit smoking so much dope!! What gives?
Probably because you got burned.

[Permanent Solution]

What the best way to get inspired. I cant get inspired ever since I quit smoking so much dope!! What gives?
It's a mental block. Try freeing your mind in other less damaging ways like meditation, running, or yoga.

[Spectrum]

Alright, because I'm not perfect, I have a question myself.

I try to write songs that really express how I'm feeling or I feel are well-written and have meaning to them. I hate writing meaningless lyrics, and I feel the best way to approach something is through metaphor and imagery. High-concept is a plus. I try to appease my incredibly high standards.

However, the last two or three songs I posted went utterly unnoticed by the General Public. It seems that I can't write songs that other the Masses can appreciate. Is it just me being insecure about my own talents, am I writing good songs and by sheer chance they are unnoticed, am I an inaccesible writer, or do I just suck lately?

[organschizm]

Alright, because I'm not perfect, I have a question myself.

I try to write songs that really express how I'm feeling or I feel are well-written and have meaning to them. I hate writing meaningless lyrics, and I feel the best way to approach something is through metaphor and imagery. High-concept is a plus. I try to appease my incredibly high standards.

However, the last two or three songs I posted went utterly unnoticed by the General Public. It seems that I can't write songs that other the Masses can appreciate. Is it just me being insecure about my own talents, am I writing good songs and by sheer chance they are unnoticed, am I an inaccesible writer, or do I just suck lately?

do you like the songs you are writing? If you do then that's all that matters. I think if you are trying to write things that appeal to other people you are sorta setting yourself up for some misery. Write what you enjoy writing and if people like it then great, and if they don't at least you do.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

No, people just don't crit the regulars around here, mostly because their songs are too thought out and complex in meaning, even though some (such as mine and I think yours) come off as rather simple. Also, no one pays attention to the crit for crit system anymore. Some do, so my suggestion would be just to give a few crits to some people, leave a link, and see if you can get any responses. Don't wait for people to come to you.

[Spectrum]

Thank you, folks. That was pretty incisive, organschizm, and I'll think on that. You have the potential to be a valued member of our society. And APS, I'll think I'll go back to critting people's stuff now. Heck, it could be fun. Who knows. But for now, time to get back to my crazy Icelandic music.

NP: Sigur Ros - (Untitled 7)

[LOSBassist]

I can never seem to write chorus's very well. Verse's come too well. my chorus's end up being too long and too complicated. anyone know how to fix this?

simplify the main points of the verses

[Metalixia]

When writing melodies from lyrics... say the sentence relaxed and naturally out load... noting which words are stressed and which aren't. say again, but this time with some exagerated emotion. this time you'll notice there's actually a very (micro-tonal) weak melody natural formed by language in your line. to exagerate into a good mellody, simple sustain the stressed vowels, and raise the pitch of them. lower the pitch of the non stressed words (ie, of, and, in... )

that's good advice, but you'll still be **** unless you actually try them out load and sing what you have. if you have something you like, sing it, record it, and figure out what notes are used so you can contruct an harmony.

if you wanna have some decent chords, try using inversion, rather than just minor/maj/7ths, ect

[Spectrum]

^^Wow... that was some very interesting advice. Hell, I might just have to try that out myself. If you continue on like this, you actually might stand a chance around here. Cool.

Welcome to MX. :cool:

[Corupt2057]

no one pays attention to the crit for crit system anymore.
yeah tell me about it..

[gitzplayer1021]

i always have no problem writing... i am a good writer in general, my friends love when i write a short story... i can write music and it sounds decent... but i can never come up with lyrics. maybe i'm insecure or something but they really just never sound good. they sound cliche, or just like there's no feeling ... and it really bothers me. i just want it to sound good... and it's not happening. writing is something i'm proud of, and is it really that much harder to come up with lyrics??

[Spectrum]

If you're a good "story" writer, why not apply it to your songwriting attempts? Write a story, or at least think of a plot, and simply tweak the content so it sounds good set to a melody. And remember, the number one rule is: don't try too hard. It has to be natural, and should sound good to you. Don't try to make things rhyme... let the rhyme scheme flow. In fact, rhyming is entirely optional.

Take a look at what you've tried to write. Analyze it. Why don't you like it? What about it do you not like? Why do you think it feels cliche? Look at rhetoric, rhyme scheme, rhyming word usage, mechanics, et cetera. Figure out what works for you and, especially, what doesn't work.

Give it a try. If you want to post the results, or at least your feelings on your writing, feel free. In fact, try posting some of the works that you write, and leave a link in here. I will give them a look, as well as other S&L members, and will give you feedback on what I see.

[p0ul]

my band wants me to start singing a harmony, it sounds easy enough(although its really not) any help you guys could give me would be awesome.

[Spectrum]

Hmm... harmony takes a while to get used to. You have to get used to not singing what the other people around you are singing. You know a great way to get used to it? Join a choir, or your school chorus. This really helped me, anyway. Just keep doing it. The more you practice singing harmony with each other, the more natural it becomes.

Also, if one of you has a natural ear for harmony, let him sing along, inventing his own harmonies and seeing how it sounds. Or, look at the chords you are playing, and decide what harmony notes would best fit with the melody and in or around the chords.

[Electric Riley]

Aye, harmony is tricky. Even playing the harmony on guitar is hard. I think altos get the worst of it. Their parts never sound like the melody.

/is a bass. w00t.

[Spectrum]

Yeah, Altos hardly ever get to do anything cool. Especially when they're singing in our range all the time. And the Sopranos all have big heads and get the melody all the time. You want something difficult? Try singing a Tenor harmony. It's like we're the last harmony they construct, and we get all the leftover notes. And we have to keep pushing into the upper register all the time...

/is a Tenor. w00t.

/I'm not really whining. It's just fun to rant.

Anyway, back on topic. Harnomy can either be really simple, or can be more complex. For instance, you could have a G-A-Bm preogression, and just have someone harmonize with a different note on each change, maybe on an ascending bass scale (G-A-B), or, if the melody is going upwards, perhaps have them harmonize something like D-C#-B, or have them harmonize on all the thirds. Another popular harmony line is to follow the melody in thirds above or below, when it fits. Find what you think sounds good, and practice until it works.

[nakiwiroda]

why cant i start new threads??????

[Nightvision]

because you have to have been here 24 hours - it's to stop spam attacks.

Patience is a virtue.

[nakiwiroda]

alright thanks for the quick reply ;)

[aircon]

im new at song writing but i have these magazines on scales and soloing stuff and i read some stuff on other threads about keys....im not realy familiar with this kinda stuff...i just put toghether chords that sound good together for the lyrics....can anyone explane to me the whole key concept thing...stuff like songs in key of d,e ets..........whats with the keys...???

[Nightvision]

Jam Session forum looks like what you're looking for... :)

[Biancazzurri]

do you like the songs you are writing? If you do then that's all that matters. I think if you are trying to write things that appeal to other people you are sorta setting yourself up for some misery. Write what you enjoy writing and if people like it then great, and if they don't at least you do.

No, people just don't crit the regulars around here, mostly because their songs are too thought out and complex in meaning, even though some (such as mine and I think yours) come off as rather simple. Also, no one pays attention to the crit for crit system anymore. Some do, so my suggestion would be just to give a few crits to some people, leave a link, and see if you can get any responses. Don't wait for people to come to you.

Yes and Yes. Crit for crit system has its for and against. I'm against. Why? Because when you leave a link or ask someone to crit you kinda obligate him to return favor. He wants but he can't. Thus you get a critque full of praises and thankyous for crtting his song and bye.

[offtopic]
I do write some crits when I wnat to but my song nearly nevere get some "I want to crit this" crits. It's a shame.. many people here are crit for crit whores.

[Bub]

Its quite annoying when you leave a crit for someone though, leave a link, and two weeks later you see them bumping their thread saying "Any more?" when they haven't crit'd your own piece...
I always put a crit for crit on my pieces, cos I feel I like to return the favour.

[Electric Riley]

Its quite annoying when you leave a crit for someone though, leave a link, and two weeks later you see them bumping their thread saying "Any more?" when they haven't crit'd your own piece...
I always put a crit for crit on my pieces, cos I feel I like to return the favour.
But the quality of people crit's these days...

Talk about degradation. Yeah, I do.

[IbanezSA]

ne good tips for writing a metal song?

[Bub]

ne good tips for writing a metal song?

hah they're either really easy or really hard...easy if you don't mind being cheesy :P (Wahay, it rhymes, there's your first line!)
If you wanna write your traditional metal song about war and dying, go ahead, listen to a bit of Metallica. If you wanna rite Man-O-War type lyrics just...don't. But if you wanna think outside the box, write some genuinely good lyrics, like your Maiden, you have to think outside the box. Don't sit down and think "Right...metal song...first word "die"". Think what you're going to write ABOUT, remember even Metal songs can be about love (given that uts best to do this with a metaphor), then think how you're going to represent it. For example in my most recent song, No Phantom (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7786189#post7786189) I wanted a metal song, more in the style of Judas Priest's Painkiller album. Now, most of these songs are Character songs ("He Is The Painkiller" or "Nightcrawler, He's gonna get you!"). So I thought, right, seeing as I want to write about a current situation with me and a friend, I thought I'd represent this with a character (the phantom). Why don't you give it a read to see how I've attempted this?

Overall, think outside the box, try and write a song with metal music/singing, not a metal song.

[bard2dbone]

I found I was saying the same thing while critiquing a lot of new lyricists, so I think I will say it here and just tell them to read this thread. If I'm mean I'll tell them to read the whole thing. (took me like four hours)

1. Don't use words that you don't actually know.
Seriously. If you hear someone say a word that sounds interesting, and you think "Oh. That is a cool word. I'll stick it in a lyric, randomly, and no one will know I don't know what it means." Well, you're wrong. We all know. And now your song is ruined even though the rest of it was pretty good. And what's worse any song we recognize as yours is ruined forever, because we'll know you were an idiot. Learn to use the words correctly in a sentence. THEN put it in a song.

2. Don't use words you DO know, but would never say in a million years.
Some of us (I used to be one, as well) get impressed by the turn of a complicated phrase. We hear a cool line and want something like it for a song. But if the character narrating the song doesn't talk that way all the time, then the line won't ring true. This is easiest if you use the way YOU speak. So, say the lines out loud. Treat them as if you walked up to one of your friends friends, someone who barely knows you and said just that one line. Would they look at you weird? Then don't use that line. If it's not real. It's probably not good.

3. Rhyming...can be good. Can be bad. But rhyming just for the sake of having a rhyme is mostly only bad. Look at the phrase you end the line with. Did it make sense by itself? No? Then that was a stupid line that you used just to get the rhyme in. Erase it. Now put in a line that makes sense. See? It's already better. Now if that one rhymes too, then even better. But meaning is always more important than rhyme. Try to have enough rhyme to maintain the scheme, so your song does not look 'broken', but only so long as it makes sense.

I'll think of others later.

[Spectrum]

That is some good advice, in my opinion. Thanks for posting it. I might have to link to it myself from time to time.

[Amazing Duck]

What i do is when i have a riff (guitar) i sing the first line that comes into my head. :thumb:

[RunAmokRampant]

I was wondering if any one could give any tips on structure of lyrics. i seem to have a bit of trouble with that, so any advice or tips on that?

[*FuseBox*]

alot of songs that are around atm are about relationships, an about bein dumped an lookin like a fool etc. I am writin a song about my mate who is movin away to America an i wana giv him a song to remember us lot over here! i want it to b a movin an meaningful song, so what sort of metaphors can i use about moving away etc? if anyone can help i will be greatly appreciative! thanks

dave

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Hi-C - As We Go On

I think she already wrote a song for your situation, so just steal it.

[*FuseBox*]

Hi-C - As We Go On

I think she already wrote a song for your situation, so just steal it.


nice one m8

prob jus changed it all a lil bit, but cheers for the help! got any more advice for lyrics in general??

[*FuseBox*]

Hi-C - As We Go On

I think she already wrote a song for your situation, so just steal it.


nice one m8

prob jus changed it all a lil bit, but cheers for the help! got any more advice for lyrics in general??

[Joe]

ok so i've been having some trouble writing lyrics. i used to be able to write a ton of things constantly (whether good or stupid) but now i can't. i wrote this one song about 3 months ago about not being able to write and i haven't written since. any thoughts/ideas? thanks guys

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Oops, I meant Vitamin C - The Graduation Song.

[lofdrummer]

Always carry a small notepad and a pen with you... it will work wonders if you get an idea for a fleeting second, like i do. i often think well in the shower, and by the time i get out, i forget what i came up with...too bad they dont have waterproof paper

[NoHero9]

water proof paper, that's rich!

anyway, the song writing/lyrics forum is looking despairingly untouched, i would like to see more people in her, and I will soon be putting more lyrics in, and would really enjoy critiquing others' works, so keep up the good work, all of you. :thumb:

[Brewer14]

Alright, Im sure that this has been asked a ton, and youre all probably getting sick of answering it, but its late and the forums being screwy so Im not going through this whole thread looking to see if it has.

Annnnyway

Ok, I really want to write a song. Like bad. I started playing guitar about 5 months ago, I know how to construct chord progressions, etc, so music isnt really a problem for me. But I can't write lyrics. Ive never been able to come up with more than maybe 2-3 lines. I cant even think of ideas or subjects to write about. I try listening to other artists for inspiration, but I only end up with that "duh, how did I not think of writing about that?" feeling. Ive tried keeping a list of song titles, song ideas, none of that has seemed to work so far. I have maybe 4 titles, and like I said earlier I can never really think of something to write about.

So what Im asking is, how do you all think of what to write about? I have a feeling if I could just think of something to write about, I could write at least decent lyrics. Im just REALLY struggling when it comes to ideas and subjects and the like.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[xKONRADx]

^^^^^^^
i used to have trouble coming up with good lyric ideas, and to be honest i still do. the best songs are those that tell a story. you cant just write about your thoughts or emotions, you need something to connect them with the listener. thats what the story is for. im not saying always do a narrative, or one from a first person pespective just stay away from songs like "oh blah blah hot chick i think about you every day' or "f*** you bush politics suck" songs. make them so they are relateable. now to your problem of coming up with an idea..... come up witha story first. if you see something on the news, tv, or come up with something completely on your own thats where you start. then you want to look for the most original perspective. it doesnt always work, but usually. hope this helps

[Brewer14]

^^^^^^^
i used to have trouble coming up with good lyric ideas, and to be honest i still do. the best songs are those that tell a story. you cant just write about your thoughts or emotions, you need something to connect them with the listener. thats what the story is for. im not saying always do a narrative, or one from a first person pespective just stay away from songs like "oh blah blah hot chick i think about you every day' or "f*** you bush politics suck" songs. make them so they are relateable. now to your problem of coming up with an idea..... come up witha story first. if you see something on the news, tv, or come up with something completely on your own thats where you start. then you want to look for the most original perspective. it doesnt always work, but usually. hope this helps

Yeah, Im really committing myself to staying away from writing about girls, because its so damn cliche, and I dont want it to sound like every other song out there.

Ill try that tv/newspaper idea, thanks

[xKONRADx]

Yeah, Im really committing myself to staying away from writing about girls, because its so damn cliche, and I dont want it to sound like every other song out there.

Ill try that tv/newspaper idea, thanks
dont not write about girls, if you have a song that you want to write dont worry if it will be cliche. the subject of a song doesnt make it cliche, its the presentation. i mean there have been love stories and war stories since the dawn of time and they are still most often the best ones. maybe just start in other areas, but dont put that stuff off limits forever.

[Brewer14]

dont not write about girls, if you have a song that you want to write dont worry if it will be cliche. the subject of a song doesnt make it cliche, its the presentation. i mean there have been love stories and war stories since the dawn of time and they are still most often the best ones. maybe just start in other areas, but dont put that stuff off limits forever.

Well, I meant it wont be like the typical girl song, like the kind you described earlier :p

[Bub]

Sometimes, or surprisingly often, the subject of the lyrics depends on the type of song you're wanting to write. For example a lot of heavy metal/speed metal are character songs, and a lot of power metal are legends/mythical lyrics. If you don't wanna be cliche, but feel attached to these rules (by not imagining "I miss you, I need you" going to 280bpm double bass and growling) then use a bit of metaphor.
You could even personify what you're trying to say, like in one of my songs I made a moment in time seem like a being (a Phantom) and referred to it as that, and how its presence changed everything etc

Also, relating to the good idea of looking at news/tv for ideas...
in a P.E lesson, we were studying the Olympics, and in one, terrorists kidnapped some of the athletes and killed them. I think there were about 20 deaths. The government of the host country tried to cover it up until the games were over, but in the end held a ceremony and continued with the game.
If you do it well, I think lyrics based on this (how you feel about it, how you interpret it, etc) could be really good and effective.
Research it if you're going to :) Hope I helped

[Whatsisface]

some advice: wait for inspiring moments. but sure, if an idea pops into your head, by all means, write it down. it may give you some ideas or even inspire bigger ones.

[Crazy Drummer]

The lead snger for my band doesnt really know what voice to use when singing, any tips ?

[Nightvision]

Jam Session. :)

[Necroses-bass]

The lead snger for my band doesnt really know what voice to use when singing, any tips ?

go through different styles and see what works best with the music and the vocal chords can handle

[Speedster1022]

Alright, i'm hoping i'll get a reply here to this post. I'm having trouble writing the actual music for my songs. I just can't find the right cords to use and power cords are getting pretty boring now. Does anyone have any suggestions on what other cords to use in rock? Also i can't seem to make my songs "dramiatic" enough. They just seem really "flat" i would say. It would be really helpful if I could get some help on that too, making a song more lively or dramatic.

[hypractvmidget]

can anyone tell me if this little lick that i wrote is any good?

| - - - 1 - - - 1 p 0
| - - 2 - - - 2
| - - - - 3 - -
| -0 - - - 0 -
| - - - - - - -
| - - - - - - -

[HitHardDrums55]

i need help with guitar chords for the following bass notes:

E|---------------|
A|----9---7-----|
D|9---8---6---7-|
G|8-----------6-|

that is NOT the riff, but i need a chord on guitar that is pretty sounding for each of those 4 notes for a kind of pop-rock song that i can ring out for a measure each...its a song i promised my best friend i'd write so i have lyrics and drums and bass for it and i know how i want the guitar to sound...i just need something to match that for the intro...thanks in advance :)

mark

[phantomoftheopera]

If it sounds good it is good.

[canadian idiot 92]

dont get caught up in writing dark twisted imagery (unless thats truly who you are) write what comes from the heart and soul....

also, dont use words you dont know the meaning to...


I agree with this all the way and thanks for the reminder cause I keep forgetting that :thumb:

[canadian idiot 92]

i thnk it'll work i played it the other day and it sounded really good but i don't kno wat speed to play it in what speed is it?

[TheOpeningAct101]

how do the chellenges work??

[fretman454]

the best advice i can give is not worry about people thinking you lyrics suck. not everything you write will be good. just keep writeing and eventually youll come up with something good.
when i write its usually depressing because when im in a ****y mood writeing is my way to release. when im happy i dont want to release. i want to hold on to whatever is making me feel good

[mattbaldrick]

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH i just went and tried to relax and fiddle to just make riffs but it was either a. just plain crap b. stolen directly from another song if anyone would be nice enough just to post and step by step guide on how they write music and lyrics cos i just suck the big one when i try to write anything :upset:

[HitHardDrums55]

u gotta feel the music.. play with your heart not your brain

lyrics...start off with personal experiences then expand from that

[lord of darkness]

I can rip through writing my first verse and a chorus, but when it comes to writing a second verse I have trouble making it fit with the first one. Suggestions??

write one really big verse with something like 20 to 50 sentences then just seperate it in a few part, the best part becomes the chorus...end of the story, so your verse all in all should complete well...yet still be diferent, always look at your song as a whole, and not like a bunch of small pieces of verse and chorus and bla bla bla... this will also give you the chance to try new structure diferent from verse chorus verse chorus...

[lord of darkness]

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH i just went and tried to relax and fiddle to just make riffs but it was either a. just plain crap b. stolen directly from another song if anyone would be nice enough just to post and step by step guide on how they write music and lyrics cos i just suck the big one when i try to write anything :upset:

well giving you a step by step guide would be hard, but I can give you my way of composing

I generally do the music first, the lyrics after, but this is only a preference, I do this since music seem to express what I feel better than words, then the whole feel of the music inspires me the lyrics so I guess MY first step is writing music

I start with guitar generally, I gives the melody quite well, and in the type of music I listen to(metal) we generally hear the guitar pretty well so it should give a good idea of what the song will sound like

to find a riff I generally just mess around with notes until I find something catchy...I try to do a riff only with one note playing at a time, then I do a rytm with powerchords, little arpegios with chords, but when playing powerchords, to introduce a new feeling I often throw unharmonic notes, you know the inverted power chord thing or just go down a half step of the root something like that, I just mess around, and believe it, it finally sounds good after sometimes. when I've found an interesting rhytm I build the song around it, mess with the same key, notes, change the order, the rhytm and it becomes a totally new riff. don't worry about it being plain crap,

oh and another thing, there's nothing wrong with inspiring you from some other bands, but a good trick, listen to lots of bands, you will more than likely inspire you from them, but since there are many your brain will unconsciously mix all the pleasant sound it hears then you will find new riff inspired from the diferent band, yet they won't sound the same since they were inspired by MANY bands, not just one, for example one of my song was inspired by rob zombie, rammstein, slayer, arch enemy, at the gates, and testament, and these band all sounds different..and my song doesn't even look like any song of these bands.

then I had the other instrument, bass and drum...but for drum I let my drummer do the job, he,s talented enough, for the bass well if you play guitar you can easily compose bass, well depending on how much time you,ve being playing. but try not to always follow the guitar line it will be boring, but I can't go much in depth about bass either, I'm no bassist and it only makes 2 years that I compose songs, so I'm not a good bassist

up to the lyrics...choose a topic, ANYTHING don't care about the style of music you play, somepeople might say, hey your punk talk about chick, metal talk about death, emo talk about love...etc. forget that! do whatever feels right, the subject doesn't matter, the way you bring it does

you want to talk about love??but it's cliche...WHO CARES you can bring something new why not? bring your feelings, this word "feeling" is really important, well this is a list of word you should remmember when writing a song: feelings, ambiance, story, progression, evolution, I try to always remember that, also metaphors this is the most important thing, it will make your song great, or dull, cliche or new, example : crimson flow=blood=cliche(crimson is a color often used to describe blood
a sea of life running throught a deep hollow corridor=blood, =/ cliche, well at least I think, but this is just an example

write, often, every day every idea...get a note book you cary everywhere, write everyday, and don,t tell me it will be crap, in one year of writing everyday, you'll surely get something good! or at least an idea on what to work on,

read a lot, if your not inspired, poetry, books, other artists song, the songs on the forum here, and critik a lot of songs here, you'll make a lot of friends that will help you even more if you ask them, and by judging others work, you'll get to see what mistakes you shouldn't do, and only by reading and criting you'll get better without writing, then write also, get crit by your new friends and then from no on you'll get better that's for sure, I'm sorry I can't help more than that, but for topics idea, go wild! like someone said at the begining of this thread I guess, write about love/death/war and every popular subjects if you want, but give a try to subject that seems weird, unusual or even stupid, it can bring some originality, and anyway the way you bring the subject counts more then the subject itself, take for example I think A perfect sonnet posted a song not too long ago about a markmen shooting people because he was hired by a guy to kill is ex girlfriend...subject...weird...killing...cliche... yet i think it was great writing, cause this person really knows how to write, I think the best person that could help you would be a perfect sonnet, Iownu, sloth, zeppelinfan,subtledagger also I think and many more, these are all great writer ask them help, you,ll get alot of help from them, but only if you earn there respect by being a really good member of the community, participate a lot, crit a lot, then eveything will go well for you believe me. good luck!;)

-Jeep-

[lord of darkness]

Alright, i'm hoping i'll get a reply here to this post. I'm having trouble writing the actual music for my songs. I just can't find the right cords to use and power cords are getting pretty boring now. Does anyone have any suggestions on what other cords to use in rock? Also i can't seem to make my songs "dramiatic" enough. They just seem really "flat" i would say. It would be really helpful if I could get some help on that too, making a song more lively or dramatic.

get a program such as guitar pro, then go in chords, and learn many chords, powerchords don't give much feeling played alone, by that I mean if you only play for example f5, it won't sound, happy, nor depressing, they don,t give any feelings alone they give more feelings when put in a melody

to the oposite you have chords, chords , alone, will sound dramatic or lively by themselves, played alone this mean you'll get the feeling right away you won,t have to have a song completed to verify if it sounds, dramatic or not, learn chords, depending of how it is constructed the feeling will change, if I remember well I think diminished chords sound rather dramatic, major of course sound happy, minor dramatic...etc.. also learn intervals for powerchords, minor intervals sound dramatic, not major ones, mess with it, if you have guitar pro, try every single chord, you'll find one that suits you, or go on cyberfret.com and go in the scale finder chord finder program, try the chords out there, try dimished, augmented, etc. they all cray a diferent feeling, I can't help you much then that since i rather follow what sounds good rather than just follow theory, but this is for you, I can,t help you more then that, but I hope it will help you

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! Someone implant talent into me!

Shortened.

[mattbaldrick]

kl cheers for the advice lord of darkness ill try that but a perfect sonnet thats a bit unfir everyone has to start somewhere

[Riding The Short Bus]

Heres A tip that seems to work for me. The first thing is never force lyrics. If you get stuck, than set it down, and then hours days weeks or even months later pick it up again, and see if you are still stuck.

I also noticed that the most random things give me inspiration. Example I was checkin out a friends myspace and a blog title was "Blades dont need to be reloaded" and in like 10 - 15 min I had written a song bout suicide just off that. I'll put it up on the songwritter lyrics thing when my freakin 24 hours are up and I can post a new thread.

Also, like every one else on here has said a million, write what you feel.

Only write at certain times. Like for example, if right now I were to get a pen and paper and try to write a song chances are I wouldn't be very successful. But say later tonight or some random day at a radnom time, I am struck by inspiration, than sit down right there and write, and don't worry about making them flow, you can always do that later, but you won't always be able to the remember the same Idea later.


Well that is about all I got right now. Good Luck.

[Brewer14]

Bleh, its been a month and I still cant write anything. I just cant think of anything good to write about. Like, if someone were to just make a list of random topics, I guarentee I could come up with lyrics, but I cant think of a topic that sounds good on my own.

How annoying.

[HitHardDrums55]

write a song about alcoholism or drug abuse
or any family issues you have experienced either in the past or present
or anything thats kind of bothering you...
patience my friend, it will come...my first song was for a skate video and its a breeze after that (the song didnt make the video, or even get music added...dont let anything similar to this bring down your hopes, just keep writing)

[ReesesMelody]

firstly i'd like to say i havnt finished the story i am basing my song upon to know if it is going to work for me yet.
but a tip from a friend i'm in the process of trying
write a story before you write the lyrics, but write it with the song in mind.#

structure your story like you'd structure a song,

Example: say if you wanted to write a song about 2 people meeting, falling in love, then breaking up, write the 1st paragraph of the story about the meeting... dont worry about rhymes, length or syllables, just wrote a story
second paragraph about the love, 3rd about the breakup... then look through it and see how you can shorten it into song form and add rhymes to what youve written

hope that helps!
xxx

[ReesesMelody]

u gotta feel the music.. play with your heart not your brain

lyrics...start off with personal experiences then expand from that


i'd love to write songs based on my experiences... trouble is when i try, i just get depressed because i think back on it, and wind up needing counselling again
any ideas for how i can write personal songs without doing that?
:D

[HitHardDrums55]

hah, maybe songs about experiences you enjoyed? like im writing a song about how great my best friend is to me...it sounds like a love songs cause my best friend is a girl and im a guy but i know what its about and she knows im writing her a song and she knows shes my best friend so theres an example of something positive to write a song about...

or maybe write about something that bummed you out in the past but it doesnt bother you now (like losing a G.I. Joe toy when you were 5 years old...but i dunno that still kinda bums me out i have no clue where that thing is i've looked ALL OVER MY HOUSE!)

hope that helps

[ReesesMelody]

LoL thanks... i'll try that out

gotta be honest, ive never liked my own lyrics tho

anyhoo thanks again... good look finding G.I Joe! xx

[ReesesMelody]

* Luck even

[HitHardDrums55]

thanks man im gonna try to find it again...it was that super cool one with the all black stuff on! i cant afford a new one if they even sell him anymore, so i gotta find mine..

[ReesesMelody]

*buys HitHard a new G.I Joe*

hehe.... *thinks about something happy to write a song about....*
uuuuh, i cant remember any of the happys! gah!

[HitHardDrums55]

^someone who u pissed off just for fun...i know you've done it before, and i know it made u happy as hell knowing it got to them.

[ReesesMelody]

cant think of ne1 i pissed off for fun!

uuum, i suppose i cud write 1 for my favourite movie, altho that wud be a very depressing song

[mshort813]

oh gawd.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11

[ReesesMelody]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11
theres loads of different ways sonnet

[ReesesMelody]

oh gawd.
schbadios! dont want depressing want chirpy!

[lilwing89]

i need help

all the songs i write are sad and about depression and stuff.well this is cause its who i am. but i am happy cause i am in love now with an awesome girl.
and i want to write a song about her but i cant.
i try really hard but it all just seems like...ahh **** it. i just cant explain why i like her so much.
all the songs i try to write about love are just clauses of compliments and i want to do something different.
help??

[Bub]

a love song doesn't have to be all "she makes me feel great" "i like the fact that she exists" and "i guess i wouldn't cheer if a bus overturned on her...all things considered"

Try putting yourself and her in situations and talking about how you react to normal things when you're with her, (a line from a song I remember finding interesting was "She makes the road open like a stream of flowers")

Or you could compare her to things around you, you know your standard metapohr song (the apple of my eye, that sort of thing)

Or you coudl even sort of ignore the fact that she's a person,a nd talk about how this love effects you. Think of it as reverse personification. "Her arms around me help me sleep alone"...I've used that line before in a song I never finished so feel free to tweak it to your liking.

[HitHardDrums55]

sad songs are way easier to write than happy songs..thats why theres so many of those emo bands now.

[ReesesMelody]

sad songs are way easier to write than happy songs..thats why theres so many of those emo bands now.

^^^ thats so true, and yet i dont know why

[HitHardDrums55]

cause theres to bitch about in lyric form than celebrate about

[Metalhead1409]

I have no creativity whatsoever when it come to writing music. lyrics, I'm ok with and I think may get simpler one the music is writen. What do I do?

[ReesesMelody]

true true
hmmm i cant help you there metal head i cant do either mate

[ReesesMelody]

just found a song i wrote ages ago.
honesty please:
Waiting: V1: When I look in the mirror
and see what she sees
will it all become clearer
will she ever be free?
trapped in her mind thinking nobody cares
I dont stop searching but theres nobody there

B:I'm standing and i'm still waiting
For all the things she said to leave my head

C:Waiting in the rain
waiting in the dark
waiting in the cold
hiding in a hole
waiting for the sun
waiting for someone
to cure me of this pain so i wont feel the same

V2: When I look in the mirror
I see what she sees
Everything becomes clearer
I see that shes me
Trapped in her mind, a wandering ghost
Reduced to reflection so far yet so close

B2: Shes deaf and im still waiting
for one smile or one laugh to crack the glass but she's
(C)

Mid 8: Her one life taken back in place
Mirroring of a frightening face
Seems to manifest my fears
Keeps me running, hiding here
Memories remain in my room
Will she escape and take them soon
Take me back to how i was
Take me back outside because we're still

(C)
waiting in the rain
waiting in each other
each of us the pain
and healing of the other

So i will hold her hand
And walk along the sand
And let what she has be
And soon i know i'll see
That i'm looking in the mirror
Her pain in the glass
No longer searching
All hurt in the past

[HitHardDrums55]

i like it all except the chorus and the ending verse for some reason...i dont know what to suggest for u to do, but check my song at http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360699
read the one on post 25, not the first post i changed it so it's a lot better than the 1st post

ps: for future referance theyre kind of bitches about where you post stuff here, so post your lyrics in the Songwriting & Lyrics forum...plus it will get more crits there for sure than in here

[ReesesMelody]

i like it all except the chorus and the ending verse for some reason...i dont know what to suggest for u to do, but check my song at http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360699
read the one on post 25, not the first post i changed it so it's a lot better than the 1st post

ps: for future referance theyre kind of bitches about where you post stuff here, so post your lyrics in the Songwriting & Lyrics forum...plus it will get more crits there for sure than in here

cheers mate i'll remember that

yeah i cant say i was overly keen on those when i was done but i dont know how to change em

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11 i need soggestions?!?

[mshort813]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11 i need soggestions?!?
There are LOADS of ways, Sonnet. First just sit down with a pen, and write from personal expirences. Something good may come up eventually. Just remember...have fun! ChEeRS!

[charlikarma]

Masturbate at least 6 times a day, it can do wonders for you, also make sure that you use lubricant, or it may be a little irritating

haha...what about us girls?

faith

[charlikarma]

sad songs are way easier to write than happy songs..thats why theres so many of those emo bands now.


so very true...im in an emo band as well...thats why i need help writing some songs...i try to splice some of my poetry together but none of my poetry rhyms so i dont know what to do...help please...

faith

[charlikarma]

i need help

all the songs i write are sad and about depression and stuff.well this is cause its who i am. but i am happy cause i am in love now with an awesome girl.
and i want to write a song about her but i cant.
i try really hard but it all just seems like...ahh **** it. i just cant explain why i like her so much.
all the songs i try to write about love are just clauses of compliments and i want to do something different.
help??

thats so sweet...this is my best advice wich may suck but i want to help because you seem like a loving person...just think of how you feel when you kiss her...one of my lyrics- "oh the pain, the pain i feel when my words get caught in my throat...my love, my love sees what i say in my eyes...what am i waiting for this time...'i love you' seems so much easier in my dreams" ...write about that special kind of feeling you get when your cuddling or speaking to her or whatever...it flows easier if your quietly sitting n your room thinking of her...well this is my best chunk of advice...toodles

faith

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

so very true...im in an emo band as well...thats why i need help writing some songs...i try to splice some of my poetry together but none of my poetry rhyms so i dont know what to do...help please...

faith

It's actually why there are so many misinformed tools around.

[migle]

its ok if u only write a few sentances at first. more will come to you and wen it does be ready with a paper and pencil. a lot of great songs take time to finish.

[.-=ChaoS=-.]

haha...what about us girls?

faith

Actually, girls can masturbate too. I have some videos you should see.

[.-=ChaoS=-.]

yeah it usually takes me a while to come up with any lyrics that even sound remotely good. Hopefully that will get better with more practice. Oddly enough, I have written many instrumental parts, that comes naturally to me.

[BillieJoesIdiot]

I've just started coming to the songwriting and lyrics forums more often here recently. And I've noticed that just about all of the songs submitted are depressing, about bieng neglected and feeling sorry for yourself, wallowing in self pitty. A suggestion would be to try and write about something other then someone not bieng liked, or getting teased or made fun of. Its cliche', so maybe try and go beyound that.
I totally agree with you there. Everywhere I look I see people writing sappy songs about how there childhood was bad or about sad things and that doesn't make me like the music, I like loud music that is happy and makes you feel alive, not depressed. And why can't people just leave their ****y pasts behind. No one cares, they just want people to feel sorry for them. I'm not going to. I like songs by Green Day because they make you laugh sometimes, and they're loud and fun and alive. When I write songs, they're about how you need to live cuz you don't live forever and to be alive and how some people just don't get what life's really about.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11 i need soggestions?!?

[Electric Riley]

D000d, sonrightin iz so000 neeat!!!! how do i right s0ngsz!?!!?!?!11 i need soggestions?!?
You've come to the right place.

D000d

[BillieJoesIdiot]

i hav 3 tips 4 u.

1. sometimes ill just be on the computer or watching tv or doing something when all of a sudden i get this really great chorus in my head.heres what you do write down any chorus or verses you think down in a notebook or something.when you get time you can go back to as many as you can and try to think of a good chorus or verses for it.it works for me

2. sometimes i sit down and write a poem.then i read it over and see if it could make real good song lyrics.sometimes they do sometimes they dont.if they do put music to it and see what else works

3. the most important.save your old work.if you read it after you write and it sucks just hang on to it.you might find out you can make a better song of it
:thumb:
chelsea

[BillieJoesIdiot]

its ok if u only write a few sentances at first. more will come to you and wen it does be ready with a paper and pencil. a lot of great songs take time to finish.
Hi, migle. Are you new? :wave:

[BillieJoesIdiot]

OK, here's a song I wrote the other day. I need an honest opinion on it. If you think it sucks, cuss me out about it, I don't care. I mean, I'd rather use good songs than songs that suck. It's called Dream World.

If you wish on a star
Chances of your dreams coming true are large
Dream big until you have won
The dream come true that you've dreamed up

Keep on dreaming
Life's too short
And dreams are something you can't ingnore
Keep on dreaming
Your dreams might just come true
The dreaming world was meant for you

If your life sucks right now
You'll need to figure out
If you hang on to the positives too
Dreams do come true

Keep on dreaming
Life's too short
And dreams are something you can't ingnore
Keep on dreaming
Your dreams might just come true
The dreaming world was meant for you

I already know it sucks. Well, tell me what you think. Thanx!

Chelsea

[blink182guy125]

OK, here's a song I wrote the other day. I need an honest opinion on it. If you think it sucks, cuss me out about it, I don't care. I mean, I'd rather use good songs than songs that suck. It's called Dream World.

If you wish on a star
Chances of your dreams coming true are large
Dream big until you have won
The dream come true that you've dreamed up

Keep on dreaming
Life's too short
And dreams are something you can't ingnore
Keep on dreaming
Your dreams might just come true
The dreaming world was meant for you

If your life sucks right now
You'll need to figure out
If you hang on to the positives too
Dreams do come true

Keep on dreaming
Life's too short
And dreams are something you can't ingnore
Keep on dreaming
Your dreams might just come true
The dreaming world was meant for you

I already know it sucks. Well, tell me what you think. Thanx!

Chelsea



Im not gonna say it sucks but its too hippyish and u go on this forum too much

[blink182guy125]

ok this is a song i made. its not a depression song its about, look around man, be nicer. its called not something to laugh about

Verse 1:
Tell me now
Cant u see that im down
when i look around
and all i see is the ground

and all the evil people on earth
and i see their mouths burst
with barf
and i can see they dont enjoy what theyve done

Chorus:
and its not
its not
something to laugh about or make some ****ty joke about
because all these people are filled with regrets, loneliness,
and bbarely but some joy

verse 2:
cant u see
just by looking at me
that im thinking about
all the lonely people in their houses
and i see them shout out
for anyone on earth
to come and comfort them
but i think they know that noones going to come
and i see their eyes burst
with tears
and i can see they dont like this isolation

(chorus)

verse 3:


cant u tell
if u cant oh well
by looking at me
that i guess im happy
cause i see all the happy people on earth
and i see their faces burst
with joy
and i can tell theyre happy to be home
but other people on earth r sad, bad and lonely
so is it fair or not
is it just my judgement
will this mood last

(chorus again)

pre chorus:

and its not x8
something to laugh about
and its not x8
something to laugh about
and its not x8
something to laugh abouuuuuuuuuuttttttttttttttt

(chorus x3)

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

ok this is a song i made. its not a depression song its about, look around man, be nicer. its called not something to laugh about

Verse 1:
Tell me now
Cant u see that im down
when i look around
and all i see is the ground

and all the evil people on earth
and i see their mouths burst
with barf
and i can see they dont enjoy what theyve done

Chorus:
and its not
its not
something to laugh about or make some ****ty joke about
because all these people are filled with regrets, loneliness,
and bbarely but some joy

verse 2:
cant u see
just by looking at me
that im thinking about
all the lonely people in their houses
and i see them shout out
for anyone on earth
to come and comfort them
but i think they know that noones going to come
and i see their eyes burst
with tears
and i can see they dont like this isolation

(chorus)

verse 3:


cant u tell
if u cant oh well
by looking at me
that i guess im happy
cause i see all the happy people on earth
and i see their faces burst
with joy
and i can tell theyre happy to be home
but other people on earth r sad, bad and lonely
so is it fair or not
is it just my judgement
will this mood last

(chorus again)

pre chorus:

and its not x8
something to laugh about
and its not x8
something to laugh about
and its not x8
something to laugh abouuuuuuuuuuttttttttttttttt

(chorus x3)

You suck more than your idols.

[Electric Riley]

You suck more than your idols.
Harsh but true. But harsh.

[HitHardDrums55]

check my song on post 25, not 1...its the fully revised (as of now) version of the lyrics...no music has been written for it yet, but soon we'll start!http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360699

[blink182guy125]

You suck more than your idols.


**** u perferct sonnet. id like to see some of ure lyrics. and kurt cobain is my idol not blink 182 i made this name awhile ago. :angry: :angry: :angry: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[HitHardDrums55]

may of this year w/ only 15 posts isnt that old kid...and by the way doesnt it suck to have an idol who shot himself? dont get me wrong, i like blink and nirvana's alright, but i mean the guys got a point..you'll get over it one day ;)

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

**** u perferct sonnet. id like to see some of ure lyrics. and kurt cobain is my idol not blink 182 i made this name awhile ago. :angry: :angry: :angry: :evil: :evil: :evil:

You can see over 130 of my lyrics on this forum. Click my name, and then click "see threads started by this user". Now your idol sucks even worse.

[rockbrigade]

i think now i understand y poems sound good on here n songs get blasted...

weather we intend it or not, <b> people write with a subconcious melody in mind </b> ....so when they read back their own lyrics it sounds good cuz the melody is in their head.

when other people read it, they dont know wat the melody is cuz it aint in music form! therefore it appears to suck...

unless your ozzy on iron man and can only sing to the melody, then posting songs on here with out the rest of us knowing the melody is ridicoluos,

its stupid for both the people that have to slam them and those who get slammed....

[Nightvision]

sensible post. I'm keeping this just for the rarity value. :)

[fender_rocks]

ok let me give you a couple of really good tips. Before you even start writing about what you feel, expirienced, or whatever inspired you to write, There are two essential things in a song: 1. make sure your song has structure. by this i mean verse, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. and this is only one of the many structures. 2. you have to have ryhm in your songs, point blank. there is absolutley no doubt about that and whoever tells you that this is not true is full of it and has no clue about songwriting. try different types of ryhms such as AABB,ABAB,ABBC. if you know what i mean. so yeah thats a good tip i have for you if you need more let me know and ill help you. later

[Bub]

You do not have to have rhyme in your song.
I'm not even gonna give anymore than that - you don't.

[fender_rocks]

dude that song is sick. and i mean in a bad way.

[Bub]

Harsh but true. But harsh.

But true

[HitHardDrums55]

ok let me give you a couple of really good tips. Before you even start writing about what you feel, expirienced, or whatever inspired you to write, There are two essential things in a song: 1. make sure your song has structure. by this i mean verse, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. and this is only one of the many structures. 2. you have to have ryhm in your songs, point blank. there is absolutley no doubt about that and whoever tells you that this is not true is full of it and has no clue about songwriting. try different types of ryhms such as AABB,ABAB,ABBC. if you know what i mean. so yeah thats a good tip i have for you if you need more let me know and ill help you. later

what if you have a 2 line section in the song and the last word in a line happens to be orange? then you cant rhyme it dood...just an example of why you dont always have to rhyme, as long as it can flow well with the music you have for it, it does not have to rhyme at all...last song i finished the only rhyme in the song isnt noticeable and was completely coincidence...check it out here (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360699) and tell me its not a song just because it has no rhymes (post 25, not 1 by the way)

also, in case you never took literature classes songwriting is poetry, poetry can rhyme, but it doesnt have to. if you write a poem with flow, but no rhymes, it's called Free Verse!

and yeah i cant think of any song names at the moment, but i know in my cd collection (i know, im old school and dont use mp3 players...) i have quite a few songs with no rhyming...

[rockbrigade]

the rhyming thing, i agree but also dont agree:

doesnt always have to be like 'she left the nest, its bearin down hard on my chest' (lol)

But it can sound much les blatant if u simply keep the words like similar sounding like by using similar meter and and use words with similar vowel sounds....

i can rhyme the begining of words too like

like a poet needs the pain
roses need the rain

bon jovi song lol

[Electric Riley]

But true
Yeah, but less true, seeing as we now know his idol is Kurt Cobaine.

Hang on, what are we talking about?

[Bub]

Depends who you consider more sucky - Kurt Cobain or Blink182.
For me? Kurt.

More true :P

[andysmit]

usually rhyming is a good thing, but you could use synonyms.......
one way u could write is make a riff, play it over and over, humm the vocals, start singing wat ever comes to ur head, and right it down if it sounds good

or u could get high

[HitHardDrums55]

scientifically proven fact: to be a good musician in the rock genre, you have to be a drug addict

or play grindcore...hate the style, but if ur a sellout just playing for money not necessarily what you listen to or like, play grindcore the fans of the style will think you're amazing as long as you can play 350bpm 16th/32nd notes and growl/scream

[andysmit]

really, i do not like that type of music, except System of a Down

heres a song i just wrote using my first idea, i dont hav any weed to smoke, and it doesnt have a name

"You, you look beautiful today,
The sun is shining through your face,
Everything is going better with you,
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, <there is a tune is this
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. < " " " " " "
:repeat:

Pre Chorus:
Everything is going the way it was planned,
It is all according to the picture.
:repeat:

Chorus:
Oh, you are radiant,
You put a smile on my face,
You take away all the frowns and light the dark corners,
... with your brilliance.
:repeat:

You, you are wonderful tonight,
You, your face is better than a sunny day,
And everything is going great,
Ooooooooooooooooh, <these 2 also have a tune
Ooooooooooooooooh,
:repeat:"

ya, im kinda weird, but atleast it isnt depressing

[Jetpelkey54]

i havent read this whole thing so im not sure if anyone else asked but on writing lyrics might it be a good start to just make your own lyrics to a existing song. for example i had been for a while about making a remake of Walk by Pantera with the lyrics all about getting pissed when ppeople dont let you save when your playing, they make you turn it off right then and dont let you save what yould been doing for the last 2 hours

[HitHardDrums55]

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat the fudgemonkey!? how old are you kid?

[natolio]

How can you write a happy song? About what?
A nice house with a nice var and some nice kids?
but i'm only 16... All i have in my life is just sadness and dispair...

I find that the easiest way to write a happy song is to think of something happy whether you have experienced it or not, love etc and this is coming from a 17 year old so i know what your talking about.

[andysmit]

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat the fudgemonkey!? how old are you kid?
who me
14, y

[Bub]

I think he meant Jet fella...
The guy who wrote lyrics about people kicking you off the playstation after at least 2 hours (which is god**** sensible)...to a pantera song. the two things don't go together

[HitHardDrums55]

bub your right about who im talkin bout, but who would write a song about getting pissed about getting kicked off playstation without saving it after 2 hours of play thats above the 5th grade writing level? i mean i guess its kind of original, but sounds too much like a joke song...which isnt good

[Bub]

I was dwelling more on the fact that its a pantera song! Haha other side of the spectrum! A 10 year old listening to Pantera, RECOGNISING the current lyrics, and changing them to those....a wee willie silly

[andysmit]

hahahahahahahahahaha, thats, thats just not normal, first time i read that post i didnt get wat he was talking about, wow *speechless*

[HitHardDrums55]

well you guys i guess im gonna go play me some mario on classic nintendo and write a song bout how i get pissed when bowser keeps beating me....goddammit...and to make it cool im gonna write it to some pantera or hatebreed or something!

[Tirion_liquid]

I think its more than just thinking, more than to write everything out of your head to fullfill this stupid empty paper on which you`re looking down the whole time without any ideas.To write an good Songtext you need first to find your own style this could be a long way sometimes and the second point is in my point of view the importanst.You must write it it down with your emotions and fill this empty paper laying in front of you with them.Thats my way to write good Songtextes or maybe i like them about a half year later when i pull the text out of a corner of my Room or don`t like him at all and burn it.Thats it my Story `bout Songtextes.Good night

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I think its more than just thinking, more than to write everything out of your head to fullfill this stupid empty paper on which you`re looking down the whole time without any ideas.To write an good Songtext you need first to find your own style this could be a long way sometimes and the second point is in my point of view the importanst.You must write it it down with your emotions and fill this empty paper laying in front of you with them.Thats my way to write good Songtextes or maybe i like them about a half year later when i pull the text out of a corner of my Room or don`t like him at all and burn it.Thats it my Story `bout Songtextes.Good night

You sure told all of us, mastah!

[_Odin_]

I find the easiest way to write a song from scratch is this;
1: Grab a dictionary and flick to a random page, take the first word that grabs your attention and write it down.
2: Write down everything that comes to mind about that word, so for example if you picked war you might write down; pain, death, loss etc... keep writing down words until you can't think of anymore.
3: Take all that you've written down and try and plan a song about that word using the words and ideas that came up in the last step.
4: Try and write down a general plan for the song before hand so you don't get lost or repeat yourself etc...
I know this won't work for everyone and if you already have an idea about something you want to write there's a much different way of writing needed but this is good for getting into the flow, and surprisingly you can still write some great songs this way.

[andysmit]

ya, but then you would hav to right music to it, i think it is easier to write the music then the lyrics, and u would also be writing about som random stuff sometimes, but i guess it is still a good idea


writing songs about getting kicked of the playstation, lmao...........

[VUbaru]

I wanted to post this in the main part of the forum but I was worried about getting banned, so here goes...

Why do people bother rating a song from 1-10?

I couldn't possibly think of a more useless "crit" than a comment saying, "Good job 8/10." How does that help anyone become a better writer? How does that tell the writer what in his song could use revision or improvement? Ratings of that sort are simply an excuse for lazy critiquing and bumping up post counts.

When did songwriting become a competition?

[HitHardDrums55]

the high percentages are for encouragement to write more, low ones are more like "just throw this piece out" it doesnt really help to improve the writing, but it gives an idea of what a crowd reaction might be if performed live.

songwriting is not a competition at all, except some of the people on this forum think it is for some reason, and try to make it a competition which doesnt work too well. its all about musical tastes and what comes from the heart, not "can i write better than this guy/girl?" ya know?

i just made all that up on the spot, never really thought about it, but good question...hope that helped some?

[VUbaru]

the high percentages are for encouragement to write more, low ones are more like "just throw this piece out" it doesnt really help to improve the writing, but it gives an idea of what a crowd reaction might be if performed live.

songwriting is not a competition at all, except some of the people on this forum think it is for some reason, and try to make it a competition which doesnt work too well. its all about musical tastes and what comes from the heart, not "can i write better than this guy/girl?" ya know?

i just made all that up on the spot, never really thought about it, but good question...hope that helped some?

We have no idea how any of these songs are going to sound live. Half the time during live shows I can't even pick out the lyrics, let alone understand and criticize them.

My point was that writing is a continuous process that you engage in for your own benefit. Not other people. You're not competing against other people, just what you wrote before. As such, giving someone a rating out of 10 does not help anyone improve their writing as much as a thorough, well-written, thoughtful reply.

Just something that has been bothering me. Thanks for responding.

EDIT: I also thought I should add that this is by no means taking a shot at people who have given me ratings out of 10 in the past. No offense intended. I just think that a rating alone along with one sentence or two doesn't really cut it for a crit. If you put a paragraph or two then a rating, I think that's just fine. Just give me something I can use.

[HitHardDrums55]

good point...yeah i was just kinda makin up stuff as i went along...it sort of makes sense if u listen for the lyrics though ya know?

[Nightvision]

By posting them here for critique, you are asking the critiquer their opinion on your song... which they deliver.

How they deliver that opinion is down to them. In a way you're right... the losers that just post "good job 8/10 :thumb:" don't help anyone, and I refuse to critique those sort of guys back out of principle. However, a rating out of 10 (or a percentage out of 100 as I've taken to doing recently) at the end of a well-thought out, constructive critique will really add to things in a way that words might struggle to do. Plus, it's nice to get a quick-fire idea of what someone thinks of the song - ratings allow for that.

[VUbaru]

By posting them here for critique, you are asking the critiquer their opinion on your song... which they deliver.

How they deliver that opinion is down to them. In a way you're right... the losers that just post "good job 8/10 :thumb:" don't help anyone, and I refuse to critique those sort of guys back out of principle. However, a rating out of 10 (or a percentage out of 100 as I've taken to doing recently) at the end of a well-thought out, constructive critique will really add to things in a way that words might struggle to do. Plus, it's nice to get a quick-fire idea of what someone thinks of the song - ratings allow for that.

As I said before, ratings are OK in my opinion if they follow a good crit. You and I are in agreement on this issue.

I still don't believe in "rating" someone else's work. I'm not a teacher. I don't want to grade people. I just want to make them better at writing and get better too! :)

[joshpants]

someone may have already asked this but i'm kinda too lazy to read all of that, but i've tried everything with writing lyrics. i can write the music just fine but my lyrics either don't fit the song or i'm not confident enough to put them with a song. so i guess my question is what is the process you use to writing a song...lyrics first then melody or melody first then lyrics?

[HitHardDrums55]

whatever your style is...if ur better at writing lyrics to music, do that if ur better the other way around do that...there's no set rules to writing songs, sometimes if u alter the norm a lot you can make it amazing

[lord of darkness]

well just do whatever you want, but I don't know why but when I started playing guitar I always wrote the music first and the lyrics after, but after one year of songwriting it changed by surprise when I started to have more inspiration for lyrics then for music. what I recommend you is to mess with it no mather how it sounds first, when I started writing I was a poor lyricist, now I'm better, not that good but better:p

unfortunatly I can't help much, but here's how I improved, and keep improving:

don't care about what to write first, do what sounds good by instinct,
if you believe your problem is you can't put lyrics to music, it might be because of the structure, so work on your lyrics using the same amount of syllable for each verse, it's not quite original but it,s good to start.

you can also have problems to put lyrics to music because you can't sing while playing a riff, I'd suggest to practice singing at the same time by playing easy songs, like rammstein songs, blink 182(I'm a metal fan I hate them never played them, don,t force you to play there song, but it's freaking easy to sing over which is good to start)

if you just suck at writing lyrics, read, anything, well anything well written, example a book, songs of bands you like, you can find them on internet, read stuff here, so you'll get to see how writers bring their lyrics,

finaly if you s uck at writing music, well do the same as above, but with music, learn songs, but also theory behind them, but I'm really sorry I can't help you more unless you give me more detail about your problem

[HitHardDrums55]

for music writing: learn the basic theory, how to read music for your instrument, different time signatures, chords, anything...nothing too hard with practice...im a drummer, and once i learned how to read i can write anything and play anything i see written down, which is a great feeling and amazing to be able to do

for lyric writing: i have no idea, read a lot of professional bands songs (i read a lot of alkaline trio, misfits, danzig, and the cure stuff) post your lyrics on this website and get peoples advice on where to improve...its all about feeling what you write

[joshpants]

thanks everyone, i'll try all of it.

[MikeyB11]

Im really really really really new to songwriting. Im a guitarist and im trying to expand my abilities. Any tips on writing songs, im very bad at it right now and am really trying to grow as a decent songwriter for now. My problem tends to be i want to keep the lyrics too literal and try to make a linear story and its frustrating. Also i use and ALOT, and i always end up talkin about politics somehow. any ideas to breaking bad habits.

[choir in the amp!]

Hey everyone. All my lyrics seem to end up being on a 'sick' topic like animal sex or sumthin! These are the subjects , tha while I can't actually relate to, I am most interested in. Will my lyrics be taken seriously? or will i offend? I find it hard to write 'cleaner' lyrics but not sound corny. HELP! please...

[HitHardDrums55]

i think it's time you see a therapist if you are interested in animal sex. and i highly doubt your lyrics would be taken seriously, they may be offensive to a prude, but it would seem like your just a joke band with lyrics about topics like that...

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I think that was the dumbest post I've ever read.

[andysmit]

wow, you are weird, how could u even begin to write a song about something like that.....
wow.......

[Riding The Short Bus]

One thing I have noticed on these forums is that alot of people don't know what is a good song and what is a bad song. Now I know this is a lyric forum and people are only looking at the lyrics, but I always hear people say the same things, about how the ryhming pettern is too bovious or they need to use mor emedaphors. The truth is alot of profesionals do songs that have obvious rhyming patterns and no metaphores, and people go crazy for em. If you put feeling into it and don't force it, it can be a good song. Don't try to put complicated on it unless it sounds good. Music that grooves sounds good, not the stuff you play to try and impress your friends. So my tip is, don't take what people say on here as fact, use what you can from peoples crits, but still keep the song the way you want it. Just because it is simple doesn't mean it can;t be the best **** thing ever written.

[Sprunkey]

yeh theres a lot of angst in lyrics these days we need to find a new alternative way of writing lyrics i want to write a song in a different form other then A,B,A,B,C,B or... well you know the rest

[HitHardDrums55]

ABCDEFG(however many lines you have) not everything has to rhyme...ABCBDEFAG somethin like that...u have to really know how to do it though my last song didnt have any rhymes except the first chorus if u said the words they kind of rhyme but its complete coincidence no other rhymes in the whole song, and i think with the right music it could make a great song...i need to work something out for our singer how to sing it to work on music for

[emo=elmow/otheL]

Im really really really really new to songwriting. Im a guitarist and im trying to expand my abilities. Any tips on writing songs, im very bad at it right now and am really trying to grow as a decent songwriter for now. My problem tends to be i want to keep the lyrics too literal and try to make a linear story and its frustrating. Also i use and ALOT, and i always end up talkin about politics somehow. any ideas to breaking bad habits.

Just write about other experiences in your life. And dont write constantly. If you do that youll run out of musical material(riffs and stuff) and use it all on one subject which is bad.

[MikeyB11]

Hey thanks, emo=elmow/otheL i definitely understand what you're saying. Your advice is much appreciated.

[insaneflyingmonkey]

Don't be afraid to write utter, utter *****. Write pages and pages of crap then pick out your best few lines, what my English teacher used to call "panning for gold."

Keep a notebook in your pocket at ALL times. You never know when inspiration may strike.

Don't write lyrics because its what you think people wanna hear. Who cares about other people? Write your heart out, and bleed onto the page.


*All that has surely been said already, I hope.

[andysmit]

i wrote a song and i rhymed like twice, i didnt have a rhyme scheme, and it was still pretty good, rhyming doesnt really matter in a song that much, sometimes it helps with the flow but it doesnt matter too much IMO

[CognitiveVertigo]

Here's a few writing tips I can contribute..

1. Don't explain your lyrics for people. One of the most amazing things about songwriting is the way other people interpret both the lyrics and the music, and the way they relate it to their own lives. If a meaning or commentary is completely necessary then keep it brief and general. I think it takes away from the hearing or reading of song lyrics if someone's already set out the meaning for you.

2. Try to stay away from cliche's, sentimentality and melodrama. Tugging on heart strings is always effective, everyone has down times, but it gets overused and boring. It's okay to write about a bad time, but put it in your own creative language, or disguise it up in metaphor. I don't know how many songs I've heard about someone wanting to commit suicide or how it's "better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." Of course cliche's in songwriting are more acceptable than in writing poetry, but you'll be able to express yourself a lot better if you avoid them in general.

3. Don't be overlly wordy, songs are supposed to flow and adding to many words or creating too long of lines can take away from the rhythm of the piece. Be careful in selecting the right words and the right length of lines according to the music. If you havent created the music yet, then there's always time to edit later. Just make sure you're not cramming words in. Don't binge on the adjectives or adverbs, they're not necessary for every noun or verb.

4. Be creative in form. Not all songs need a specific ammount of verses or lines. Bob Dylan barely uses choruses in his songs and he's one of the greatest songwriters ever. Remember that it's okay to break away from traditional songwriting and experiment with form.

5. There's no need to rhyme all the time. Rhyming has it's rhythmic and lyrical benefits, although it sometimes distracts your audience. It keeps them guessing for the next word that will rhyme and will at times distract away from the full meaning of the song or poem. Rhyming can be good for a piece coming together, but don't use rhymes as a backbone for your pieces. Some people just throw words that don't necessarily fit into the image complex of their song just to fit the rhyme scheme. It makes it contrived and a bit dull.

6. Stay away from archaic and dense language. There's no need to use a thesaurus for every line of your song. You don't need to muck up your lyrics with long intellectual verses, writing is not just about the mind, but the heart. Longer words also cloud the meaning, so only use them if completely necessary.

7. Keep a consistent image complex. Make sure that all your images coexist with one another. What I usually do is think of the topic I'm going to write about, then think about how it makes me feel...I then think of an image complex to use for metaphorical purposes.
-"Imagery is best defined as the total sensory suggestion of poetry" (John Ciardi, World Book Dictionary )

So basically imagery is anything one perceives with his/her senses. (sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing). Basically what I'm saying is, emotional feelings themselves are often too concrete to use in poetry. I find it best to use images to explain a feeling and to express a balance of both concretion and abstraction. (Also, use images that fit and aren't TOO generalized, this can cause debate in the meaning of your piece.)

For example:'Take an object and add something that makes it "intellectual," or "emotional" something that shows that it is being observed by a thinking person. Do not just describe the thing; that is not image. Think of it as augmenting the object with your thoughts and feelings.'
Do not just state your feeling.

8. Get someone else to proofread for grammatical errors: syntax, punctuation, run-ons, fragments, poor use of adjectives or adverbs, spelling, etc..

9. Critique other people's poetry/lyrics. This will help you become a better writer, and help you express your thoughts and feelings much more effectively. Remember to be constructively critical. Every poem or lyric is always a work in progress, and can always be edited in even a small way. So offer any advice for the writer that you see fit. And point out if the piece possesses any of these things: melodrama, cliches, grammatical errors, wordiness, disorganized image complex, sentimentality. Or if the piece in general is too abstract, or too concrete. "That was good" or "it sucks" doesnt help anyone become a better writer or critiquer. Point out also what was good about it!

10. Some other general writing tips:
- Ask yourself a few questions about it: who will be reading/hearing this? Is it appropriate? What feeling/meaning am I trying to get accross? What is the general tone of my piece? What can I change/add/remove? What is it's importance to me? Why did I write this? What does it MEAN? etc.
-Keep your audience in mind.
-Be creative. Don't force yourself to write, it's meant to be an enjoyable process. Use both the imagination and the intellect, keep them centered.
-Be original, everyone has their own style, so if you keep at it yours will be apparent as well.
-Study other poets and songwriters.

Hopefully this helps, if not, oh well. Take care and keep writing!!!

[That Guy!]

Hi! I'm a Bass player/possible vocals as well! I havnt wrote any songs yet (well... i have but they suck!)
I have a bit of trouble writing songs! My problem is that if i write a song about someone i like i end up making it too obvious who they are! Because of that im trying to write funny lyrics but not parodys! could somebody please give me some sort of guideline to writing a song please?
Thankyou! :-)

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Don't write joke songs, they are never funny.

[HitHardDrums55]

Don't write joke songs, they are never funny.

agreed. Stephen Lynch is the only person who can write a funny song....and to the guy asking about how to write a song...just keep writing, read other peoples works, post some of your stuff on here, let people critique your stuff...i find thats the only real way to learn how to write better, you cant really be taught how to write especially in a forum..maybe language arts in school during poetry (thats what got me started on lyrics) but thats it...pay attention in your language arts class and just keep at it...

[cheshiremaiden]

hey there, I was wanting a little help with a piece I am writing for vocals with piano accompaniment. It is written in a minor sense, but I was wondering if I should slip into a more major feeling before it ends. I would appreciate any help, thank you!

[lord of darkness]

mmm...well this is pretty up to you we can't tell you what to write for your song you know if you feel like putting a major sounding part before the end it's up to you, "I" do like to change the feeling of a song by changing it from major to minor and etc but sometimes its harder depending on the song you have to get a good transition but I can't tell you if you should do it since I don,t know how your first part sounds and this is only up to your preferences, you won,t get much help for this

[jonnyward]

Where would u use metaphors in songs?

[Im going to Disney World!]

I know this is more of a songwriting forum but are there any tips on singing you guys have for a person trying to get into it (singing) ?

[fender16strat]

I think im doing decent on writing my songs (for a beginer) i just have such a hard time coming up with subjects to write about. I know the best songs written are the ones that hit u out of nowhere but can someone give me tips how to just come up with a good subject to write on?

[jonnyward]

I think im doing decent on writing my songs (for a beginer) i just have such a hard time coming up with subjects to write about. I know the best songs written are the ones that hit u out of nowhere but can someone give me tips how to just come up with a good subject to write on?
Something you think about alot i.e. girls. or something that bothers you like the recent london bombings for example. i too share the same songwriting frustrations as you and am working on a song right now which is in a slow progress, but the chorus lyrics just came to me out of nowhere when i was in the car which can happen. once you get one song down it becomes easier. often some people write about made up characters and do a little story, sounds crap but it works, especially when it's based on someone you know cos then it can be about anything in their life.

Hope i helped! :thumb:

[jonnyward]

I know this is more of a songwriting forum but are there any tips on singing you guys have for a person trying to get into it (singing) ?
Don't strain when you sing to get a certain sound. let it come naturally. even if it sucks, in time it will improve as you gain confidence. this sounds obvious, but you would be surprised a how many people mess up by trying to sound like someone else, its ok if your trying to sound like someone if its in a cover song, but really keep it to your own standards, i means no-one looks good pooping out a vein in their neck the size of their arm whilst straining. listen to bob dylan, he can't sing that great(in my opinion) but his voice is perfect for his songs and his songs are great, so that's why he's so famous. hope that answered ur question. :)

[Demon Drummer]

For some reason whenever I get any lyrics in my head, my head seems to automatically put it to songs i've heard before. Is there anyway to stop that?

[HitHardDrums55]

energy drinks maybe...expands MY creativity (im addicted to em though)

[Demon Drummer]

Also, should I have a tune or something in my head when I write a song?

[AARGitrStar]

Hey guys, i dont have problems writing lyrics or the riffs (usually) my problem is, writing Riffs to go WITH the lyrics, i'll have awesome riffs, and awesome lyrics but together its like a train wreck. any suggestions on what to do?