Tips And Questions

[AARGitrStar]

i'm asking to many questions O.o oh well.... all of my songs end up being really soft and slow, like somethin you would hear at a formal O_O i listen to things like The Killers and Modest Mouse. i want my music to be kinda like that, a lil up beat and kinda out there (watch the Mr. Brightside video and you will know what i mean) i also listen to All American Rejects (hence my name) and i'm obsessed with Dirty Little Secret. but no matter how many times i listen to these kinds of songs i cant write like it at all, my song might start good but then it dies. and its no good :-\ i need help

[CrossPen]

Carry a pen and paper, or a tape recorder around with you, this way you can think of cool quotes, or neat-o rhymes.

[CrossPen]

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


No. In fact, songs are sometimes better without a tune. If you write lyrics, and leave them alone, they seem to be like wine, they get better with time, which can be a benefit for established bands. So, just write poems, add music later. :)

[CrossPen]

i'm asking to many questions O.o oh well.... all of my songs end up being really soft and slow, like somethin you would hear at a formal O_O i listen to things like The Killers and Modest Mouse. i want my music to be kinda like that, a lil up beat and kinda out there (watch the Mr. Brightside video and you will know what i mean) i also listen to All American Rejects (hence my name) and i'm obsessed with Dirty Little Secret. but no matter how many times i listen to these kinds of songs i cant write like it at all, my song might start good but then it dies. and its no good :-\ i need help


Don't try to be as good as them. They're professionals. Just write random songs. As Tom DeLonge of Blink182 said: "Try to take something creative, add some wittiness to it, then make it so that people can understand it." So just write things that seems pizzimp (Yes, Pizzimp, as in "gangsta" pimp) to you. Take inspirations from that song. Not the idea. Let yourself drift from that song to different things, then write.

[CrossPen]

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

Read above. Sometimes tunes help, but your own tunes.. But yeah...

[Viscous Fridge Magnet]

Hey guys, my band have recently started trying to write our own songs. We have got riffs and all that sorted. i just wanna know, how do you decide what your song will be about or what phrases you'll use?

Cheers :chug:

[AARGitrStar]

if you kinda skim through this thread it pretty much explains, just write from your heart, whatever inspires you. don't sit there deciding what its gonna be about. just write everything then pick the good stuff and tweak it a bit so it fits good with the other stuff. if you have the riffs, kinda use ur imagination, find anything it reminds you of. me and my band have found that a good place to start. if you have the lyrics but not the riffs then imagine what kind of music you would hear with the lyrics. i've found that if you're stuck, just play different stuff and find something you like. even if it doesnt fit the song write it down so you have it in case it works with a later song.

[Viscous Fridge Magnet]

Thanks man, i did read some bits of the thread but nothing pertained to my predicament that i could see. Anyway, thanks very much for the advice!

[King graham4]

im a good guitar player wanna make a song but im terrable at song writing. im going at rock or metal like nirvana or metallica but cant think fo anything to go with my random riffs :upset: need help badly

and i dont care for things like poems they sound terrible witht he music i play

[lord of darkness]

hmm well, I think your question has already been answered in the past, by many members and by me, but I will copy something I've already written or do a new thread, yeah just go and look the thread called ???how to write songs???

[lord of darkness]

well subtle believe it's better to post it here so I will give me a few minutes

[lord of darkness]

first this will be divided in different section:

1 subject: how to find one?
2 the way to bring your subject
3 what your writing needs to be good
4 the device you have to/should use to be good


1 How to find a subject?

to find a subject is, in fact, the easiest and hardest thing at the same time, I've always believe the subject didn't matter, what matters the most is how you bring it in YOUR own way. always be yourself in your writting and don,t just try to impress people or to follow a trend, some people might just write emo lyrics, this is not bad in itself except for the fact that they might limit themselves to a certain emotion, but if they feel like writting only emo, it's up to them. I can't tell anyone here which subject they should choose, that's your choice but here's my tricks on how to find one

Listen to the news for those who likes to talk about pollitics and such, but also read the newspaper and find other sources of medias

those who like philosophical topics, I'd suggest things such has taking a walk alone, in a park, in the cities street, go into an old people residence to visit your grand parents(sorry for my bad english I don't remember how to call that place) the last one seems weird, but if you talk about your grand parents live I'm sure they will be happy to see you show them interest, and you might as well learn things that could be put into some lyrics, so you,d do a good thing and you,d get a subject I know it's weird but it might work. also maybe if you have your driving license and a car, take a long ride to think about a few things, it might inspire you as well

you want to talk about love? why don't you talk about YOUR experiences, but watch out, this topic can easily make a cliché song, take care, that's why you'll have to follow some tips I'll write on another section

Of course you can always talk about a relation with anyone, the possibility of subject is limitless, these were just a few tips but you might discover yours as well, and if you do so I strongly encourage you to post them here


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2 How to bring your subject


Well, this is what I believe the most important part of songwriting
metaphors will most than likely rhyme with how to bring your subject, the metaphors you'll use are important, for example, My style of writing is that I often compare my subject to something in hell, example depression goes with falling in the abyss, when I feel like everything goes wrong in my life I might as well just call this hell well this is just an example because what I've just stated might be cliché, in fact I must admit I myself have a hard time to avoid these.

But you know, sometimes in a song the song itself can have more then one meaning, that's something good, I think I'll try to show an example:

"I’m the truth that brings you back to earth in a cold manner
To remind you every good thing has an end
I am the voice of reason, the voice of caution, The one that keeps you safe
And safety is free for everyone here"


in that song the "truth" represent a guy that is really too serious in life, meaning he has lost his dreams, his hopes, while her girlfriend is so lively so happy, always smiling, the guy feels guilty for being someone who don't have enough feelings for his girlfriend

the other meaning is that death is unpredictable, and that when your not careful enough a simple accident may cause death, but it also means that death even thought it looks sad in itself, makes the life more enjoyable because it's true value lies in the fact that you can lose it

letting such imageries draws so much pictures is a great way to bring your subject, with metaphors that have multiple meanings, that,s all for the moment, I might edit this part when I'll have more concrete tips

[lord of darkness]

3 what your writing NEEDS to be good

alot of people might say metaphors in the first place, but this is a device, not a NEED some needs are:

emotion: you have to make us feel what you feel, in some way, or at least to make us feel something

thoughts: a bit like emotion, the thought is what the song means in fact...if it means nothing, well, it's nothing. you know it could be for example a philosophical way to see life. Your "thought" can be something else, like the "point" you want to reach, in fact, this is what you want to tell to the person that are reading/listening to your stuff. it can also be a funny song, were your point is just to make someone laugh to make them "happy" in some way, but I try to always stay serious, but sometimes, you feel like writing something to bring you up instead of down, so do it, that's good too

evolution: you don't want a song to say to same thing in each lines do you? make an evolution, a progression, the feelings conveyed at the beggining might change in the end, for example ,My friend p-o alias "the slave" on the forum, is starting to write a song called "the love song" and he tries to convey all the feelings you go through in a relation: love, sadness, happiness, depression, all in one song, I think it,s something like at the beggining, a couple is in love, then they seperate each others, the guy falls into depression, then into anger, then at the end he goes throught the acceptation phase, then everything starts over, showing life is a circle and love never ends

[lord of darkness]

4 the writing device!!!!

first: imageries

Imageries are an abstract way to bring something concrete, it's a comparison, there are two types of imagery: metaphors and similes

metaphors are comparing two unlike things by saying there the same,
for example: the man IS an horse, he needs to run freely in the beautiful and peaceful nature

similes are comparing two unlike things by saying they are LIKE each other
for example: the man is LIKE an horse, he needs to run freely in the beautiful and peaceful nature

also while I'm at it, notice here that these imageries could be related to sex, a man likes to have multiple loves, to be" free" in his relation, you can get something out of this simple sentence I'm sure, that's why metaphors and similes are great


second: rhymes

rhymes are not that important, but they can polish your writing if used properly, I can,t give much help on it since I don't use them alot, because I generally favor more meaning then rhymes, you should too! but if you can also bring rhymes in your writing, while keeping consistent enought, then it's even better. my only avice here is that you should avoid to make a word rhyme with itself, dont make rhymes you with you also avoid rhymes such as you, to, too, true, etc. use something less childish if we could say, generally, if you have common sence(which I'm sure everyone here has ), you're able to see which rhyme are too simplistic, dull, or just obvious and stupid

third: flow

I think flow is the most important device next to imageries. if you say great lines , but they just don't follow well , don't sounds well or whatever...then It's not really good, also by talking about flow, althought it doesn't go much in it, never forget that your song has to follow some rhytm, some storyline, a song is an evolution keep that In mind. flow will help the reader to get more in the writing, because of the flow, everything will just..well, flow... you know it's like if you try to pronounce a weird word that you don,t know, you'll be stuck on it, then you won,t care anymore about the song, so you have to make it flow, I'm sorryI'm not good at explaining flow lol if someone has something to had, lets go!

last thing: structure

structure is important, but YOU are the only one who knows if you have already put music to your song, so tell it to people right away so they won,t have to get a simple reply such has: "nah the structure is ok it works on the music I've tried it" when the people who have critiked your song have taken the time to judge your structure. the structure will make it easier to read, to follow and to put music on your song. for example i generally use verses and choruses of 4 lines, it also happens that I use 8 lines for longer songs, and 2 for shorter ones, that,s up to you, but keep it regular it will prevent the pain you could have to put music to a song that has a structure such as verse 1: 7 lines, verse 2: 3 line, chorus: 4 lines, verse 3 : 9 lines, bridge: 11 lines you got it I guess:P

[lord of darkness]

alright, I'm still asking why I'm giving tips on these boards since I'm the only writer for now:p maybe because I believe it will convince more people to write... or maybe because I have nothing else to do...ah ah...well...

how to develop your own style

on the tips section I talked about the device used in songwriting, well your own style will more then likely be developed out of some lyrical devices.

first of I will give a few examples of own styles people have developed

first-me:

I tend to use a lot of sarcasm/irony in my songs in general by always exagerating some situations...but then we realise that even the exageration happens often

I can't give much example since I used this mainly in french songs I wrote, the song in english would be called "sexual slaves" the song itself tells the fact that guys(us) tend to take a girl only to fu ck her, but the girls are not better because they accept to get fu cked by assholes. the situation really looks crazy, since it's stupid so why would anyone accept such a situation, but still in a lot of case it happens to be true

another things I like to do is to compare certain things in a certain way...let me explain:p I tend to compare lots of things to hell
for example I compare love to hell, depression to hell. etc, but what can be good in your own style is to compare two things that really don,t go together, for example talking about love by describing a car accident...mmmm i don,t know how to do that...but I'm sure it could be done!

some people could use alot of metaphors talking about nature...I don't believe it has been done often and I'm sure it could bring a cliche theme such as love into a beautiful and marvelous piece of writing

that's all I can thing of at the moment, but if anyone else have other ideas on how to develop your own style tell it... I will probably post more when I'll get to know more:p

[lord of darkness]

so about the should I write lyrics or music first, simple but quick answer, no one cares do whathever you want it will be ok if you know how to structure your lyrics and your music, but to be able to put the two together I,d suggest to learn artist's songs you like and try to sing them while playing, because if you want to put lyrics on music well you will have to test yourself if it works...so make sure YOU are able to sing while playing, if you are able to, then just use the tools everyone here gave you, and compose, music, lyrics the order doesn't matter, hope all these tips helped, thanks, and have a nice day all

[King graham4]

a bit much info..... and yea it is answered quite a few times through out this but u wanna read 51 pages? :lol: well thanks anyway :thumb:


:wave:

[cchappychappy]

Hey, thanks for all the hints, but I have a few quuestions/problems and I would appreciate if someone could help me.
1. I am a bass player, and I would like to write my songs to music, but my bass lines dont convey the same thing as a guitar. Is there anything around this?

2. My song writing style seems rooted in emo music. While I have nothing against the genre, that is not the way I want to write, because my band is more of a rock band. Any hints to change my style?

Thanks, any hints are greatly appreciated

[lord of darkness]

well, first of all, you should learn many rock songs on bass, so it would give you a strong melody sence about it unconsciously no matter what you do, it will help you in the long run. learn scales that are attached to rock, I believe there,s of course A minor, but I don,t know much about theory, but you could look for what scales could be used. also rock is a pretty vast genre, maybe give us a few example of how you,d like to sound like and we'll tell you what scales to learn etc.

[cchappychappy]

Well, the kind of music I want to play would be based on bands that play all kinds of music. I enjoy playing Weezer, Papa Roach, and especially The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[Rockon542]

im starting ina band and im going for vocalist... and i can sing but any tips for starting off screaming? (metal band)

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Strain your voice until your throat hurts, then strain it some more. No pain no gain. Also, drink lots of dairy, it spruces up the old chords quite nicely.

Tip: A good screamer has blood dripping from their mouth after a great set.

[jermandubber]

Strain your voice until your throat hurts, then strain it some more. No pain no gain. Also, drink lots of dairy, it spruces up the old chords quite nicely.

Tip: A good screamer has blood dripping from their mouth after a great set.
aaahaha youre a bitch!

cant remember what type of language is apropriate here, soooo let me know if i go over the line or tell me where the rules are.

[lord of darkness]

im starting ina band and im going for vocalist... and i can sing but any tips for starting off screaming? (metal band)


well I'll be honest, me and my friends are metalheads, we have a band, and of course like many metal band we scream, we all scream, the drummer, both guitarists and the bassist, the reason for this, it's easy. everyone can do it, you know, you ask us how to scream, well open your mouth, push a lot of air, and when people will be looking at you in a strange way well you'll now you scream well:p

on a more serious note, even thought I love metal a lot(my favorite genre of music) I consider that the vocals don't require any talent at all, just scream, low, high, it doesn,t matter, juss use your vocal range and scream, groan, etc. the hard part of metal is really more the music than the vocals, of course there are exception, but anyone can scream, just try it until you get it, if it hurts stop, take a break, drink water, restart etc.

[-:Vincent:-]

You could look through poetry books to inspire you. Or any other kind of book. I know Avenged Sevenfold gets some of their lyrics from the bible ('Chapter Four', 'Beast and the Harlot'). If this fails then there's always going through your sisters diary.....

[RBXJM]

How would I start out making a song? I can sit and think for a long time and end up with nothing. I might be able to come up with a few words or sentances sometimes but thats all, Any help on starting out? Thanks

So just settle for a few sentences at first. write them down, come back to them later, maybe a few hours, maybe a few months. They might inspire you later on. Use the same book (or word doc, or whatever) for all your little ideas, so that each time you go to write something new, you see something old as well. That way you always have the chance to draw on something you thought of earlier that you may have forgotten about.

[i_am_sampson]

Hey guys, just wondering what comes first...the music or the lyrics? im struggling with both right now..however things may look up also, i get disppointed when my lyrics sound corny/cheesy/pop-punky...any tips?

Thanks,
Joe

[i_am_sampson]

Hey guys, just wondering what comes first...the music or the lyrics? im struggling with both right now..however things may look up also, i get disppointed when my lyrics sound corny/cheesy/pop-punky...any tips?

Thanks,
Joe

[Late123]

ok i practicly made this name for just this one question and it would help a bunch if you could help answer it. im in a 3 man band and im the guitarist/vocal and the other vocalist is the bassist. we both write pretty equally but the problem we've both been having is getting a melody/tune down with the lyrics. i mean we have the guitar riffs,chords, everything and the lyrics, but we just cant get them to mesh the right way, any suggestions?

[Atom Heart mother]

Sorry i have that problem too late. But smapson, it doesn't matter which way you make a song, any order you like, but it doesn't matter if they sound cheesy just keep writing and it will get better, my older stuff is pretty cheesy but because i kept writing anyway, i got better.

[Late123]

i kinda figured it out and we just got our first song done and it sounds REALLY good... i think, to answer my own question, you just have to get a bit lucky with it.. and just sing random things in different tunes until something sounds good to you, and even though it may not sound good at first, u add some chords and the lyrics and u dont belive wat you can do. anyway... how come i cant post lyrics? lol

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

You need to wait 24 hours if it's a new account.

[El Squeego]

Hey, first post on these forums, hope I'm not repeating anything (52 pages?! How much spam do we have?)

A few personal tips and ideas on lyric development:

Things to Try

Mix up your rhyming scheme!
Probably given before, but probably bears repeating. The most common rhyming patterns in any kind of poetry are AABBAABB and ABABABAB. Break tradition. Add third rhymes, extend rhymes over several verses, have different schemes for each verse, or just do free verse. Examples:
AABBAACC, ABCDABCD, ABABABAC, etc.
As said before listen to other artists and read good poetry (Dylan Thomas is a personal favorite)

Things to Avoid

"Yeah!"
Filling up rhythms with "Yeah", "Woah", "No", etc. begin to wear the integrity of the piece. Repetition is used to make songs catchy and to make lyrics stick in your head. Pop music is often written to be catchy enough to sell albums, and constant repetitions are a valuable device for that purpose. Not that the words can't be used properly (for instance, the Beatles sing "She loves you/ yeah, yeah, yeah" as a brushing-off reply), and not that repetition is bad (especially in small doses to reinforce a point).

"So bad it's good"
Empty contradictions and paradoxes sound deep and meaningful but feel cheap after repeated listening. Nothing against the talented musicians of U2 and Coldplay, but they love this stuff ("you heard me in my tune/ but I just hear confusion" from All Because of You and any lyric from Speed of Sound or Fix You: "When you get what you want/ but not what you need"). Alanis Morissette killed this device with Ironic (and ruined everyone's perception of Irony in the process), so use it where it will accomplish something.

Hope this helps and isn't repetition

El Squeego

[Spectrum]

^Best. First. Post. EVER.

I really hope this guy continues to post like this forever... he reminds me of me when I actually had time to post like that. Keep up the good work.

[Love2Lust]

lol indeed....unfortunately i still do post like that :upset: I will never reach your level of perfection Spectrum!

[Spectrum]

Apparently I'm not perfect enough for people to crit my lyrics...

Oh, well. Enough sarcastic whining. Let's get to business.

Another great repeated lesson for lyric writing is: Don't force it. There is almost nothing worse than a forced rhyme. In both lyrics and poetry, you can usually tell when a line is forced, and it either feels wrong, out of place, or like the author couldn't think of anything better to say. I've often had a great line or idea in my head and come up with nothing in terms of getting a good rhyme.

Most of the time, when it feels like you can't get it right without forced rhyme, put it away for a while, and most importantly, don't think about it. The problem with trying to work out a line or a rhyme is that your mind fixates on the thought and can't make any progress. In fact, it's the same with anything of that nature - you fixate and can't get past the initial thought. So take a break. Maybe take a walk in the surrounding nature, or have something to eat. Maybe even forget about it until tomorrow. Usually, for me anyways, the best ideas pop into my head when I'm not even thinking about songwriting.

So, the lessons we've learned so far are these:

DOs:
- Try different rhyme schemes
- Don't force lines; take a break so as not to fixate on lines you get stuck on
DON'Ts:
- Avoid heavy repetition and "filler" rhymes
- "Empty metaphors" and cheap contradictions etc.

That's all for today, class.

[Nightvision]

I whole-heartedly agree with the above posts from el squeego and spectrumguitarist.

I may add to these later tonight.

[jonfearn]

How would I start out making a song? I can sit and think for a long time and end up with nothing. I might be able to come up with a few words or sentances sometimes but thats all, Any help on starting out? Thanks

Great tips by the way keep them coming!


hi, i also suffer from a similar problem with songwriting. did ne1 giv u any good tips?

[Brodiepur]

*Writers Block*
So very stuck for ideas on what to write about
Last night when i was trying to write some stuff i looked over at my drum kit and saw the Pearl logo on the bass drum. I ended up making anagrams of it :P
Any tips on clearing my head

[Nightvision]

just absolutely force a song out... just write a song, no matter how bad it is (and it WILL be horrible) look for a few lines you like - every song has them. From those, build up a bit - think of things you could link to them, and where they could lead. Develop those ideas, and it will slowly start to shift. Just don't get annoyed and start scribbling things out! :)

[Cybergasm]

I recomend just writing, dosen't have to be a song. Write lines, and beautify them with flourishing language, and gramatical abstraction. Save it, and write another one, untill you start getting inspired to write something bigger with a bit more depth.

[Garydrummer]

Okay, this really is clutching at straws i know, but does anyone here A)Sing rock/metal B)Need a band C)live in west sussex, in england. If anyone here fits these requirements then could you please get hold of me or post a reply to this message because my band is in desperate need of a singer! we have about 8 or so songs written, including rough lyrics although we are open to suggestions, we are preferably looking for someone between 16 and 19, but up to 21 will be considered, thankyou for your time! :evil:

[Cybergasm]

Okay, this really is clutching at straws i know, but does anyone here A)Sing rock/metal B)Need a band C)live in west sussex, in england. If anyone here fits these requirements then could you please get hold of me or post a reply to this message because my band is in desperate need of a singer! we have about 8 or so songs written, including rough lyrics although we are open to suggestions, we are preferably looking for someone between 16 and 19, but up to 21 will be considered, thankyou for your time! :evil:
You might have more luck here:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19

This isn't against the rules or anything, just, you might find it more useful.

[Garydrummer]

You might have more luck here:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19

This isn't against the rules or anything, just, you might find it more useful.

Cheers mate, sorry, i'm new here! :thumb:

[LoserFriendly]

Sorry, I'm reasonably new here, but what is this "black dot" crap I see, as reviews?

[TojesDolan]

It's a way of "saving" up space for later, in order to rate/crit a lyric.

[LoserFriendly]

You mean like a bump? or "I.O.U"?

[TojesDolan]

Yeah, I guess so. It's way to put it.

Or symbolize the "black dot" you get when you opst in a thread.

[Permanent Solution]

Black dots are where you've made a post.

[Dead_Trench]

Exactly what stuff should I look for when criting a song?

[LoserFriendly]

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384582

[Stricken1]

Hello. I'm new to this song writing stuff so I need some help. I want to write a song about when my gf broke up with me. I kinda wanna go the way Disturbed goes, they write they're songs crypticly, mysterious, hidden within the words. I don't want it to be just another "I hate you, bitch." Yada yada yada. I want it's meaning to be hidden, I know that's pry a lot for a beginner. Like ok, here's just some stuff I was thinking of. Not nessicarily lines in the song, but it's how I feel.

I remember when I had my heart torn out of my chest, shredded to peices, and I fell to the ground. Why couldn't I see it coming.and make her suffer what I went through. But I will never forget that kiss. it was, what's the word I'm looking for.... Intoxicating. I try to forget about her, but the harder I try, the more it comes back at me.

I dunno, hopefully someone can help me out. That's just how I feel inside, like put into simple words, I want to make it more than that. I don't want it to be straight forward in your face.

[M347w4d]

http://www.u-dominion.com/?r=77715

[TojesDolan]

To stricken:

Everyone want to write something about the good ol' lady. They are the most beautiful, yet devious source of imagination and heart attacks.

Anyhow, I'd really recommend NOT writing all the things that sound to common place, or extremely overheard: heart out of chest, fell to the ground, Why couldn't I see it coming, and make her suffer what I went through.

All those are way to familiar an overseen, becuase they are not worded right, or the sole idea of the gf thing is overrated. Try to write about how things have changed, what you will do, what's her point of view on it... I don't know. So much to exploit, yet so hardly ever used.

[MasterOfPuppets\m/]

why is my penar red?

[Massey]

Hey all can u give me tips to improve this song.

Rapture

LIving this life, envolved in your strife
Thinking about how happy i am.
knowing that your mine, all of the time
make me feel this rapture, rapture.

Chorus:
nobody knows how the story goes
they just live their everyday life
then one day you shine
and it feels like you've just stopped time

i never knew how far i could come i now feel the warmth of the sun
i never knew how fun it could be untill i saw the smile on your face

now sittin up in bed with these thoughts in my head
dreaming of you
looking in your eyes seeing how they shine
but this is only a dream come true.

Chorus:

so we go underground to be around all of our friends
there is alot to do so we have a game of pool
i play mystic mog but then i go and hog
i loose all of my money.

chorus

i never knew how far i could come i now feel the warmth of the sun
i never knew how fun it could be untill i saw the smile on your face

end

any tips or crit please say. :thumb:

[TojesDolan]

OK, no this isn't how it works. Try posting it as a thread in the forum so we can give you advise on it.

This thread is more about Specific questions and such.

[Leukeh]

If cryptic, subliminal & hypocritic is the way you want to go, whenever you see or hear something that makes you think (eg. most of our life is an illusion. everything in the past is memory, everything in the future is imagination (both illusions). memories are unreliable and we just speculate about the future. the only thing that is completely real is this one instant of the present - and thats constantly changing from imagination to memory. most of our life is an illusion.) write it down so you dont forget it. then when in comes to writing your music, you have some topics to write about and it makes it a bit easier!
Also, always carry round a notepad & pen - i often find that i come up with the best lines & try to make myself remember them for later, but always forget them completely - gets annoying yes? write them down as soon as you think of them! even if it doesnt fit with the song your currently writing, you can still write it down just in case you start writing a song & u cant think of something - once you have a buildup of "leftovers" you can just look through your little notepad when your stuck & often find something useful!

[fretfriend]

Ehy waiting if you listen to all song about 87% are deooressing like even bright eyes to metallica and country so that is all you need a fast tempo and **** to cry about

[EmergencyRoom2]

Ehy waiting if you listen to all song about 87% are deooressing like even bright eyes to metallica and country so that is all you need a fast tempo and **** to cry about

Pardon?

[pohl_56]

Hello. I'm new to this song writing stuff so I need some help. I want to write a song about when my gf broke up with me. I kinda wanna go the way Disturbed goes, they write they're songs crypticly, mysterious, hidden within the words. I don't want it to be just another "I hate you, bitch." Yada yada yada. I want it's meaning to be hidden, I know that's pry a lot for a beginner. Like ok, here's just some stuff I was thinking of. Not nessicarily lines in the song, but it's how I feel.

I remember when I had my heart torn out of my chest, shredded to peices, and I fell to the ground. Why couldn't I see it coming.and make her suffer what I went through. But I will never forget that kiss. it was, what's the word I'm looking for.... Intoxicating. I try to forget about her, but the harder I try, the more it comes back at me.

I dunno, hopefully someone can help me out. That's just how I feel inside, like put into simple words, I want to make it more than that. I don't want it to be straight forward in your face.

I totally know how ur feelin man. Just a couple weeks ago my gf broke up with me and yea-i felt like sh**. I wanted to write a song about it but wanted to keep it hidden and then realized that I had an entire like-400 word song about it. With the help of an accoustic guitar and keyboard I came up with a rather good song. The next step is to rock it up a little.

My advice to you is write it from the heart and then after, try to use as many metaphores as ya can. If ya need a little more inspiration rather than just thinkin "ugh my life sux" try thinkin of some of the things that happened during the time. Or rumors that went around or something. I have a few songs going right now about this and its workin.

Hope this help and try not to dwell too much on it.

[Sloth]

Dolan + E.Room (and whoever else is interested)

===Regarding the "rules" of the Short Story thread===

-Word limit- does 500-3000 words sound ok? Too many? Not enough?

and then there's the standard "Crit rules."

Do you guys think I should put those crit rules into the post or just have them be assumed?

[APS]

Limit the short stories to 5 pages in Word at 12 point font.

[xKONRADx]

^ agreed

[Sloth]

Ok.. cool
Any other suggestions?

[northenbassplayer]

make lyrics as random as possible it works sometimes

[TojesDolan]

mmm... I don't know. 5 pages seems a little excesive. The limit of characters in here is 20,000. I thikn we should like, keep it to 20,000 characters. Or about half, being 10,000, which are around uh... 2000 words, and like... well counting the spaces they must be like, 1000. But I don't know, really.

The rules regarding the short stories should be included in the first post (Take another post after the first one. just in case) and well... critiquing should be open. And before you write your story, you must, at least, give a critique. Some kids won't give a crap about that rule, but it's at least worth the shot.

[EmergencyRoom2]

Dolan + E.Room (and whoever else is interested)

===Regarding the "rules" of the Short Story thread===

-Word limit- does 500-3000 words sound ok? Too many? Not enough?

and then there's the standard "Crit rules."

Do you guys think I should put those crit rules into the post or just have them be assumed?

We should draw up a list of rules about critting and about general etiquette in the thread. Things like offensive subjects being banned and such. The crits don't need to be as in depth as the ones for songs, we don't need five pages of crits for every story. Just simple things like themes, style, content etc.

I suggest finding some other short story web sites and such and seeing what they allow in terms of word count. Two posts worth sounds like a decent guideline for a maximum amount of words but i'm not 100% sure on that.

MSN or aim me if you want a hand with workinfg out rules and the like. Both on profile. :thumb:

[salad pigeon]

i would use contradictions, irony, of course metaphors and symbolism, but also make fun of yourself as you write, its really fun and its pretty cool to read at the end. also, sing it as you write it so you know how it goes. oh, one more thing, sometimes its good to be vague, but still be descriptive, like heart shaped box by nirvana. one thing i do is write about stuff that didn't happen, but could have happened or would be intresting to see happen.

[Sloth]

holy crap.. I just realized that this is under Tips and Questions... my bad... I thought it was under the Community Thread

[Shadows Rise]

Hey, I play in a heavy metal band and my friend is the singer. He's sort of having a hard time with growling and death shrieks. Could someone post something about them here to give him advice? Thanks. By the way, sorry if the question has been asked before on this thread. I'm sort of in a rush right now.

[Sloth]

There isn't anything on THIS part of the forums.. There's a couple really helpful posts specifically for that (singing/screaming) in either The Pit or Jam Session. The guy who's the "expert" on that is Merkaba-1 or something like that.. So yeah, there's nothing here..this is just lyrics

[bassplayer51291]

I am having trouble with a song im writing if some one wouldnt mind giving me a few tips this is what i got its more of a slow song:
I just turn on my radio and listen to my favorite song
grab my guitar and start to play along

another song i need help with:
you know the stuff in life that just dont make sense
like why one second you hate your dad and the next hes the best
The simple things the stuff you take for granted

Thanks

[MorstNaring]

This is my first post but I’ve been writing for years and have come up with some techniques to make writing easier.
I hope I’m not wasting your time or repeating other stuff


Sometimes switching in which order you state two lines can make the stanza a lot less predictable.
EG –
Will my presence in the present today exist tomorrow in the past?
If tomorrow my 24 hour soul, one day reality will be destroyed again at last

I thought this was too apparent in the way it rhymed. It seemed as though the end of the second line was just there to rhyme with the first. So I switched it.

If tomorrow my 24 hour soul, one day reality will be destroyed at last
Will my presence in the present today exist tomorrow in the past?

You can also apply this to the creation of the stanza itself

EG-
If I could let her go
Would I still be the same?
?
?
______________________
If I could let her go
Would I still be the same?
?
RHYME WITH SAME
______________________
If I could let her go
Would I still be the same?
?
Then why am I to blame?
_____________________
If I could let her go
Would I still be the same?
If it is all her fault
Then why am I to blame?
- this technique can help sometimes simply because it is different

Sorry if I’ve wasted your time

[Grego1985]

Hey, I play in a heavy metal band and my friend is the singer. He's sort of having a hard time with growling and death shrieks. Could someone post something about them here to give him advice? Thanks. By the way, sorry if the question has been asked before on this thread. I'm sort of in a rush right now.


Tell ur singer to smoke a cigarette, snap off the filter roll another cigarette using the old filter and smoke it again then have a growl grrrrrr lol SORRY! Works a treat for my voice and just dnt drink ale let ur throat go dry. Sorted :wave: let me know how it goes

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Are you serious? Have fun ripping your throats to shreds.

[Sloth]

Have fun ripping your throats to shreds. uuuuhhhh YEAH..

Grego, that was the WORST advice you could have given anyone

[Spectrum]

Are you serious? Have fun ripping your throats to shreds.
Remember Bob Dylan? Remember how back when he started singing, you could understand what he was singing and it was almost pleasant to listen to? And remember how even back in the 1980's his voice was intolerably messed up? And remember how heavily into drinking, drugs and alcohol he was in the period in between?

Smoking before a show is a short-term solution to getting a scratchy and raw voice. Given years, it totally destroys it.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

If anything you can scream better with a moist throat.

[TojesDolan]

I find myself growling/screaming when my throat is a little clogged. :confused:

[Nightvision]

I have a horrible screaming technique, but it produces quite an unusual (not to mention loud) sound, so I'm happy to use it occasionally, but I refuse to do it too much.

[Dubious-Phil]

I'm not really into the whole scream techniques in singing; not that I'm disregarding them of course.

However, I would like any advice on song writing and vocal exercises/scales anyone has to offer; especially for training your voice to be able to handle the higher keys and lower keys without sounding whiney or weak etc.

I'd appreciate any critiquing on any songs I post too. Be as critical as you can, I want to learn afterall. Just don't shrug me off as being awful in a hostile manner?

[Nightvision]

the best bet is this:

find the good writers/users here. Examples are as follows:

TojesDolan
Metaliq
Bowl Of Oranges
A_Perfect_Sonnet
RollerQueen
Sloth
Abatner

- there are others I've missed, but these were the guys I've noticed here recently.

Wait for one of these guys to post a piece, and critique it - do a real proper job on it - I know it's a pain and is dull, but do it. You'll get the same back.
Once you've finished the crit, post a link to your piece and ask them to return the critique.
I know it's a pain in the butt, and you should be able to get decent critiques without going through this process, but I've been here long enough to know that this is the only real guaranteed way to get decent, worthwhile, helpful critiques. Sadly, that is the price you pay for posting here - there are a lot of people here who simply post their songs, help no-one and expect the critiques to roll in, and the regulars have become resigned to it.

[Dubious-Phil]

I've got no problem critiquing other peoeple's stuff in return, I'll keep any eye out. Cheers.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

the best bet is this:

find the good writers/users here. Examples are as follows:

TojesDolan
Metaliq
Bowl Of Oranges
A_Perfect_Sonnet
RollerQueen
Sloth
Abatner

- there are others I've missed, but these were the guys I've noticed here recently.

Wait for one of these guys to post a piece, and critique it - do a real proper job on it - I know it's a pain and is dull, but do it. You'll get the same back.
Once you've finished the crit, post a link to your piece and ask them to return the critique.
I know it's a pain in the butt, and you should be able to get decent critiques without going through this process, but I've been here long enough to know that this is the only real guaranteed way to get decent, worthwhile, helpful critiques. Sadly, that is the price you pay for posting here - there are a lot of people here who simply post their songs, help no-one and expect the critiques to roll in, and the regulars have become resigned to it.

I've really sucked at returning critiques lately. I'll get to Tojes and Dans today. I take a while on it, but I don't forget, usually.

EDIT: Hi Jason.

[jimmynoon]

I would really like to know what notes vocally would compliment notes/chords on a guitar. Say If I played e5 on guitar, what note should the vocalist be hitting to compliment that chord? Does it vary when your trying to get over different emotion and feeling to a song? If anybody can link me to an article that would be great.

[RyMac59]

I can write good music easily, I have trouble coming up with ideas to write words for them, and when i do write words, i never feel they do my song justice. I love my music but hate my words. most of my songs are in minor keys but not really depressing sounding, and i dont want them to be sad songs(some are alright but im not a sad person).

Ive heard of just taking things out of the news or random stuff but then im not inspired. Ive been stuck for a while, i need some help

[metaliq]

Yeah. Crit and leave a link. If you dont and dont ask for a crit... I kinda am like "hmph. leave a link love."

And on screaming...

It's kinda easy. Merkaba has some good advice. Done listen to that one guy's tips. Awful. Seriously. If you have to rely on things to scream, dont even start.

Higher screams: rasp of the back of your throat. Same rasp you use for singing...

Growls: Um. I dunno how to explain it. It's just kinda natural to me... just done use your vocal chords for the rasp. Hit your throat.

If you cant talk and it hurts, stop. You should be able to do it for quite a while and never cause any soft of damage.

Make sure you warm up first. Do the whole siren deal for each vowel. Drink a lot of water. A lot. Drink tea (throat coat) if you're into it.

Yeah. That might help if you actually read this....

[Aklerc]

I can write good music easily, I have trouble coming up with ideas to write words for them, and when i do write words, i never feel they do my song justice. I love my music but hate my words. most of my songs are in minor keys but not really depressing sounding, and i dont want them to be sad songs(some are alright but im not a sad person).

Ive heard of just taking things out of the news or random stuff but then im not inspired. Ive been stuck for a while, i need some help
I used to have this problem major style. I find I need to be in a certain mood to write, don't force yourself. Also I try to write songs so that they mean more to me than any reader. Most of my more recent songs are just huge metaphors. Everyone says it, but don't be restricted by rhyming. And it's easier to pick a topic that isn't along the lines of depression/cliché love songs. It's easier to make it original. One more tip I will give is to sit with a pen and a blank page and just write words that are floating around in your head. Then phrases, maybe even stanzas. Once your page is full of ideas, you can start to make sense of them and put them together.

I would really like to know what notes vocally would compliment notes/chords on a guitar. Say If I played e5 on guitar, what note should the vocalist be hitting to compliment that chord? Does it vary when your trying to get over different emotion and feeling to a song? If anybody can link me to an article that would be great.
Ok, from my point of view, this is what I do. So I write some lyrics, then I get a nice wee chord progression or whatever. Then the best way to figure out a melody is just to experiment. Anyone will be able to hear if the notes in the melody are working with the chords. I can't help you theory-wise but I strongly suggest just experimenting. I can pretty much guarantee it will sound **** to begin with while trying to fid a key but soon it will come together nicely. And since I (and I assume most others) always write the chords before the melody, it's going to be the chords that decide the mood and emotion you'll be getting across, not the melody.
For your example, it wouldn't neccessarily depend on the chord you're playing, but the key that you're playing it. If you struggle to find a starting note, then go through the root chord's arpeggio and pick a note to start from.

[RSKrocks]

How would I start out making a song? I can sit and think for a long time and end up with nothing. I might be able to come up with a few words or sentances sometimes but thats all, Any help on starting out? Thanks

Great tips by the way keep them coming!

well i usually just write random thoughts and phrases on blank paper and when i think i have enough, i stick it all together...usually i think about the same stuff for weeks, so none of it seems out of place (may or may not work for you) when im done with the lyrics i name it (usually i pick a word that isnt actually mentioned in the song...i sorta like it, makes me feel origanal) also, i usually listen to stuff like metallica, it gets me into that certain idea they are tlking bout, and i write it from my point of view...

[Dubious-Phil]

Usually I just pick up my guitar and knock something or other out. However, I feel this tactic doesn't leave you with the kind of lyrics that have a real depth or meaning to them.

What I'm doing now, to someone's suggestion, is just write whatever thoughts or feelings you have. Then go over them and put some sort of flow, rhythm and rhyme in. Then either try and add a melody, or go find an instrumentalist to sort that out for you. Team work really does help.

[Bass_man5150]

I just write about how I'm feeling at that moment

[Cmode]

222

[Cmode]

222

[Sloth]

what the hell are you doing?

post your **** in the actual forum for people to crit...NOT HERE

[factor46]

haha, i dont think ive ever been in here. what's this place for?


...and dont flame me for being stupid.
:lol:

[TojesDolan]

This is for asking question and getting them answered, I guess.

I usually come in here, but some people are stupid and don't follow the rules.

...

Not you factor. You're cool. :cool:

Anyhow, I'll get to your new one in a second, I'll go get a coke, a sandwich and be right back. ;)

[Ferrit]

I just write about how I'm feeling at that moment

Doesn't always work.
I'm not exactly gonna write a song about having a cold.

[TojesDolan]

Actually life and it's ups and downs is a certainly interesting source of enlightenment.

Sometimes you just need to add up some fantasy and crazy stuff to it in order to make it all work.

[Britt]

Songwriting for dummies...the book is actually full of helpful tid bits...like song form, and stuff...I know you might feel like an idiot buying it, but it will help

[Pseudo Man]

How do you ensure copyright on your song lyrics before you release the song?

[Bass_man5150]

Doesn't always work.
I'm not exactly gonna write a song about having a cold.


Why can't you write a song about having a cold, everyone gets cold. You know what Im gonna write a song about having a cold

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Songwriting for dummies...the book is actually full of helpful tid bits...like song form, and stuff...I know you might feel like an idiot buying it, but it will help

I perused it at the store and found the content to be idiotic.

[acdcjewel]

This time using eloquent grammer i will ask for some help

I am writing a song but i keep putting really cliché stuff in and its really annoying

I am trying to write it in a Distured/Atreyu style the meaning hidden with imagery and metaphors.


help????

its about my Girl by the way if that helps.......

thx

[FendersForever]

Question:I read the rules, and it said nothing about asking what a lyric in a song is. However, I posted a question about one, and it got closed right away. Was this breaking a rule?

[SubtleDagger]

No, it's just not what this forum is for.

If you'd Google the name of the song, you can get the lyrics. It's stupid to make a thread about it.

[MidnightHysteria]

I would really like to know what notes vocally would compliment notes/chords on a guitar. Say If I played e5 on guitar, what note should the vocalist be hitting to compliment that chord? Does it vary when your trying to get over different emotion and feeling to a song? If anybody can link me to an article that would be great.
If you're in the key of E minor, and the E5 is the first chord of your progression, I'd say stick to triad tones (E, the root, G, the 3rd, and B, the 5th). For other power chords, however, you can make just about any note in the scale fit, but if I were you I'd avoid:
minor 2nds (such as singing a C over a B5),
Tritones (like an F# over a C5),
major 7ths (for instance, an F# with a G5), and
minor 6ths (Like G over a B5) because those notes are each one half-step away from notes in the power chord.

[the untolf]

Im not a new gutiar play but not amazingly good, I am a fast leaner so im doing better than most people at my stage but i suck at writing songs and lyrics i have a couple realyl sweet riffs but they dont match, anyway i need some ideas for like metal or rock (like ozzy, metallica)

[bleeding mascara]

im probably gonna get flamed for this but for all you screamo fans out their, i need help learning how to scream... any tips?

[the untolf]

im getting betta at singing but dont just scream really loudly but trying to keep your voice down comes out terrible, try to keep your voice in tone dont jsut scream out in mono

[metaliq]

Um. Do research. I posted a response on the last page about this.

Sheesh. People dont know how to read anymore.

[Cybergasm]

Doesn't always work.
I'm not exactly gonna write a song about having a cold.
If you get creative with the words it can be a masterpiece. The magazine I work for once got a poem about taking advil in the morning; it was so well written that it made one of the first premiers.

[jedi166]

I have a written a really good song but the problem is i cant write music to it. its the best song ive written and its proving to be the hardest to get music too. can any one help!!

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

im probably gonna get flamed for this but for all you screamo fans out their, i need help learning how to scream... any tips?

Atreyu isn't screamo, sorry.

[bleeding mascara]

have you listened to bleeding mascara? get on that.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Like I said, Atreyu isn't screamo. And even though they are fashionXcore, genre-wise they are closest to metalcore. Circle Takes the Square is a screamo band.

[ITRIEDVOODOOONCE]

i hate atreyu, with a passion.
But anyways, in the audio arena i think it is there is a whole huge page about how to scream and what bands scream like what, it may even be stickied

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Jam session.

[ITRIEDVOODOOONCE]

my bad

[LeeRoberts]

It's there something certain you need to do to be able to start a new thread to post your song for critique? I can reply to other people's songs but if I try to start a thread of my own it tells me I don't have permission to do so. Is there a post minimum or something? I read the rules but I couldn't find anything about it in there. Help please!

[SubtleDagger]

There is a twenty four hour time limit before you can post threads in any forum. Aside from that, you can only post one song a day.

[h0pe1ess]

Hey
Having lurked around these parts for a while, i have a small problem id love some help with.

Now, i have little trouble writing outside of a cliche and actually turning out poems that are half decent. Problem is, i can only write poems.
Songs have to flow well, and although not set in stone, are usually verses and choruses.
As it stands, i just cant seem to write things that would go well with music, they are all just poems.

So, any help regarding flow and song structure?

[Nightvision]

Things to concentrate on at first are rhythm - you can't really get away with having vastly uneven lines in songwriting, unless it's part of the structure of the song. (example: one twelve-syllable line and two three syllable lines is a pattern if repeated. One eight-syllable line, one seventeen syllable line and one four-syllable line is unlikely to sound good.)
Rhyming is a choice thing. Unfortunately, it's extremely difficult to rhyme well without coming off like the proverbial cat in the hat, and I'd advise avoiding trying too hard to rhyme, as often it does more damage to your song than good.

I'll add to this later. :)

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I'm so cool I can write whatever structure I want and still fit it to music.

[Nightvision]

You know how to type properly, you can't possibly be cool!

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Hey, my cat just died! You 50 year old LOSER, LOLZ!

[Nightvision]

:lol: :lol:

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I want to drink tonight, but I don't want to write my 5 page essay right now... I'm conflicted. Guess I'll just have to wait till I talk to Becki. Jason, thoughts?

[Ma Cherie]

i wouldwrite the paper, and then just drink a creat somelyrics(some of the best songs were written while drunk)

[Ma Cherie]

alsofor a general tip i would say write about angry things, hurt in you lifr, abuse you have suffer, mental pain endure from school. it works for me. might work for you., i also write very dark song with mystirious meanings behind it so it only feesable for me

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

i wouldwrite the paper, and then just drink a creat somelyrics(some of the best songs were written while drunk)

Welcome to thirteen days ago, enjoy your stay.

[Nightvision]

alsofor a general tip i would say write about angry things, hurt in you lifr, abuse you have suffer, mental pain endure from school. it works for me. might work for you., i also write very dark song with mystirious meanings behind it so it only feesable for me

this has GOT to be a gimmick...:lol:

[TojesDolan]

I don't know, there's way too much effort in the location, the avatar... The overall package. I don't know. I could be wrong, though.

[Spectrum]

He's only been around for a day, and probably hasn't read much else on this forum, particularly the "I hate your cliched writing, n00b" stuff. And besides, quite a few artists have come into quite a bit of fame doing precisely what he's prescribing.

*ahem*Disturbed*ahem*sucks*cough*

[reaperspromise]

for me, whenever i write, i kinda just relax, and let the words flow. If i try not to think too much on structure and whatnot, it will just come naturally.

Everything i write stems from an emotion im feeling at that particular time, so for me, my lyrics are extremely personal.

My word of advice would be to just write what comes naturally, dont force it. You'll be suprised at the results

[DeadReligion]

Agreed Spectrum.

[Cemetary_Gates]

i play metal music, i can write music quite a bit with not many problems, its just that whenever i sit down to write lyrics, i write whatever comes to my head, but thats just usually crap! it either sounds cheesy (not good for metal!!) or just dont make sense. anyone else have this problem and how they combat it?

[Littlejohn]

I've been exploring different rhyming schemes as of late, but I have a really hard time understanding how the structure flows. Is there any good singer/songwriters that I should listen to that use a variety of interesting rhyming styles?

[scrowler]

it comes easily for me, i make up a song and i get into the mood i associate with that style of music and just start singing. i think it is important to make sure you use words on the end of lines that are either short or have a vowel syllable that can be sustained for effect.

-edit- and i hate it when people say bands suck like someone said above that disturbed sucks. if they sucked they wouldn't be famous would they? shut up and go home and keep your opinions to yourself unless someone asks for them

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I'm a moron who doesn't understand the definition of irony.

Agreed.

[afuneralkeepsusapart]

Why cant I post a new thread?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

24 hour prohibation period when you make a new account. Just wait a day.

[xKONRADx]

i play metal music, i can write music quite a bit with not many problems, its just that whenever i sit down to write lyrics, i write whatever comes to my head, but thats just usually crap! it either sounds cheesy (not good for metal!!) or just dont make sense. anyone else have this problem and how they combat it?
cheesey lyrics are the best kind for metal. i dont know what kind of metal you play.

[scrowler]

Agreed.
because ofcourse, that's what i said

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

shut up and go home and keep your opinions to yourself unless someone asks for them

I just found that statement to be blatantly ironic, so I called you out on it. Also Disturbed sucks, as do many "famous" bands.

[ITRIEDVOODOOONCE]

APS - 3
scrowler - 0

[holy_roller99]

i am having a hard time getting ideas for songs. today my band had its first practice and all of us want to get away form the punk covers we have been doing and whenever we try to write we get stupid ideas and don't know where to go any thoughts.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

How long have you guys been playing your instruments?

[holy_roller99]

me 6 years on guitar, 5 years on trumpet, bassist has been playing bass for about 3 years but has played guitar for 6, have had a few second guitarists jamming a bit but am looking for a permanent, and the drummer has been playing for 3 years.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I can't possibly see how you are having trouble writing music then.

[holy_roller99]

just lyrics. we don't know where to start. ideas don't come as easily and we were wondering how to get ideas. riffs are easy to work with and the stuff we come up with doesn't make any sense at all.

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

I'm guess you're somewhat of a ska band? Or at least influenced...
Why don't you post some lyrics, and get feedback from other people here?

[holy_roller99]

ska and punk. more punkish becaus most of the stuff we like are Nofx, Rancid, sex pistols, the ramones, the clash, US bombs, bad religion, anti flag, the casualties, operation ivy, the unseen. so we are kind of mixed on teh sound we kinda want. some of the songs i have written are like fine when i wrote them but seem a bit on the overworked subjects and i kinda want to get away from that. i just have problems getting ideas.

[ITRIEDVOODOOONCE]

WHENEVER you have a cool idea for anything, write about it. If you have a cool idea about cars, boats, raccons, anything, write about it. Whatever would be interesting write about.

[Samick]

:wave: i raised my hand. i just wrote the musice for a song but i havent writen the words yet. the olny thing that sounds good is if i write it about a relationship. i'v never been in a relationship, so its kinda hard to write about one. what should i do?

[Bub]

Don't think that because you haven't been in a relationship, you're not allowed to write about one. I know you only said you found it hard to, but it was worth saying. If the theme fits, sounds good and is what you want to write about, do it.

If not, try and have a little imagination on it. Think, "why is it that the relationship theme is the only one that fits?"
Is it because its a happy subject? A sensitive one? Both?
Work from that.

[bamboo_on_wheels]

is all right if post my lyrics in this thread because i cant seem to start a new thread?

[DepthsOfDreams555]

is all right if post my lyrics in this thread because i cant seem to start a new thread?

You have to wait 24 hours you should just wait.

[XxRoycexX]

i am having a hard time getting ideas for songs. today my band had its first practice and all of us want to get away form the punk covers we have been doing and whenever we try to write we get stupid ideas and don't know where to go any thoughts.

First off, dont write as a group!! most ppl will agree with me, Its much harder to get your thoughts when your buddies/bandmates are around. Im sure soo many ppl has said this but MAKE SURE YOUR SONGS HAVE STRUCTURE!! Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus ect ect, it doesnt have to be in that particular order (have fun with it). Suggestion, the way i write, is i first come up with a title, and go on from there. It allways works. This title doesnt nessesarly have to be the actual name of the song, its just to start you off. like if you have an idea its the one word for it. Once you have that, Write all the negatives and positives about that particular title. Don't be too sceptical on yourself! The more you write the easier it will get. Also, dont rush yourself if your just starting to write. If your stuck dont throw it away. keep it! also have a scap peice of paper so you can put cool sentences together. Keep it simple, and only use big words if they fit. DONT USE FÜCK OR FÜCKING TOO MUCH!!! people wont take your lyrics seriously.

[EveryExitEnters]

Practice is probably key. The first few songs a person writes might not be that great. Don't worry about it. You'll find what you like about some songs you do and you'll figure out where you need to work on. Like any instrument, the difference between a good songwriter and a bad one is confidence.

"You live what you learn" applies to songwriting as well as life. If you listen to a metal band all the time and learn songs, it will come out in your writing. I remember when I started learning Lamb of God songs I began to use their picking techniques in alot of things. However, this rule also can get you into a creative rut. After listening to every metal album I could, I couldn't write a slow song or a happy song to save my life. Well, I could, I was just never in the mood to do so. So if you're in a rut, go buy a new cd.

Play around with song structure, and make all your parts count. Many people don't even think about structure, and its a shame. They'll write a chorus, and then mindlessly write two verses and a bridge to go with it. Is verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus really going to get your point across the best way possible? Usually not. Every song should have a central part that gets restated for people to fall back on, which is what most people call a chorus. Make the spaces between choruses convey a different meaning to color the chorus. For example, in a song about owning a dog, the first verse would say everything that is great about having a dog, and then the chorus states that a dog is the best animal ever. The second verse would be about how much cats suck. Then the second chorus can be seen in a different way. Musically, there doesn't even need to be a second verse that is the same as the first. It could be a totally different musical idea. It tends to make things exciting. Furthermore, don't be afraid to shuffle all the parts. Check out "Nobody Puts a Baby in the Corner" by Fallout Boy. Fallout Boy is a very good band to listen to if you want to see examples of different structures. Another note: instrumental songs need to change frequently to keep excitement going. Poorly written instrumentals bore everybody but the musicians playing them.

Get other people to look at your song. You are a bit biased, either loving a song too much or not giving it enough credit. Play it to somebody else. The best way to tell if your song rocks is if you play it to somebody who isn't a musician and they like it. At that point, you know you can reach anybody with your song.

Happy writing!

[holy_roller99]

the way i have been explained to is that it is like writing a short story except that you don't just sit down and write it. you must have inspiration and structure to it. correct?

[XxRoycexX]

the way i have been explained to is that it is like writing a short story except that you don't just sit down and write it. you must have inspiration and structure to it. correct?

Inspiration for sure, yep... your Correct man!!! :thumb: lol

[forever_favored]

hey i need a little help...so yea im just starting out, well i've actually been writing for about idk 2-3 years now since i was like 12 or 13, but im not seing any major improvements. Like i'd have this huge, unexplainable feeling and i'd have to write something but when i get my pen and paper nothing but nonsense comes out and most of my stuff ends up bein related to a guy or something and that's frustrating and i just can't seem to put down anything that really means something. it's just always that bad pop type music with predictable rhymes and random statements. i just kinda can't get deep enough to actually write one of those songs that just speaks to you, you know? so does anybody have any suggestions or tips on how i can fix this? id appreiate it so much

[hotcod32]

lission to a lot of music and keep a note book... trust me trying to write NEVER works, you'll write when your ready... if you think of a cool line, or one just comes to you out of nowhere note it down... write LOTS of crapy songs you'll some times find that even if msot of the song is dire there may be one or two lines that are intresting and maybe you can take them and build somthing... Wirte songs and then wait, forget about them go back and rewrite them... read a LOT if you've not good a book your reading at any time go find a new one, you should always be reading... i've just gone thought the whole diskworld serise yet again in about a month... and i've got lots of other serise and aurthers that i go back and read a lot... its vastly important to remember that song writeing, is just that writeing and you will find the more you read the better you get... just carry on writeing lots and lots and lots of stuff... when i was your ages all my stuff sucked like crap, most of its still dose, but every time i write i tget a little better... find a good group of people to really crit you stuff and offer ideas... write lots... WIRITE EVEN MORE

and just give it time and pratices 2/3 years is nothing :) your still young

[foxes are like so rad]

swear only when it adds something.
dont force rhymes, or it will sound unnatural. and dont use a word simply because it rhymes.
also, write EVERYTHING down. you never know, you might be able to use it. i have 6 or 7 notebooks full of random stuff ive scribbled downin the past two years. and every so often, i look back, and some of it actually doesnt suck!
its great stuff, people. very helpful.

[holy_roller99]

swear only when it adds something.
dont force rhymes, or it will sound unnatural. and dont use a word simply because it rhymes.
also, write EVERYTHING down. you never know, you might be able to use it. i have 6 or 7 notebooks full of random stuff ive scribbled downin the past two years. and every so often, i look back, and some of it actually doesnt suck!
its great stuff, people. very helpful.

same here. i have about half a notebook full of random stuff iwouldn'tmind using in the near future.

[holy_roller99]

i have a question about the rules of this thread. is it bad to post 2 unfinished works in a single thread?

[Spectrum]

S&L Rules go that you get to post one song per day, and are obliged, if not required, to crit several other works in return.

[holy_roller99]

i know but does it count for unfinished stuf which technically isn't a complete song and about the crit i don't think i know enough about song writing in order to start doing any crits yet

[Spectrum]

You don't have to be terribly good at critiquing other works... just be honest. Usually, if someone crits yours, they'll ask for a crit in return, and it's not fair to leave someone hanging. Just say what comes to your mind, and how you personally feel about the piece, but try to give specific feedback. Maybe read the piece out loud, and see what parts sound wrong to you or break the flow. Look at things like vocabulary. And effort is almost always an easy thing to spot.

Also, try not to skimp on a crit. Nobody likes getting "Wow, that was a great song - I luv it! :thumb:" or a "Sry? I didnt get it? :confused: What were you tryin to say? :confused:" or just a number grade and not much else.

[¿dashboard_confessional?]

Hey wats up. Uhh..i'm just started thinking about writing my own songs and im clueless about wat to write about. where or what do u get ur inspiration from¿ also what band do u listen to that r good lyrically and r a good inspiration? it doesnt matter what type of music it is..... i listen to everything.
PLZ HELP.

[ItsAllGood]

What would be some good sources of inspiration for song Idea's?
Ok, so im doing just fine connecting the sentences with idea's and ryhmes but how do I expand on them and find some other way.

[MidnightHysteria]

What would be some good sources of inspiration for song Idea's?
Ok, so im doing just fine connecting the sentences with idea's and ryhmes but how do I expand on them and find some other way.
Go beyond the literal. Use an extended metaphor, or an extended simile, for example. Also, adding imagery, things which appeal to the senses of the reader/listener, is a good way to stretch your ideas out. Ideally, you want a seamless combination of content, simile/metaphor, imagery, flow, and sound devices (rhyme, alliteration, assonance, etc).

[b_skwared]

Well when I started first writing songs I was pretty young I was about 11. I have a journal and everytime something inspires me to write, Yes inspires you don't sit down with paper and a pen and force yourself to write. It doesn't work that way. Once something inspires you then just write exactly what your feeling or dealing with. Whatever it may be. Don't limit yourself to one style of writing. And as corny as it sounds...Write from the heart. At first don't worry if it doesn't rhyme or sound perfect quite yet. Once you become a more skilled song writer you'll go back to those songs and remember what you were feeling then and you can incorporate your newly found skills into your old writing. Just about everybody's song go through a lot of changes. It takes a while to become a good songwriter/poet, but once you get the hang of it you'll be able to express yourself and have your own unique style of writing.
<3

[b_skwared]

Hey wats up. Uhh..i'm just started thinking about writing my own songs and im clueless about wat to write about. where or what do u get ur inspiration from¿ also what band do u listen to that r good lyrically and r a good inspiration? it doesnt matter what type of music it is..... i listen to everything.
PLZ HELP.

You get inspiration from personal exsperiences. Write about how your feeling or what your going through. If nothing is really happening in your life then I dunno what to write about. Its easiest to first write about love and break ups. Typical thing to write about, but once you write a few simple songs then your writing will get better. The best thing to do is have a journal and every time you think of a phrase, or sentence, or even a good word to use. Write it down in your journal and eventually the'll turn into poems with out a lot of rhyming and eventually good songs. Remember the structure of a song. A chorus that you repeat and a few verses. Thats how I started writing anyways its different for everyone. As for bands to listen to, I would listen to some Indie Rock bands if you want to be very artisic or old rock 'n' roll like The Beatles and The Doors. If you wanna be really emotional then listen to emo...looks like you like emo according to your screen name i'm not into it. but whatever you like. A good writer draw inspiration from all the different types of music they listen to and you can tell in there music. Good luck, I hope I helped some.
<3

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

You get inspiration from personal exsperiences. Write about how your feeling or what your going through. If nothing is really happening in your life then I dunno what to write about. Its easiest to first write about love and break ups. Typical thing to write about, but once you write a few simple songs then your writing will get better. The best thing to do is have a journal and every time you think of a phrase, or sentence, or even a good word to use. Write it down in your journal and eventually the'll turn into poems with out a lot of rhyming and eventually good songs. Remember the structure of a song. A chorus that you repeat and a few verses. Thats how I started writing anyways its different for everyone. As for bands to listen to, I would listen to some Indie Rock bands if you want to be very artisic or old rock 'n' roll like The Beatles and The Doors. If you wanna be really emotional then listen to emo...looks like you like emo according to your screen name i'm not into it. but whatever you like. A good writer draw inspiration from all the different types of music they listen to and you can tell in there music. Good luck, I hope I helped some.
<3

That advice probably set him back a year.

[slack]

tip - not everything you write deserves to be posted on a public forum.

[drumass04]

Most of my most recent ideas for songs/poems have been inspired by my dad who commited suicide about a year and a half ago. It kinda hit me a month back and since then I've been writing better than I ever have before. it kinda comes naturally.

I now keep a notebook in my pocket all the time, teachers get quite annoyed with me when I start writing in it half way through a lesson, but I think it is important to get ideas down on paper, you don't forget them then. If you write down an idea and then don't like it, don't scribble it out, leave it there. You'll go back to it at some point and realise it'll fit perfectly into a song or piece of writing you are doing.

Each evening I sit down on my own and read through my notes, sometimes I already see a pattern for a poem unfolding in my head, if this happens I sit down and write, usign ideas that fit together. If you don't see anything leave it and continue writing down your inspirations until you get a group of ideas that fit together and work as a song.

The notes that you take don't need to be particularly extensive, some of mine are just a few words, i.e Faces turned away in disgust. Lights flashing by like bolts of lightning. These ideas can later be expanded and turned into lines/stanzas or even a whole song/poem.

[real_low_mind]

I have a question.
I have a hard time writing deeper or more meaningful lyrics & I have a hard time with vocabulary.
Once in a while I think of a good line but I can't sing it cause it sounds forced so I replace it with a simpler line. What can I do to get over that?

[MidnightHysteria]

If you want outstanding lyrics, it is best to write them first and then write the music around them.

[the oddball]

ok I'm stuck in a song idea. I mean I have all the lyrics written down but theres the chours and a verse that i think there could be a better line for it but I'm not totally sure. So how do I figure out which one fits best?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

ok I'm stuck in a song idea. I mean I have all the lyrics written down but theres the chours and a verse that i think there could be a better line for it but I'm not totally sure. So how do I figure out which one fits best?

Well let me just read your mind and see the lyrics. OH THERE THEY ARE. Use the one, yeah you know the one.

[DeadReligion]

Lmao, APS. Yeah, Oddball, being a bit more specific could help us to help you. Also, as a general tip, a wider vocabulary always helps, I guess that's pretty obvious though. Just make sure you know what the hell they mean. Don't just put complicated words in something. And don't shy away from swearing either, don't use it excessively either. < I'm sure thats been said thousands of times...but whatever.

[the oddball]

Hey sorry I kind thought about it for a while and no wich ones I'm gonna use. I went to make a new thread and loged in and then I typed out everything and it took me awhile to but when I went to submit it, it said I had to log in so I did it again and it said I have used an invalid link or something and couldn't submit it and it said click here to email the administrators and thats disabled. this happened the first time I tried to send a song to. (Then it everntually worked and sent it 5 times)

Sorry scrath the sending part I got it sent after a while of trying.
I did look for a oplace to ask them questions but didn't find it so sorry if this is the wrong thread.

[deathscreamingsheep]

I have a question.
I have a hard time writing deeper or more meaningful lyrics & I have a hard time with vocabulary.
Once in a while I think of a good line but I can't sing it cause it sounds forced so I replace it with a simpler line. What can I do to get over that?

The reason it sounds forced may not be vocabulary.

I find assonance to be incredibly important in songwriting. The sound of the words themselves to me is as important as the meaning and generally if they don't sound how they feel "...e.g the soft stars on velvet midnight invite sleep..." is good in it's original language (Latin) because it actually makes you feel lulled by the words. However, in english the words do not sound right and become blocky and poor flowing.

[JTFC]

I suck at writing songs, but actually want to write a decent funny song, and am blank on ideas, any ideas for me?

[deathscreamingsheep]

Hmmm next time you say anything funny to your mates, anything at all... sod the context just write it down and go that way. In what way do you want to be funny? Comic or shrewd criticism or what?

[Guitardo]

If you want to write lyrics write it, it doesn't matter what other people think of it
If you want to write songs write them it doesn't matter what other people think of it

[drumass04]

Until you wanna actually sell/play a song for people.

A lot of my writing is written for other people to read, so it has to be at least half decent, otherwise they aren't going to enjoy it.

[Cripple]

My tip - After writing the first draft of your poem, look for boring words such as big, soft, or even lonely. Think of a more unique word to take it's place (http://http://thesaurus.reference.com/ can help), or even a metaphor or simile (like a lone flower in a prarie, as neglected as a lone flower in a prarie)

Also, try to give life to innanimate objects: "the rock gazed up at me as if to ask for forgivance"

[NeVer Fade 25]

How come i can post a thread?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

24 hour hold on creating threads. It cuts down on spam. In a day your account can make threads.

[in2deep060501]

here's the deal...

I have not trouble coming up with words, thats really easy, and i have no trouble making up riffs on the guitar. My problem is that i have no idea on how to go about piecing the two together. Im not much of singer...I think i have an OK voice, but i really dont know how to just sing a song that i wrote, which makes it ever more difficult.

I believe writing/making music is about expression and from me that's really important. plz help me out here if you can

[MidnightHysteria]

Write one around the other. Don't come up with them independently.

[drumass04]

Hey everyone,

Some of you will remember my piece titled 'For my Father'. Several weeks ago I gave it to my English teacher to see if she had any comments on it. She kept me behind at the end of the last lesson befopre we broke up for christmas. She told me that it was fantastic, and that she'd almost cried over it.

She also told me that I should submit it as GCSE Coursework, under the 'Creative Writing' banner. I would like to do this, but I have to write a commentary on the poem. Explaining why I chose specific literary devices and words etc.

Has anyone ever done this before? Do any of you have one you could send me to look over? (drumass04@hotmail.com if you have - you're welcome to add me on msn if you want) Any tips would be appreciated.

Cheers :)

Tim

[TojesDolan]

Sure Tim, why not I'll add you in a second. Anyhow, I'll need a link or something to help you a little bit out. :)

[drumass04]

Thanks for the help :)

[JTFC]

Hmmm next time you say anything funny to your mates, anything at all... sod the context just write it down and go that way. In what way do you want to be funny? Comic or shrewd criticism or what?

I'm digging the whole Flight of the Conchords-ish make fun of the world deal/the whole "story telling" deal, Stephen Lynch-ish :lol: I guess that's the best way to put it.

[Mr. Black]

A tip is, Exlpore your lyrical ideas to the fullest. Make a spider Diagram of all the possiblities that your song could have. Then pick out the bits you like.

[drumass04]

Cheers :thumb: I will certainly do this.

[deathscreamingsheep]

I have a question. Does anyone actually plan their songs before writing them?

Once I've got an idea for a song I tend to write very spontaneously and often write a full set of lyrics in about 10 minutes. Then once I've done that I'll give them to other people to look over and also go over them myself in an increasingly more detailed way.

[MidnightHysteria]

Sometimes I do. I usually just write a few lines first and then determine how the rest of the piece should work after that.

[drumass04]

I tend to look at my notebook and find a common theme, I then just write, brainstorming ideas around that theme. Then it all goes into the piece.

But sometimes I just write, without any cause, I just get an idea and write.

[emotionalfeedback]

I seem to be able to just ''go with the flow'' and write lyrics and then fairly easily write a guitar part for it. But I find my lyrics lame, and not meaningfull. Does anyone have any suggestions or techniques on writing symbolic or meaningfull lyrics?

[Nightvision]

search this forum for the words 'guide' and/or 'how to' - there are some good lessons about :)

[ITRIEDVOODOOONCE]

search this forum for the words 'guide' and/or 'how to' - there are some good lessons about :)
beaker? he was a good guy, a good guy, lots of laughs that beaker.....:upset:

[TojesDolan]

I liked that avatar. :upset:

Oh well you can't have everything in life. :D


On planning songs: Not really. They come off too plastic and clichéish.

The best thing to do is writing when inspired.

[Nightvision]

lol, I shall find another muppet-related avatar tonight. :p

[TojesDolan]

http://wh0rd.org/cookie-monster-in-rehab.png

Cookie monster ftw. :D

[Walker]

i think good songs are usually something you dont expect, like your in the car or shower or right before you go to bed, like when your minds not thinking too much and then you have an awesome tune and words jus seem to flow from it.. i think you can plan an awesome song but its easier when they jus come on there own ... listening to other peoples music and bands you find inspirational helps too and if you see something you like, find your own way of expressing it

[emotionalfeedback]

g'd up from the seat up. jeaaaaah boiii.

[soundman23457]

Whats up with the ABAB, AABB, ACBA stuff can someone explain it to me isent like the song stucture or something?

[A_Perfect_Sonnet]

Rhyme scheme. Same letter means that the words rhyme.

[emotionalfeedback]

like A=The Dog is Red
B= I went to the store
A=Get out of Bed
B= i threw away the core

etc. those were bad examples but you get the idea.

[soundman23457]

i sound stupied asking this but. how do i come about making melodies on the guitar or piano or just humming something in my head

Thanks

[TojesDolan]

Maybe theory can help you with different emotions or something... a subject I'm not particularly acknowledgeable of.

[Binnz]

I hate to be a bore because most of this stuff has already been said, but can anyone suggest anygood ways of writing good, mellow acoustic riffs and simple lyrics to accompany because I've got a party with some mates soon and someone always brings out the guitar.

Thanks

[Nightvision]

th-th-th-th-theory. In particular, chord construction, keys and modes (in that order if possible).

[Binnz]

ok, thanks. Did you ever use the site "mxtabs.net" ??? because everytime I go on that site it redirects me to this one

[Nightvision]

yeah, it was taken down after threats of legal action and stuff - the music nazis are clamping down on tabs, because chasing the p2p sites is proving too much like hard work.

To the best of my knowledge, the tabs at ultimate guitar are still up, which is better than nothing I guess. Failing that, google is always good.

[andysmit]

how are the music nazi's taking down tabs, thats really stupid, i think that music ppl are just trying to find people to sue since they couldnt get those who pirate, hence my title, hehehehe

[sandsoftime]

i want to write a happy song.
a lovely lighthearted skip
with a awsome beat
but everything i write is love lost boo hoo fading falling
it suck it's so depressing
all my attempts at a happy song are even worse than my tries at the sad ones
and i really have not noticed a whole lot of happy songs form any of you
why is this?

[ATC]

Because light hearted songs are not often taken seriously enough to present/critique. The genres most writers here come from deal with non-frothy emotions a lot of the time. If you want to write a happy song, go right ahead.

And this forum often has many light-hearted songs. Judging from the title, Ode to a cowboy, Satirical folk punk and teenagers should be one of those.

[sandsoftime]

it's true, what you said about happy songs not being taken seriously but i think that they can convey just as much emotion and power as any other song. they can lift you up, make you feel excited, and just make you want to go outside and enjoy life. a song like this, in my opinion, is a much harder thing to do than tell people how much your life sucks. no offense. i can't do it. this is just how i feel.

[DeadReligion]

They are popular only if you do it well. I do it in an odd way. Because odd **** makes me happy. Plane rides at night, for instance, taking off, landing. Sleeping makes me happy. So, my happy stuff is odd.

[Nightvision]

I've written a few happy upbeat pieces here that have had decent reviews. It's just most of the newer writers here are very angsty, and there tends to be a higher volume of new writers churning out songs about how they hate their dad/girlfriend/dog.

[andysmit]

im going to combine hate and happiness into one song, im going to make a metaphor abt how much i hate my cat but actually be talking abt the rainbows and how they make me feel...
>.>
<.<

[DeadReligion]

May the force be with you then. Jason, did someone actually do a song about hating their dog?

[Binnz]

If you wanna hear happy songs listen to something like jack johnson or summat because he is really uplifting and does it acoutically. Maybe thats how you could write a happy go lucky song???

[Nightvision]

Probably... I'd critique it for originality value alone.

EDIT: @ Deadreligion

[sandsoftime]

thanks a lot you guys and if you look at watergate, my first song, i thought it was funny and happy but it turns out that all the forced rhymes take away from that and just make it dumb...

[Hungmyself]

Hi im new and im confused about how to get my music to paper after ive written lyrics,
what dosent help is my guitars broken (into bits) after i lost my temper mucking up you know your right by nirvana,

[DeadReligion]

I've got a tip. This forum is not for the light-hearted.

[MidnightHysteria]

I've got a tip. This forum is not for the light-hearted.
I'm not sure if I'd say that. In theory, there's nothing wrong with writing a happy song. However, in general, it does tend to be harder to write one with good lyrics.

[deathscreamingsheep]

I ahve a problem. I've just been given the hardest task possible. Writing a non-**** love song.

It's not an aspect of love or anything like that either: just an I'm attracted to you song.

[ATC]

Name three non-**** love songs you like, for starters.

[deathscreamingsheep]

Er... you see I like some love songs. But I can't think of any that lyrically are actually any good. Which is probably why I'm not the right guy for the job.

My favourites are "Oh, what a night" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
"I'm a believer" by the Monkees and other such songs.

But I don't think I'd really want to write like that.

[holy_roller99]

i have started about 4 months ago on writing and posting my songs taht i have written. to anybody who has read my stuff, i just want to know how i can improve my writing and if in need of an example just ask and i will repost my False Hero's song for anyone to crit and look at.

[spirit]

I haven't exactly analysed it as such, but I'd say Pet Sounds is a reasonably happy album in general. Certainly it sounds it. Good to look at if you're going to write a happy piece?

This is a suggestion rather than a question, but it'd be nice if somebody agreed with me.

[joe_04_04]

just wondering what the basic format for rock or metal songs are....
thanks to all the help

[DeadReligion]

In response to ATC: Forever (Dropkick Murphys), Cupid's Arrow (Tiger Army), Santa Carla Twilight (Tiger Army), Annabel Lee (Tiger Army, originally a poem by Poe). I know it was directed at me, I thought I'd list some anyway.

In response to MidnightHysteria: I meant it isn't a good place for people who are easily offended (which is what I always thought lighthearted meant anyway).

[MidnightHysteria]

No you're thinking of fainthearted

[DeadReligion]

Right, right. Thanks.

[mullets suk]

does anyone here use rhyming sites. ive always had a prolem with rhyming and i was wondering if u guys think this is cheating or wot.

[deathscreamingsheep]

If you can't think of a word that rhymes that won't make the lyrics sound forced then just don't rhyme is my general rule. I don't use a rhyming sites- my writing deity is my thesaurus.

[drummerboy65]

hi im a drummer my band want me to help them think of a song we dont know what to write it about and how to write it any help??

[drummerboy65]

I Think Of Good Song Names But Dunno How To Write About It Like 1 Song I Thought Of The Forgotten State

[NoHoper]

Drummer boy,

Basicaly take a song name you've thought of, think about what it means, then extend the ideas. e.g The forgotten State can be a metaphor for anything a forgotten person, a place in your past life, anything in the past. Think of what it means to you and write about it.

[drummerboy65]

Well just started singing summit about it and i thought that sounds good so i recored it on my mp3 ill play it and write the lyrics down hold on.....

_ means need summit to go there


(chorus)
This state has always been forgotton
why has no-one ever heard of this place
_________________________________
_________________________________

(guitar solo)


(verse)
we walk these treets of this forgotten state
newspaper rolling about the floor
people sitting out in the alleyways
i watched those lonely people cursing over themselves
i've always wondered how they felt till the day it all went wrong!!!!!!!!!!

and dunno what to put after any ideas????????:smoke:

[TheRockerGuy]

Hey, I was wondering if someone can give me advise on writing a love song?