Hmm, so do you want to write "string riffs" to use when your singing those lines?

Let's see..it's really just a matter of figuring it out. Don't actually sing it, try picking up your guitar, and just huming the melody that you sing. Instead of writing a riff to fit it, build a riff around it. While your humming the melody, just start playing the guitar part to the melody that you're humming.

If that doesn't help I have some other ideas.

Ok looks like everyones been talking about structure today. Well first off theres nothing wrong with verse/chorus/verse/bridge/chorus/verse/chorus or whatever traditional structure you want to use but you by no means have to stick with this.

Ok so a lot of people maybe start off writing pretty simply structured songs and are looking for tips on making songs with more engaging structures. Well a good start is not always working on repetitions of 4 or 8 riffs. Start first by using six riffs before changing parts just to mix it up. The next point is that an overall part can consist of more than one riff, for example in one of my songs the chorus consists of 3 riffs.

The first (A) is a clean gentle riff, the second (B) is a powerchord distorted type riff and the third riff (C) is a variation on (B). The structure of the chorus is ABCABC, notice that none of the riffs are repeated next to each other and also that the main repetition is in patterns of 3 bars.

Ok, that was pretty simple right but lets say you want to do something a little bit more. This tip borrows on the idea of a theme in classical music. Basically a theme is a short riff usually with a set of variations that keeps popping up in the music. Now the trick to this one is not to necesarily always play it in the same way or on the same instrument and then evolve rhythm parts around the theme (note that the theme can be played on practically anything..even drums if it has distinctive timing so using this everyone needs to take turns playing rhtym). Im not sure if ive articulated that last one very well but if your familiar with any classical music at all (even if only from ads) you should be able to identify where this has been used.

Right then..im far too drunk so will prob come back and edit this into proper sentences and such like tomorrow

Song Structure !
 

Great job Threadstarter :thumb: I'll try to help too

I don't know if anyone wrote about this, but........anyway

Another good song structure is completely changing the song. But be careful ! You must be very keen on it otherwise you'll ruin the whole song.

If you listen to Megadeth's "Peace Sells" album (not a big metal fan by the way), you'll understand what I mean. It has a couple of songs which completely change after secong chorus or bridge or solo. It's like a new bridge but it completely differs what was before it and ends without coming back to the begining. In the same time it sounds great..........But again, it demands hard work on it, so it's not that easy.

Try these songs from the album to understand better:

-----------------
Peace Sells
Wake up Dead
------------------

Hope I could help a little :wave:

Vocals !
 

I'm not that good when it comes to vocals and I started singing simply because I couldn't find a guitarist/singer to form a band with (yes, I didn't want just a guy with microphone, no offence please :thumb: ), and mostly because the songs I wrote were kind of personal and I didn't want anyone else to sing them...........no jealosy......I just thought I can do it better because I wrote them.......ah anyway

I'll try to give a very good tip about singing. If you're playing something very heavy then it's for you........I play kind of a grunge/rock thing but it's good for me too.

What I want to say is that even if you're playing something very heavy, don't try to sing like straight to the chords like a robot. Yes I know it can sound good but if you take music away, it will sound as if you're telling a boring poem (Rammstein is a very good example......try to take music away and you'll hate it.........although they have a few good songs......maybe).
That's what I do. Instead of telling an agressive poem, try to sing that agressive heavy thing melodicly. The best fit would be singing in 70's Rock'n'Roll, Blues or Country style. I know it may sound stupid but it works great for me.

Also istead of boring screaming try to sing more uhhhhhh's and aaahhhhh's. You know what I mean. Just listen to Classical Rock'n'Roll and Country.

Thanks for reading till the end :wave:

Yes, vocal melody, as I call it, is a really good thing to put in a song.

I think a crucial part of songwriting is building up a climax, which is why I love long classic rock songs as opposed to 3 minute radio-friendly pop songs. changing the tempo of a song to build up to the climax and then going nuts sounds awesome when done right and well.

Ok, sorry everyone I haven't been around for a while. Thanks to btoto for his help earlier.

[QUOTE=thelizardkingcc]I think a crucial part of songwriting is building up a climax, which is why I love long classic rock songs as opposed to 3 minute radio-friendly pop songs. changing the tempo of a song to build up to the climax and then going nuts sounds awesome when done right and well.[/QUOTE]


Amen to that.

[QUOTE=Ficus]Amen to that.[/QUOTE]

*bumps month old topic*

is anyone still interested in this? anything think I should do more?

I'd like to see a little more on writing guitar parts - like going into detail, how to make '4-chord songs' sound less boring, appergiating chords, being creative, etc. I know you've already said a lot on the subject, and thanks for that because its been helpful, but if you have any more advice to offer on the topic I'd love to hear it.