I'm a musician, but I need to write more. Any tips? I've tried drawing on emotions, but thats usually when i'm depressed and there's only so much of that I can write. Its mainly the lyrics I have the problems with. Thanks.
2006-09-11 04:54:36 · 15 answers · asked by Jem 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
haha! No - i'm hardly ever depressed, thats just it! The only inclination I have to write is then! I just struggle with "happy" lyrics!!
2006-09-11 05:11:59 · update #1
Hey, I'm a musician, and have played in original bands for ages. One of the guitarists and I are the main song writers for the band, and we have a system. Firstly we mess around with chords humming over them to find a melody, the melody is critical. If you don't have a strong melody you will find it hard to write lyrics, and the melody is what people latch on to, if the melody isn't really strong they wont bother listening to your lyrics. Once we have a melody, we decide what key it should be in and adjust it accordingly. As soon as we have the chord progression and melody for the verse, chorus and middle 8, we think of what kind of song it is, think of a topic, then we have a brain storming session. We use word association, saying as many words we can think of to do with the topic and writing them down. Then you have a bank of words that you can use in your song. I think one of the most important things about our system is that there are two of us, if there are two band members present , then one always acts as the other's cheese detector, and the bad lyrics get filtered out. The only tool we use other than our experience and combined brains, is an online rhyming dictionary..........
http://www.rhymezone.com/
and here is a song writing tips site...........
http://www.musesmuse.com/
hope that helps.
2006-09-11 06:09:00 · answer #1 · answered by highbriddrummunkey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try story or character songs that aren't autobiographical - think up a situation, add a couple of characters, then think about their emotions in those circumstances. It can still be sung/written in the first person if you like, or third person if you want a change. You can still bring emotional resonance to it, but it doesn't necessarily have to be your own direct experience so opens you up to a wider range of subjects. Lots of Beatles songs are famous for this, like Eleanor Rigby, She's Leaving Home (inspired by a paper clipping), A Day in the Life, and are no less resonant for it. Keep a little notebook to jot down ideas for subjects, quotes/stories you see in papers, snippets of overheard conversations etc and then you'll build up a whole load of material that you can turn to when you're ready. Having that kind of backup is really helpful even if you don't use it directly, sometimes it can just trigger a different idea, or morph into something completely different from the original note once you get going on writing something.
2006-09-11 12:12:56 · answer #2 · answered by Mark B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the news of the day and draw your own conclusions. Does it make you happy? or sad? maybe one story could give you inspiration. It could be the end of someones struggle which is overcome. You could write about nightmares or things you yourself or other people look forward to.
My old memories have inspired some of mine. I've even written about a room(bedsit) where i met an ex of mine. You know the kind of thing, the things we did, where we went, how we felt about each other. A bit like Brian Adams does, especially with Summer of 69. People relate to that kind of song. He was a good inspiration to me, when i took up accoustic and songwriting.
Like another answerer suggested, write stuff down whilst you can still remember it. You could even carry a notebook with you.
Do something different, or go places you haven't been before. Look at the people and the background, as in towns, countryside and note the weather and mood.
Each song is different. It shouldn't be forced though. That's how a lot of Bands/singers have bad second albums.
And don't forget to enjoy what your doing. It is why you started after all (",)
2006-09-12 08:28:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imagine your fantasies of finding love, or having loved.
Broken heart and losing love.
Those are always in demand by artists.
"Rain" has been a little overdone.
You didn't say what your favorite genre/s are.
I've seen and heard some great music, and lousy lyrics.
Lyrics can be from your own imagination, the ways and words that you would use to express your feelings.
Lyrics do not necessarily have to rhyme, but try rhyming at least every other line in a verse. It flows. Always keep in mind a vocalist and how well or easily it can be performed.
You can take some liberty with grammar if it makes sense, and makes the song flow more easily. A little grammatical corruption is forgiven in poetry and music.
Bear in mind the audience to whom you are appealing.
Write some poetry first. As you do, a melody usually comes to mind.
My hiccups are putting together the right chord progressions, but I'm still learning. Lots of trial and error sometimes. Notation comes fairly easy, once I have a melody in mind.
It's lots of fun, I'm sure you will agree. I have one finished and a demo soon, for copyright. Working on arrangement with my teacher. CW.
Working on 4 more, but still tweaking those.
Two POP, one Latin, and another CW.
I told my teacher, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing".
Having a ball, anyway.
Good luck.
2006-09-11 12:37:19 · answer #4 · answered by ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always find that writing more happy lyrics is easy when I'm outside in the sun or thinking of good times!!
Always always write about what you know!! and your not trying to tell me your depressed all the time??? CHEER UP!!!
2006-09-11 12:00:52 · answer #5 · answered by GEO BHOY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you can do is write what you know and from the heart. That's what the best song writers do, its either sex, drugs or being down on your luck. Morrissey has made a fortune out of being depressed so why can't you. Good luck with it.
2006-09-11 11:59:26 · answer #6 · answered by GaryUKB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Write sentences that come to mind during the day mix them in a bag and pull out one at a time rearrange as necessary.
2006-09-11 12:04:29 · answer #7 · answered by CPK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get drunk and pick fights with people for no good reason. Then perhaps have a spiritual revival and find god and all that stuff. Try and fit some drug taking in as well.
2006-09-11 12:02:38 · answer #8 · answered by John B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well one thing that my favorite artists (they're Christians) do is, just write about how amazing God is.
And who says you have to limit yourself to words. You can have non-worded songs too. Instrumental songs are fun.
2006-09-11 12:32:07 · answer #9 · answered by ayb_is_mine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
think about past experiences that you've had, happy ones of course. this way you can write a song that really relates to you.
2006-09-11 12:29:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋