i play guitar, and enjoy composing tunes on it, but my problem is i really struggle to write lyrics, any tips?

Question

its doing my head in, i know people say "just" write about your life or what you did in a day but its well hard to make up sensible sounding lyrics then put them to music, please help
thanks, Paul

Answer 1

Good lyrics are outward looking and never introspective. That's lesson number one. Anyone can write lyrics, but it's usually the first couple of lines that are the most difficult.

Firstly....know where you're going with it. Don't just start randomely hoping for bits of this and that and end up with line after line of 'thoughts'. You need a story or a concept or an idea and then start painting pictures with words. Otherwise you're trying to pluck ideas out of mid air, line after line and that's very difficult.

Secondly....always always always...music first. Take some of the best song writers who use lyricists and i absolutelely guarantee that the music was written first. i.e Elton John, Burt Bacharach etc etc. If the odd word or phrase springs to mind while you're writing, then save it my all means. It usually means something.

Thirdly, there's an exercise you can do that'll really open up your creative chanels. Write your tune, then sit down and fill the tune with words. It's got to be complete abstract nonsense. Nothing at all must rymne. Use any word you like from banana to zebra, it doesn't matter...just complete and utter nonsense. ie..I went to the shops and bought my zebra a banana, because I had a fish up my nose etc etc

Then....write it again. This time just fill it in with your concept or story. Again make no attempt to get anything to rymne, but make a sensible effort to put all your ideas down. Keep this to use for your actual lyrics.

Thirdly....now write the lyrics you want. You''ll find your mind has really opened up and you'll have loads of ideas and a lot to say.

Remember not to be introspective. You'll end up sounding like a sixth form school girl and no one with have any empathy with what you're saying. If I tell you 'I'm feeling miserable', you may feel something. but it won't be the same thing I'm feeling. If I tell you my dog got run over, he was my best friend etc etc, I stand a much better chance of making you feel the same way as I do. OK that's a crude example..but i'm sure you get the point.

Also, learn how to structure your songs to accept lyrics easily. That's quite a long subject and a different question...so i won't go in to that, but I'll tell you if you ask me.

Answer 2

Write the music first and gradually build up a mental picture of what kind of story the lyrics would be telling in that particular tune... once you have something for a song to be about, and you've already set the mood with the music, you'll probably find it easier to write.

Go over lots of song lyrics you like and try to understand what you like about them and why...

Most of all, don't buy into the idea that all great lyricists are immediately able to write well (re: natural lyricists)... it's down to self confidence in the end, even good writers are held back by a lack of it...

Answer 3

Why try writing 'sensible sounding lyrics'.? You may have an abstract preference and your trying to hard to be like everybody else!! Some of the most interesting and profound lyrics are quiet often completely of the wall. Usually you may just need a creative nudge...Try cutting up interesting words and titles from mags and newspapers ..and then laying them out at random on a table to see what comes up. David bowie used that method and it hasn't harmed him. Also , while you are composing on the guitar..try to hum/whistle the melody line as this can induce words or phrase to enter your head.

Answer 4

What are you thinking about when you write the music? What's your mood like? I've dabbled with poetry and whenever I've found myself stuck trying to find a word to rhyme, I look at what I'm trying to say differently. Like how can I re-word this and still say the same thing? Check this out...

"Clouds all around it's dark in my soul, It leaves me cold"

Only a few other things to rhyme there so try it another way...

"Walking through shadows with no light to guide. Is this my life? Is this where I reside?"

That's a bit better. It's all in how words end...I just made that up and it might not be what you're looking for but give it go yourself. Hope I've helped...

Answer 5

I am RIGHT WITH YOU. There are a number of artists who say that this all doesn't come naturally -- they REALLY, REALLY have to work to write a good song. So don't be discouraged (like I am most of the time). All of the suggestions so far are good, I think. Another suggestion is to find a word or phrase that you think sounds good, then find a place to put it in your song... even if it's just for the aural effect of the words rather than their literal meaning. (Look at all the crap that's out there -- do most songs make any sense? Are they _about_ anything at all? Nah. So don't worry about it.)

Answer 6

it is far less annoying for me to jot down lyrics first because of the fact they only take place. All my notebooks are crammed with random lines I finally end up thinking of, which contains all my notebooks for college. So while it comes crunchtime, each and all of the lyrics are already floating around for me so I artwork on the instrumental component, and then mildew the lyrics around the instrumentals counting on how the gadgets finally end up sounding. BQ: Cooperation. until eventually you're a one guy band, and one guy recording artist and producer. Then by way of all potential be a jerk. BQ2: the two acoustic guitar as you reported, violin, or saxophone. i myself love an excellent sax even nevertheless I certainly can't play one myself.

Answer 7

How about putting old poetry or other old songs to new music? Some of the best music in the world has been carrying forward traditional themes, rather than being wholly original. Remember the Byrds "Turn, Turn, Turn"? It came from the Bible. There are many beautiful songs in the poetry of William Blake. Just be sure you stick to things that are old enough there's no royalty fees involved in using them.

Answer 8

try not to put too much effort into it and work the words around a melody. If it makes it easier base the melody around the guitar chord progressions.

Answer 9

You are not a natural lyricist. Find someone who can put words to your tunes like Andrew, Lloyd and Webber does.

Answer 10

i just freestyle it. artist don't always make their songs rhyme, so you don't have to, that could be your unique style. dint over think it write what you feel, and if it sounds good, go with it, whether it rhymes or not, just have fun.