I'm getting kinda frustrated...Songwriting tips?

Question

Well, I've pretty much gone paranoid about my writing since my friend told me the rhythm to this song I wrote sounded like Chemicals React. It's gotten to me so much that everything I write just sounds the same...lots of words...no exact point. I've had writer's block for what feels like forever now! Does anyone have any tips on how to get past writer's block...or could you maybe suggest a subject to write about?

I can't say I've had much experience with love and heartbreak or whatever...so I feel like it's just stupid to write so many songs about something I can't really relate to..Plus EVERYONE writes about love and breakups. I don't know what exactly I'd like to write about...because pretty much the only emotion I've experienced lately is frustration (over not being able to write anything)..and believe me I've tried to write about frustration...but I just get more frustrated! lol

Answer 1

Write about personal life experiences. write about things youd like to do. things youd like to see. what your dreams are. what your life is like.
Who said stuff had to rhyme???

If you want to ... maybe you can just carry a notepad and working pen around with you in your walking around, working, leisure times funtimes days and everytime you get a thought just 'subject head it' on your pad. Or write what you are thinking at that time. If you have the time to just at that moment.
Sometimes if you are trying to get something thats a bit sad over to someone / people, listen to the words and melody of some sad music...(i.e.that celine dion song nothing compare to you is about the loss of a child) If u listen to the words, live thru the song with the writer, feel the words with the writer, love with the writer, and lose with the writer....
If you want to feel happy watch a comedy film that you know makes you howl with laughter. or reminisce about something that happened that you found extremely funny. Only you will know what makes you happy or sad.
Like the song Rem did everybody hurts. I feel that if they had that playing up at Beachy Head for instance thru the phone there, that a lot that go up there would hear it and realise that nothing is worth taking a life for and that we all go thru hard times, but they dont last forever... there is allways a light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.. its just that we have to find a way to find it
I always find that writing about stuff is very theraputic. I have a feeling that maybe if our friend is into this writing lark like you are how do you know there's not a little bit of jealousy there and she maybe realises that you are far better at it than you think you are or that she is... hmmm!

Writers block, mental blocks, memory lapses... happen to all of us at some point
Another good way is to force yourself to sit for an hour a day at the same time each day, and even if you only write two words on your paper, eventually your brain will get used to the idea that you need to do this and it will come back to you naturally...so naturally that you probably wont even notice it happening

Answer 2

Hey there, I write music and books as well so I know where you're at with the whole writer's block thing.

First off, if your music has the same tune as another song, don't sweat! I listen to about a dozen radio stations and I hear a tune and think "wait, I've heard this only slightly different and with different words." It happens. And with your words, it's easier to write about something you know then something that is your polar opposite. So if you've ever had a broken heart, you can write about that. If you haven't, your song might come out like other songs that are about heartbreak.

I've found that writer's block isn't really curable. Have more than one piece of work in progress so if you reach a stand still with one, you have another to go to.

A lot of my inspiration comes either out of the blue or about stuff I read. I read a book in fifth grade a wrote a song about the title of the book. I think it was called, "My Heart Is On The Ground." I had a dose of heart break so I knew where to go. Some of my inspiration comes also from random things on tv. I wrote something called Fate On A Bullet just from watching a crime drama. . . so the inspiration is endless.

I would suggest, not writing about heart break, break ups, and love. Songs like that are starting to run out of steam because so many people are doing them. I can't find a single break up/ heartbreak song that's good because they all sound the same. . . they aren't rare anymore. You should write music that expresses who you are and how you want people to know you. Would you rather be known as a depressed, lonely, broken hearted person or a funny, smart, interessting one? I go with the second in my opinion. If you write about something you love, then it will be unique and people will get it stuck in their heads because there is nothing else like it.

Hopes this helps!

Answer 3

Well, I'm going to try and help you out with a little advice. I write all instrumental music, mostly in the novelty piano and stride style of the 1920s. But, I think this tip might help you out.

1) Come up with a musical concept for your piece. Decide what rhythm you want, and what chord changes you want, and what mode you intend to write the piece in (e.g. major, minor, whole tone, etc) before you put lyrics to it... Remember - what you do musically effects just as much as the lyrics

It doesn't really matter whether the music or the lyrics come first - what matters is that the lyrics can stand on their own as good poetry, and the music can stand alone as being inventive and original.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Don't edit or critique yourself...you will always be your own worst enemy...but better that, than to be ignorant to your faults. Just let the words and songs come out naturally, and then work on refining them after the fact, touching them up and editing them a little.

There's a reason most bands have a producer seperate from the band itself. There are guys like Rick Ruben who hear halfway decent songs and turn them into hits. It's not that the band isn't good at writing songs...but they don't have the ear to hear what will sell or what would really kick a song into gear. It's a really special talent to be able to hear what makes a song sound good and sell to the masses before it's even laid down on tape.

Just get your songs out and lay down the foundations. You can't build anything until you have a stable (and unchanging) basis to build up from. Unfortunately, your songs may require some outside help to turn them from so/so songs into really decent tracks.

Answer 5

well if you are writing lyrics... you can cut out words that rhyme... then come up with a subject.... then make sentences about that subject ending with the rhyming words...

makin up silly songs used to get me past writers block too.... write about everything you see just lay in the floor and write about the pictures on the wall.. the ceiling... the couch... the pillow... whatever you see.... it helps get your creative juices flowing.... try free styling it... like just not stopping it doesnt matter if something sounds stupid it just gets your focus somewhere else... trust me ! :)

good luck!

Answer 6

I like writing random songs when I come up with a really good line. Try coming up with really deep thoughts according to your mood at the time. Like I was writing a song when I wanted revenge. I find this helpful.

Answer 7

I'm going to be a song writer for my job when I'm older. It's simple, you put your thoughts on paper and start from there. The more ideas you have the more you can write better. Good luck!

Answer 8

A song about love. Or heartbreak. LOL.. Those are about the two easiest subjects to write about...

Answer 9

Think of a subject. Any subject. Then write random words under it. even if it doesnt make sence. it helps spark ideas for my story writing

Answer 10

k first don't copy other artists work. write about things that u like problems, people ( crushes) or just strart making things up as u go along