Song writing techniques

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Typo Szar
Member Since: Jul 04, 2002

I havent learned alot of musical theory in my short life... so when i write songs, i usually think of a cool chord progression, then maybe have like a motif for the song, then just jam around wtih my band to make the parts... works for us.
how do u guys do it?

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...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 10:31 am

was this meant for the music composition forum? anyway, i do it differently eery time, sometimes i go from an opening line, sometimes from a cool chord sequence, sometimes from a chorus part. depends on what gets me going...and thats the enjoyment of it for e 'cos i never know how one song will progress....

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 10:36 am

Yup, consider it moved, sorry flame, had to move it to the new forum :-)

When I write it usually start with one catchy riff or chord progression (a.k.a. "the hook"). Then I take a look at what chords that riff is made of, get a loose grasp on the key of the song, try to figure out which chord logically work inside that structure and play around with them...

Of course those hard and fats rules don't always need to be adhered to, but I have found it to be a good place to start.

Member
Since: Dec 14, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 03:38 pm

My advice is ALWAYS record yourself whenever you practice or sit around noodlin. This way when you find that harmony or melody that hits you, it's down and not lost to the moment. Second, listen to as much music as you can get your hands on. Everything from everywhere. American, Classical, Asian, Middle Eastern...all regions, all time periods. Really listen and try to figure out what they're doing. Which brings us to three...you need to know theory! You can only expand an idea as far as your knowledge and imagination will take you. You don't necesarily need to know the difference between the theory of Rameu and Schenker, but you should know your scales, chords, standard progressions, and how they work and relate together inside out! You hear alot of crap about "I just let the music take me places". That's nonesense...that 'place' is delusion. The more theory you have under the belt the better. EVERY great composer and musician from Bach to Louis Armstrong knew they're theory (some better thatn others, but they knew it). To say all the sudden we don't need to know it is just plain wrong. It's your craft, why not learn how it works? I've written pieces using simple harmonic progressions and small melodic lines as material for composition. But it's theory that helps me develop it and really make something out of it...otherwise I'd be writng Britany Spears crap...and who wants that???

An outburst for perfection
Member
Since: Dec 11, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 07:29 pm

Sometimes I start with a bass line and drum loop but most of the time it's with my Guitar.
I start playing a few chords and singing anything that comes into my head, most of the time the lyrics I'm singing don't make any sense at all.
Normally in one recording session I try many different things, I don't try and stick to the same song cause to me you don't need to get the whole song down at the same time, a verse melody is all I usually go for and everything else comes easy.
I then listen to it back a few time.
9 times out of ten I'll have at least one good song in there.
I then listen to the lyrics and Work around what I think I'm singing, cause I generally mumble a little when recording so I've no clue what I'm singing about which makes it easier to write the words.
Most of the time I get a good few verses of lyrics which sit perfectly into the song, I then read over them and try to find a subject...
The rest just flows.
The next step is usually the Lead/riffs. I like to have lots of little Guitar licks all over the place.
Then it's the arrangement and trying to figure out what I want the finished recording to sound like.
I find writing songs quite easy, but then again...Out of all the songs I've written I'd say I've only about 15 or so I'd call real belting classics.




Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 12:21 am

I can't express how happy I am to see this forum started! I seriously doubt that I will be contributing much, however I will be reading a lot. There have been so many occurances in my life that I would love to express through music. When I was playing lead instruments, I could segway backand forth, change genre, change time signature, alter chord structures. Now with bass, I can create underlying theams and help make music live. But alas, creating a song has just not been in the cards for me. Sometimes I think I have heard too much music. Any new idea will soon follow something I have heard before. I am extremely interested in this craft. I hope this forum flurishes!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 06:15 am

Thanks Walt, I hope it does well too, there has never been much of this type of chatter at HRC, I hope this sparks some.

Member
Since: Dec 16, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 08:27 am

Walt - don't give up!
I think a lot of good musicians are ihibited when it comes to writing because they know so much, they (like you) think a new song has to be 100% original. This is impossible. Most songwriters (artists of all types) take bits of what has gone before, jumble them up, add in 10% inspiration, and come up with an 'original' work. If you spend too much time thinking 'is this original' then you'll give up when you realise that great hook line is a bit too much like...er that Beatles classic! I think it helps to be a bit of a scatter brain and forgetful (like me) that way you kind of mis-remember a couple of good songs you've heard before, jumble them in your brain, and think you've come up with a great new melody from 'somewhere'!

Whenever I hear a new album by one of the greats, Bowie, Springsteen, Dylan, etc I can hear snippets of other songs by other people in there, but it doesn't put those guys off. Don't let it stop you. Also, the more you write the better you get at it, like anything else in life.

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 08:33 am

Usally i write the lyrics to something. then i diddle with the guitar, going through pages of lyrics till something happens. Another way is to listen to a song- get the beat and structure in your head, then write lyrics to that structure. After that go home and make up the music. Im much more of a words guy than music guy- and thats the way i go about it...

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 11:53 pm

Gylnb,

Me thinks you are right!; Me does.

I have been bouncing around copyright law liturature to understand the legalaties involved in a little mini project. EEEEEK! The only way to be 100% legal is to burn all of your instruments, turn off the radio, tv, and etc. and live on another planet! To be legal is to not have amased enough money to be worth sueing! The whole mess has become so academic and phylisophical that it is purely a matter of debate. So....I will worry less about originality. Do it....be done...if you survive...do it again! In europe they recognize performers rights. Maybe that is the ticket. Register in Europe, play here, make cd's in Red China, and market through Australia!

Member
Since: Dec 14, 2002


Dec 17, 2002 01:38 am

"Good musicians borrow...Great musicians Steal"
-Paul McCartney

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 19, 2002 11:51 am

Wow! Just had one of those light bulb flashes! No wonder people just don't have common sense any more.....It's illegal!

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Dec 25, 2002 02:01 pm

I'll sit down with my guitar or whatever instrument I choose to work with and write something that I like, even if it's just the same chords repeated, and lay it down on a track. After listening to that I'll add in other noises I think are cool (overlaying guitar parts, synths, drum machines, blah) and take out parts that I don't like, after doing that until the music is an actual song I'll stand up, turn my mic up, turn my PA system up, and play the music I just recorded, singing whatever comes to my head at the time. Most of my music has a dark, heavy feel to it, so most of the times the lyrics are somewhat dark and heavy, but yeah, moving on... Anyway, after playing around I'll go back and write down what I sung that I can remember, then do it again and again, then compile the lyrics together and see if it makes sense, then I play the music back and sing the lyrics that are on paper and see how it flows, if it flows well and I think the lyrics are decent (which is rare because I'm very picky... I always want to write some great lyrics that will touch somebody...) I'll start tracking.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 25, 2002 02:29 pm

Quote:
Wow! Just had one of those light bulb flashes! No wonder people just don't have common sense any more.....It's illegal!


Even odder yet, why is it called "common sense"...cuz it is one of the most uncommon things in the world.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 26, 2002 10:59 am

lol, too true!

Member
Since: Jan 21, 2003


Jan 25, 2003 09:55 am

another tip..

sometimes when writing new lyrics it sounds quite crappy but the more you sing it or beat a guitar with the catchier it gets!

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