How Do You Write A Song?

Discussion in 'Musicians' started by icebear, Jun 15, 2017.

  1. Scratched

    Scratched Members

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    I experiment using things I think will sound good with the subject of my song.

    I don't do the playing part haphazardly, it's something that has to "feel" right. It only gets inconvenient when I'm working on a rhythm but end up discovering a really good lead though.

    But music does not have to be set in stone. All things need to be changeable. My grandmother taught me this about painting pictures (oil painting), they sometimes change themselves as you create them. This is true, I have

    done oil paintings too and it is surprising how progress will naturally change and it's better to just go with it.
     
  2. Banned Drama Queen

    Banned Drama Queen Idiot

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    For me it's a mixture of personal experiences and when the creative juices are flowing. I've written songs that I've never put to music. Maybe now that I'm more settled I will. I write the songs first and then kind of create the music. The chorus is easiest for me. I play guitar, I don't play any other instruments so that's the route I have taken. I don't know if this helps or not. I've kind of marched to the beat of my own drum since I picked it up when I was like 12 years old maybe. I got my first guitar in junior high and just winged it but picked it up from tricks other people taught me. This may not help... I feel like I'm babbling ha ha
     
  3. Scratched

    Scratched Members

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    Totally understand, that's basically how it went with me.
     
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  4. Banned Drama Queen

    Banned Drama Queen Idiot

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    This is probably why I've never given lessons ha ha... I'm so unorthodox
     
  5. Scratched

    Scratched Members

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    Me too lol
     
  6. brack1936

    brack1936 Member Lifetime Supporter

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    I'm 35 now and have always found it tough to like what I've written. I've got a ton of experience playing and I've even played my songs for crowds and I always get a few people asking me what they were. Still - it's tough to be 100% happy with them. You always want to change things but think about this; Kurt Cobain of Nirvana is a good person to use as an example because he's actually said it straight. When an interviewer once asked him about the meaning behind certain lines in Smells Like Teen Spirit - he just looked at them strange and said "that's just something we'd say when arriving at parties." Basically, as long as it fits it'll probably work.
     
  7. jesss

    jesss Members

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    Ohh.. I wish I could write songs and had a nice voice to sing them! I am jealous of the people that can do that! But I guess everyone has their special talents, still cannot find mine though :sweatsmile:
     
  8. Ged

    Ged Tits and Thigh Man.

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    I don't know.

    How do YOU write a song?
     
  9. Everythinggirl

    Everythinggirl I'll Be Your Mirror

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    Trying the month long isolation technique. Hope it works out lol.
     
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  10. Isaac Rector

    Isaac Rector Members

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    Try playing random notes, shaping them little by little into something you expect to hear. Once you get that down you can start trying to surprise yourself, or try to like embody an emotion or experience into one of your songs by imaging something while playing. All takes practice, consistent practice... and I'm a hypocrite
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2017
  11. WOLF ANGEL

    WOLF ANGEL Senior Member - A Fool on the Hill Lifetime Supporter

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    People like songs for a few reasons, Music, Lyrics or particular delivery .
    Artists like Telly Savalas = IF

    Leonard Cohen = Suzanne

    Lee Marvin = Wandrin Star

    were hardly Melodic - but successful
    This being sad points to the delivery
     
  12. WOLF ANGEL

    WOLF ANGEL Senior Member - A Fool on the Hill Lifetime Supporter

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    Poetic Verse does not have to rhyme - it is down to the sentiments
    Musing over the past can be simple whether in general

    Or a particular instance

    Memories can be a good source of material
     
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  13. WOLF ANGEL

    WOLF ANGEL Senior Member - A Fool on the Hill Lifetime Supporter

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    (Sir) Elton had his biggest successes putting Tunes to Bernie's words
    Be it a lament for a lost love

    A Sailors retreat

    Or a Police report
     
  14. wilsjane

    wilsjane Nutty Professor HipForums Supporter

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    Music and lyrics do not have to run hand in hand and note for note, they can alternate where necessary. Her is the best example that I can find, but Tchaikovsky had a lot of experience in the matter. Although few people ever realize it, he wrote 11 operas.
    Hopefully I will listen to one of your works at Covent Garden one day.
     
  15. WOLF ANGEL

    WOLF ANGEL Senior Member - A Fool on the Hill Lifetime Supporter

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    Bearing in mind songwriting and instrumental playing, one has to do that which one is most comfortable with
    For me, I begin with lyrics
    E.G. :-
    WHO: = I
    WHAT: = Saw you
    WHERE: = In the Street
    WHEN: = Yesterday
    WHY: = I heard your voice
    HOW: = so sweet, the sound of memories
    Becomes " I saw you (passing) in the Street, - just yesterday
    I heard your voice - so sweet, the sound of memories, (of a time so far away)"

    The tune can then form from the pace of pronunciation.
    The words be descriptive, slightly amend from the norm - as creative imagination and poetic licence takes over
    = (Just an idea - to consider as a start)
     
  16. rjhangover

    rjhangover Senior Member

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    Sometimes I write the lyrics first...sometimes I play a chord progression and then write the lyrics to it. But I've never done it on the keyboard. I gotta try it, now that I've thought about it.

    I get a lot of inspiration from Greg Brown and Drive by Truckers.

    Greg has the KISS theory, keep it simple stupid....works for me.
    I'd love sitting around a campfire at a hobo camp sippin' whisky and playing guitars with him. I play some of his songs.




     
  17. rjhangover

    rjhangover Senior Member

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    Drive by Truckers write great lyrics....




     
  18. rjhangover

    rjhangover Senior Member

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    I used a thesaurus to write BIG BROTHER....

     
  19. rjhangover

    rjhangover Senior Member

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  20. rjhangover

    rjhangover Senior Member

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    Some musicians use their instruments to express themselves.

     

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