Mike Taba
Active member
how does everyone create new songs...i can never find anything that could inspire me enough to write a song. how does everyone do it.
how does everyone do it
- Thread starter Mike Taba
- Start date
davoomac
Retired Moderator
Ryan just made a thread on his song writing process. It's really helpful.
Here it is:
http://ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1938&highlight=song+writing
Misguided Musician
Well-known member
I think writing lyrics is the hardest part for me. It's usually because some lines sound too similar to other songs, but nothing is like the feeling of completing your very own song.
h-drix
Well-known member
never try to force lyrics, it'll never work , and you'll just get pissed. Almost all the times they come randomly. for me its in the shower.
heres some tips that help me:
-if you do get the first few lines, sit down and write it out. write out everything and dont cross anything. if you need to to draw arrows and such, but crossing out things can ruin a "what might of been" song.
-remember that "rhyme schemes are for d-bags". lol, not really, but its what i tell my self because forced rhymes are the death of a song. if you have something that doesnt rhyme dont worry about it.
-keep everything today, try to make it organized. each song gets it's own page, and use a spiral note book so you can rip things out easily (even though you shouldn’t rip out anything)
-nothing is cliche or cheesy, or stupid.
heres some tips that help me:
-if you do get the first few lines, sit down and write it out. write out everything and dont cross anything. if you need to to draw arrows and such, but crossing out things can ruin a "what might of been" song.
-remember that "rhyme schemes are for d-bags". lol, not really, but its what i tell my self because forced rhymes are the death of a song. if you have something that doesnt rhyme dont worry about it.
-keep everything today, try to make it organized. each song gets it's own page, and use a spiral note book so you can rip things out easily (even though you shouldn’t rip out anything)
-nothing is cliche or cheesy, or stupid.
Last edited:
Ian Boys
Well-known member
I'm more of a composer than a lyricist... though I try to do some songwriting from time to time.
For me, it's best to come up with a chord progression or a basic melody first.
Then, if composing an instrumental piece, I expand on the melody, add some variations to it, and just extend the piece out.
In writing a song, I start trying to slap lyrics over the chord progression or melody, and change things around until I like the sound of it. I also completely disregard grammar... it helps make things flow a lot when you don't have to speak perfect english (or whatever language you're writing it int)
As far as coming up with a melody... I maybe thing of a sentence in english and use the way I say the sentence as the rhythm, and then add pitch to it as I deem fitting. I also have random melodies floating around in my head all the time, which helps...
Also, just picking up your uke and strumming around until you get something you like is perfectly fine for getting a melody...
...it really just all depends on what sort of person you are... how musical you are... what sort of musical training you have, etc. etc.
Just be yourself, and you'll come up with something that is distinctly you.
For me, it's best to come up with a chord progression or a basic melody first.
Then, if composing an instrumental piece, I expand on the melody, add some variations to it, and just extend the piece out.
In writing a song, I start trying to slap lyrics over the chord progression or melody, and change things around until I like the sound of it. I also completely disregard grammar... it helps make things flow a lot when you don't have to speak perfect english (or whatever language you're writing it int)
As far as coming up with a melody... I maybe thing of a sentence in english and use the way I say the sentence as the rhythm, and then add pitch to it as I deem fitting. I also have random melodies floating around in my head all the time, which helps...
Also, just picking up your uke and strumming around until you get something you like is perfectly fine for getting a melody...
...it really just all depends on what sort of person you are... how musical you are... what sort of musical training you have, etc. etc.
Just be yourself, and you'll come up with something that is distinctly you.
edmundwhitehead
Well-known member
Take your instrument, and do your worst - while recording it on a tape recorder. Then go listen to it again, and ideas should start to appear. After that, tune and lyrics just kind of come naturally - think of them as the icing on the cake.
The way most songs are written is as instrumentals or chord sequences first, and then vocals later.
The way most songs are written is as instrumentals or chord sequences first, and then vocals later.
Fred Miu
Retired Moderator
with lyrics thats how i kinda did my own song, but i forgot the chords T____T"
but seriously, if you want to write a song, take a subject and kinda go around it with emotion (good ones!)
yodiepants
Member
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For practice, write a joke song. Or possibly an everyday topic. A lot of folk songs seem to be about "what living life is." It doesn't have to be profound. What is living life to you?
Write out what do you do every day, as long as you like, and then read over it. Think of a way that you could describe it in only a few words. (Maybe, "just scraping by on hourly" or "dying a day at a time in a call center." Or "Watching the kids grow up to be honest young men" ) Then tell me, the listener, about it, and why I care, and how this might effect someone else.
Write out what do you do every day, as long as you like, and then read over it. Think of a way that you could describe it in only a few words. (Maybe, "just scraping by on hourly" or "dying a day at a time in a call center." Or "Watching the kids grow up to be honest young men" ) Then tell me, the listener, about it, and why I care, and how this might effect someone else.
SeanKy671
Well-known member
I've tried writing my own lyrics for a song.. peice of cake
I've tried writing my own music for a song.. peice of cake
I've tried taking my music and putting lyrics into it....... i choked on the cake and died..
Why is it that??
I'm in the process of writing this song and i just can't seem to find the good note to sing it on :/
I don't even kno how i'm posting this.... I'm dead.....
I've tried writing my own music for a song.. peice of cake
I've tried taking my music and putting lyrics into it....... i choked on the cake and died..
Why is it that??
I'm in the process of writing this song and i just can't seem to find the good note to sing it on :/
I don't even kno how i'm posting this.... I'm dead.....
yea basically dont force it coz its gona come out crappy. when u think of something just write it down..brainstorm then put it together. play around with your instrument and start out with a 4 chord progression which is i think the basic stuff? then add ur own style into it. then add the tune..during this process u may have thought of something better for ur lyrics..then ideas will just come up. and most of all take ur time. hehe!:music:
JoeyJr858
Well-known member
DRAMA and LOVE/HEARTACHE... inspires me. LOL
I can come up w/ melodies, but the lyrical side is HORRIBLE!!!
jjsdad
Well-known member
Write one around the other. Don't write two seperate things. That works for me, anyway.
Kaneohe til the end
Well-known member
Wow! Awesome lyrics. What song is that?
that could be good lyrics!
SeanKy671
Well-known member
lol i look back on it now and it sounds kinda emo to me
tnjeff
Well-known member
i start with a title, get a chorus, and by starting in the middle, work my way out to both ends.
words always come first for me.
i let the rhythm of the words suggest a melody.
use alliteration to make the words flow together:
"busted flat in baton rouge, waitin for a train
feelin' nearly faded as my jeans"
often my chorus will also double as a first verse.
shameless plug/prime example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k1XWZ4wv9w&feature=channel_page
2 rules:
if it sounds cool, it is cool
k.i.s.s-keep it simple son
as far as inspiration, just listen to people talk. i live in the south, lots of slang and more than a little twang. language is music. pick out the good bits of overheard conversations and write a song.
words always come first for me.
i let the rhythm of the words suggest a melody.
use alliteration to make the words flow together:
"busted flat in baton rouge, waitin for a train
feelin' nearly faded as my jeans"
often my chorus will also double as a first verse.
shameless plug/prime example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k1XWZ4wv9w&feature=channel_page
2 rules:
if it sounds cool, it is cool
k.i.s.s-keep it simple son
as far as inspiration, just listen to people talk. i live in the south, lots of slang and more than a little twang. language is music. pick out the good bits of overheard conversations and write a song.
HoldinCoffee
Well-known member
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Here's a link to an E-BOOK on CHORD PROGRESSIONS... it goes into a detailed explanation of chords 'n stuff, has some exercises and examples, even some audio examples. Its not free, but I think its well worth the price.
http://http://howtoplayukulele.com/how-to-play-ukulele-chord-progressions/
http://http://howtoplayukulele.com/how-to-play-ukulele-chord-progressions/
I do a couple of different things when I'm writing a song.
First of all, I try to figure out what the song's about. Is it a song about a topic (for example, politics or religion), is it a song about a person's struggle, or is it about a relationship? If you can pinpoint what you want the song to be about, it will help the words come faster. I tend to do some free-form associations on another piece of paper so I can work out some ideas in this arena.
Secondly, I try to come up with a title. That may sound like a pretty simple thing, but it helps. I personally try to make sure that the title isn't something totally out there. If you can fit it into your song's chorus, then all the better. It'll give people a strong hook that they can grab onto both lyrically and musically. It's kind of like home base. Here's a song that I wrote where I came up with the title first. It was a stray phrase that I came up with while walking to a concert in Washington, D.C. that stuck with me.
Next, I try to come up with at least one or two stories that try to convey what I want to say. I'm a guy who relates to stories in songs. It helps the listener relate to the characters. In "Pigeon of the System," I used two different characters, telling short third-person stories as my verses. I've also written songs where there was just one character telling a first-person story. It all depends on what you want to get across.
Next, I start writing the lyrics, developing a melody that feels natural to the words as I go along. This is usually where I sit down and try different chord progressions, too. I let the melody come first, though, and that's shaped by the words. So the chords are For the first verse this is pretty easy. It gets harder as I add verses, though, because I feel strongly that the melody should be the same throughout all the verses. Some songwriters change the melody to fit the words they want, but that always sounds unnatural to me. If the words match the melody all the way through, it doesn't sound forced to the ear. By the same token, I am very adamant about getting the same number of lines in my song. In Western popular music, people are listening for resolution. The writing of the song should seek to provide both lyrical and melodic resolution all the time.
So, after the choruses and the verses are done, I tinker with a bridge if I feel the song needs one. For me, this tends to present the main thrust of the song in a different light. It just reinforces what the main song is about.
I tend not to write instrumental sections into my songs. I occasionally will have a chord progression that can be soloed over, but I feel the performers should have as much freedom arranging the music as much as they want. If they want a solo of some kind, the verse chord progression usually provides enough harmonic diversity to act as a palette.
Finally, I come up with a little closer or coda to end off the song. This could be a couple of independent lines or a modified chorus. Again, just something that provides resolution.
One other thing I'm mindful of is this: Sometimes you've got to break your own rules. I don't always start by asking what's the song about. I don't always use the title in the chorus. It's kind of like what my theory professor taught me in school: learn all the rules and THEN start breaking them. So, that's what I do. And I sometimes I get really good results that way.
I do have to admit, that I'm in no way as diligent about songwriting as I want to be. I have to try little tricks to make sure I do it. For example, I typically write with a guitar, so I try writing songs with cut capos and alternate tunings to give me more harmonic variety. I picked up the 'ukulele because I thought it had a nice sound that I could use to give myself some harmonic diversity. Also, I try to do something every year called February Album Writing Month. Last year was my first, and it wasn't very productive due to outside obligations, but I did get a few songs done. And anytime you get a song written, you succeed.
OK, that was a bit long-winded. I hope it helped, though.
First of all, I try to figure out what the song's about. Is it a song about a topic (for example, politics or religion), is it a song about a person's struggle, or is it about a relationship? If you can pinpoint what you want the song to be about, it will help the words come faster. I tend to do some free-form associations on another piece of paper so I can work out some ideas in this arena.
Secondly, I try to come up with a title. That may sound like a pretty simple thing, but it helps. I personally try to make sure that the title isn't something totally out there. If you can fit it into your song's chorus, then all the better. It'll give people a strong hook that they can grab onto both lyrically and musically. It's kind of like home base. Here's a song that I wrote where I came up with the title first. It was a stray phrase that I came up with while walking to a concert in Washington, D.C. that stuck with me.
Next, I try to come up with at least one or two stories that try to convey what I want to say. I'm a guy who relates to stories in songs. It helps the listener relate to the characters. In "Pigeon of the System," I used two different characters, telling short third-person stories as my verses. I've also written songs where there was just one character telling a first-person story. It all depends on what you want to get across.
Next, I start writing the lyrics, developing a melody that feels natural to the words as I go along. This is usually where I sit down and try different chord progressions, too. I let the melody come first, though, and that's shaped by the words. So the chords are For the first verse this is pretty easy. It gets harder as I add verses, though, because I feel strongly that the melody should be the same throughout all the verses. Some songwriters change the melody to fit the words they want, but that always sounds unnatural to me. If the words match the melody all the way through, it doesn't sound forced to the ear. By the same token, I am very adamant about getting the same number of lines in my song. In Western popular music, people are listening for resolution. The writing of the song should seek to provide both lyrical and melodic resolution all the time.
So, after the choruses and the verses are done, I tinker with a bridge if I feel the song needs one. For me, this tends to present the main thrust of the song in a different light. It just reinforces what the main song is about.
I tend not to write instrumental sections into my songs. I occasionally will have a chord progression that can be soloed over, but I feel the performers should have as much freedom arranging the music as much as they want. If they want a solo of some kind, the verse chord progression usually provides enough harmonic diversity to act as a palette.
Finally, I come up with a little closer or coda to end off the song. This could be a couple of independent lines or a modified chorus. Again, just something that provides resolution.
One other thing I'm mindful of is this: Sometimes you've got to break your own rules. I don't always start by asking what's the song about. I don't always use the title in the chorus. It's kind of like what my theory professor taught me in school: learn all the rules and THEN start breaking them. So, that's what I do. And I sometimes I get really good results that way.
I do have to admit, that I'm in no way as diligent about songwriting as I want to be. I have to try little tricks to make sure I do it. For example, I typically write with a guitar, so I try writing songs with cut capos and alternate tunings to give me more harmonic variety. I picked up the 'ukulele because I thought it had a nice sound that I could use to give myself some harmonic diversity. Also, I try to do something every year called February Album Writing Month. Last year was my first, and it wasn't very productive due to outside obligations, but I did get a few songs done. And anytime you get a song written, you succeed.
OK, that was a bit long-winded. I hope it helped, though.
Kailabraise
Member
I have multiple ways of doing this.
1) I mess around on an instrument or my comp until I hear something that I like and I write it down
2) If its lyrics I just write down stuff without thinking too much
3) It came to me in a dream (no lie! I see tabs and sheet music in my dreams!)
1) I mess around on an instrument or my comp until I hear something that I like and I write it down
2) If its lyrics I just write down stuff without thinking too much
3) It came to me in a dream (no lie! I see tabs and sheet music in my dreams!)
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