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Black Thorn · 18-09-2009, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyQuid

Okay as the title sugests let's find out what way you go about writing your songs?

I'll start,I only recently started songwriting so I'm not very good at it yet but what I like to do is write at night,like maybe 2 or 3am in the morning.I feel,for me,it's a lot easier to write songs at these times because I have trouble sleeping with all the thoughts running through my head,so I just put pen to paper.It's more easier than writing during the day aswell because there are less distractions.

So,when/where/how do you write your songs?

I used to be the same but these days life gets in the way of such things. I now write down every little idea I have during the day or record them if the area suits and then try and put them together later. I have difficulty writing interesting music however as I'm a limited instrumentalist but do try. I have also found most of my lyrics now are about adult situations...I think I know what is on my mind as the day goes along....

Mickarooney · 20-10-2009, 09:34

I find that there isnt a set method of writing a song.
I have found though that faster songs tend to come from jamming with a full band.
Slow songs tend to come easier when your with your acoustic or piano.
I find that using software like EZ drummer or any sw that you can just get a drum beat going on and then jam along to really helps.
I think its not really about sitting down and starting to write but more about generating the spark.
Those are some of the ways I generate the spark.... hope that doesnt sound too naff.

sponsoredwalk · 21-10-2009, 14:53

Writing songs, hmm...
Well, for me it's a very *uc*ed-up process in that I'll make up a riff on guitar, something I love and can't forget and then I'll leave it to germinate in my head for 6 months and will never find a chorus or a vocal melody. I never seem to find a way to complement something that I've already loved, like nothing that's good enough to stand against some magical riff.

I have 17 songs after 8 years, and some still aren't finished. Still trying to find those little notes of completion. It's very true when people say that a song just happens, it comes to you in a moment of inspiration. I find that you can't control when it happens and that your really at the mercy of the cosmic-orchestra/synapse-regulation lol.

Always good to write a lot of junk songs however, the millisecond that's good in each of them eventually ends up in the one good song you've written, consciously or unconsciously.

JohnnyIrvine666 · 21-10-2009, 22:37

When I'm least thinking about it... I've come up with lines and riffs in the shower or listening to the beat of a car engine or just puking my guts out in a toilet (not so proud o that last 1 though tehe)

"Songs come from anywhere. You experience everything as you live.... If you have imagination, the songs just come."

-Jimi Hendrix

xprepairs · 23-10-2009, 03:37

I have played music professionally for many years. i have written some songs also. My ideas come at any time of the day or night. I just stop what I'm doing and write out the lyrics as well as the chords to the song as they both seem to appear at the same time. If I'm lucky enough to be near a recorder of any kind I immediately play and sing the idea on tape.

I have had times when I worked a day job, idea came up and I ran for the washroom and started writing on tissue paper or whatever I had handy with me at the time.
There's really no rhyme or reason, the ideas just come up real fast.
Music is my first love and I still perform weekly as a solo after all these years.

**lil_lisa** · 01-11-2009, 17:39

Does anyone else ever feel like they're lyrics are pathetic when they write songs? I can get good tunes and good subjects for my songs but when it comes to the actual lyrics, I'm desperate!

Black Thorn · 01-11-2009, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_lisa

Does anyone else ever feel like they're lyrics are pathetic when they write songs? I can get good tunes and good subjects for my songs but when it comes to the actual lyrics, I'm desperate!

Yeah, I get that a lot which then leads to serious writers block. Have it at the mo actually. The problem is just overly judging yourself. You need to keep in mind the start is just that and the more the lyrics annoy you it will drive you to improve them. Well that is the theory anyway :s

Drodan · 02-11-2009, 03:05

Think I've actually got only two decent lyrics written in the past four months, which I'm open to people tearing apart btw.

What I did recently was to forget the whole working off personal experience stuff and pick a specific thing or story to right on and the possible alternative perspectives, which can result in total p*ss most of the time.

My main problem is finishing lyrics, I get distracted with new ones half way through so i've like 6/7 half songs about the place.

**lil_lisa** · 02-11-2009, 17:45

You took the words from my mouth. Its like, sometimes you think of a perfect matter or experience to sing about, you get the tune right, but as you try to explain your thoughts in lyrics, they only go so far, you get mumbled up in your own stuff and your ideas trip over themselves until you have to give up and move onto something else!

Morzadec · 03-11-2009, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_lisa

You took the words from my mouth. Its like, sometimes you think of a perfect matter or experience to sing about, you get the tune right, but as you try to explain your thoughts in lyrics, they only go so far, you get mumbled up in your own stuff and your ideas trip over themselves until you have to give up and move onto something else!

Really struggling with this at the moment. Maybe too self-critical as I feel I can come up with some good stuff.

Often though my lyrics will either be ridiculously vague to the point where they're not about much, or about stuff that seems too personal that it seems a bit cringy when reading back. It's hard to find the balance!

Also most of my songs/lyrics end up being quite depressing. I think I would find it very difficult to write a good song that wasn't in some melancholy. Anyone else have this problem?

**lil_lisa** · 03-11-2009, 14:10

Yeah like you wanna sing about a bad breakup or relationship and you end up either giving the title as that person's name and PPS number or you can't even get the point across that you had a relationship!

I find that if I write songs in the morning they usually turn out quite cheerful but then later in the evening they become depressing or quite serious!

Morzadec · 04-11-2009, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_lisa

Yeah like you wanna sing about a bad breakup or relationship and you end up either giving the title as that person's name and PPS number or you can't even get the point across that you had a relationship!

I find that if I write songs in the morning they usually turn out quite cheerful but then later in the evening they become depressing or quite serious!

Lol.

Hmm well I only ever try to write songs late at night as its the only time I'll be undisturbed, maybe this is the problem!

loc5 · 04-11-2009, 17:15

a good idea is to read poetry i know it sounds boring and odd but most poems are really song lyics unless their off the wall altthogether.
also never and i mean never forget the importance of assenance and recuring complemtery vowels
if your stuck try the news papers soft focus interviews of tragidys for ballads
crime storys for crime story songs and interviews with writers for deep meaning stuff just cut and paste good sounding quotes and play around with the words

eg "i find i write better at night"
you found worse on flight
they sound best in fight

now mess around interchanging various words and add/take away words that work paying attention to how they sound for clues to an aire eg
try a base drum beat for the first 2 like "night/boom", "flight/boom" and then a cymbal for the fight- "fight/tiiisshhh"
hope some of this helps

class1comp · 07-11-2009, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by loc5

now mess around interchanging various words and add/take away words that work paying attention to how they sound for clues to an aire eg
try a base drum beat for the first 2 like "night/boom", "flight/boom" and then a cymbal for the fight- "fight/tiiisshhh"
hope some of this helps

I am starting to have doubts about even starting!

BLITZ_Molloy · 08-11-2009, 19:17

I write phrases into my phone. They might be funny things I heard people say or stuff that just comes to me. When i'm bored waiting for buses I tend to think of good stuff. Then I sit down after I've got about 20 of them and stitch them all together.

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20-10-2009, 09:34	#17
Mickarooney Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 32 Adverts \| Friends	I find that there isnt a set method of writing a song. I have found though that faster songs tend to come from jamming with a full band. Slow songs tend to come easier when your with your acoustic or piano. I find that using software like EZ drummer or any sw that you can just get a drum beat going on and then jam along to really helps. I think its not really about sitting down and starting to write but more about generating the spark. Those are some of the ways I generate the spark.... hope that doesnt sound too naff.

21-10-2009, 14:53	#18
sponsoredwalk Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,901 Adverts \| Friends	Writing songs, hmm... Well, for me it's a very uced-up process in that I'll make up a riff on guitar, something I love and can't forget and then I'll leave it to germinate in my head for 6 months and will never find a chorus or a vocal melody. I never seem to find a way to complement something that I've already loved, like nothing that's good enough to stand against some magical riff. I have 17 songs after 8 years, and some still aren't finished. Still trying to find those little notes of completion. It's very true when people say that a song just happens, it comes to you in a moment of inspiration. I find that you can't control when it happens and that your really at the mercy of the cosmic-orchestra/synapse-regulation lol. Always good to write a lot of junk songs however, the millisecond that's good in each of them eventually ends up in the one good song you've written, consciously or unconsciously.

21-10-2009, 22:37	#19
JohnnyIrvine666 Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 31 Adverts \| Friends	When I'm least thinking about it... I've come up with lines and riffs in the shower or listening to the beat of a car engine or just puking my guts out in a toilet (not so proud o that last 1 though tehe) "Songs come from anywhere. You experience everything as you live.... If you have imagination, the songs just come." -Jimi Hendrix

23-10-2009, 03:37	#20
xprepairs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: on this website Posts: 69 Adverts \| Friends	I have played music professionally for many years. i have written some songs also. My ideas come at any time of the day or night. I just stop what I'm doing and write out the lyrics as well as the chords to the song as they both seem to appear at the same time. If I'm lucky enough to be near a recorder of any kind I immediately play and sing the idea on tape. I have had times when I worked a day job, idea came up and I ran for the washroom and started writing on tissue paper or whatever I had handy with me at the time. There's really no rhyme or reason, the ideas just come up real fast. Music is my first love and I still perform weekly as a solo after all these years.

01-11-2009, 17:39	#21
lil_lisa Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kildare/SD Posts: 1,563 Adverts \| Friends Mod: United States	Does anyone else ever feel like they're lyrics are pathetic when they write songs? I can get good tunes and good subjects for my songs but when it comes to the actual lyrics, I'm desperate!

02-11-2009, 03:05	#23
Drodan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 426 Adverts \| Friends	Think I've actually got only two decent lyrics written in the past four months, which I'm open to people tearing apart btw. What I did recently was to forget the whole working off personal experience stuff and pick a specific thing or story to right on and the possible alternative perspectives, which can result in total p*ss most of the time. My main problem is finishing lyrics, I get distracted with new ones half way through so i've like 6/7 half songs about the place.

02-11-2009, 17:45	#24
lil_lisa Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kildare/SD Posts: 1,563 Adverts \| Friends Mod: United States	You took the words from my mouth. Its like, sometimes you think of a perfect matter or experience to sing about, you get the tune right, but as you try to explain your thoughts in lyrics, they only go so far, you get mumbled up in your own stuff and your ideas trip over themselves until you have to give up and move onto something else!

03-11-2009, 14:10	#26
lil_lisa Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kildare/SD Posts: 1,563 Adverts \| Friends Mod: United States	Yeah like you wanna sing about a bad breakup or relationship and you end up either giving the title as that person's name and PPS number or you can't even get the point across that you had a relationship! I find that if I write songs in the morning they usually turn out quite cheerful but then later in the evening they become depressing or quite serious!

04-11-2009, 17:15	#28
loc5 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 32 Adverts \| Friends	a good idea is to read poetry i know it sounds boring and odd but most poems are really song lyics unless their off the wall altthogether. also never and i mean never forget the importance of assenance and recuring complemtery vowels if your stuck try the news papers soft focus interviews of tragidys for ballads crime storys for crime story songs and interviews with writers for deep meaning stuff just cut and paste good sounding quotes and play around with the words eg "i find i write better at night" you found worse on flight they sound best in fight now mess around interchanging various words and add/take away words that work paying attention to how they sound for clues to an aire eg try a base drum beat for the first 2 like "night/boom", "flight/boom" and then a cymbal for the fight- "fight/tiiisshhh" hope some of this helps

08-11-2009, 19:17	#30
BLITZ_Molloy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ennis Posts: 1,941 Adverts \| Friends	I write phrases into my phone. They might be funny things I heard people say or stuff that just comes to me. When i'm bored waiting for buses I tend to think of good stuff. Then I sit down after I've got about 20 of them and stitch them all together.