Ok, I've been building a while but never really took the time to write a song or music for it. Just wondering where to start and if anyone can guide me along the way. I don't expect anything less than a simple thrown together song. Any help would be great.
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Nation too often, I guess everyone who writes is keeping their secrets safely guarded! ...though if you study any song the answers are there, here's my take on the subject anyway, no secrets, just a little imagination (-;
Where to start....ok, I was here at this point two or three years ago after I built my first CBG and was keen to create some music, everybody was doing covers which is fine but I thought it would be nice to say something of my own through music.
Find a subject, I did a poetry writing course many years ago and had a look through my old poems for something I could improvise on, most were unsuitable but one poem about a dog I owned through very difficult times looked promising, so I moved the words around a little, added a Bluesey standard chord progression and there was my first song, "Lost Dog Blues".
Once the first song was up on the Nation to great appreciation from many members I started thinking about doing some more and putting them on an album, after my first live performance at a get together Brian Rangley organised in Newton Abbot, surrounded by many more experienced and talented players, I was inspired.
I read somewhere songs should be about something the writer feels strongly about with a headline for a title, once the subject is in your head the words can be built around it like a newspaper article, sort of "who what where when" narration or description. The tune and rhythm can be chosen to fit the lyrics - yes, the words are lyrics now, and can be trimmed again to fit the melody and rhythm of the whole piece. The whole thing can be done in reverse of course, write words to fit a musical shape or riff that has come up. Not all songs have to have a chorus or instrumental break, but it gives variety to the listener if you do.
Finishing off bits can be added or removed, only keep things in the song if it needs it, if in doubt chuck it out, if the song goes on too long or there are too many repetitions it gets boring, and importantly the listener's attention must be garbed in the first ten seconds, usually long intros are best kept out.
write about something you know and care about. start with 12 bar blues in a singable key. edit, edit, edit.
Well, there's two basic ways (as far as I know)…1) start with music (a riff a rhythm or both) and add a melody and then decide what you want your song to be about and follow the melody when writing the lyrics (and if you add more parts musically then add more melodies and lyrics). So, for example, McCartney had the music for Yesterday and then when he first sang it was famously, "Ham and Eggs, oh god how I love your legs" and then later he wrote the lyrics and edited and edited I suppose, or; 2) Write lyrics or a melody and then make music to fit them (not that I am a Beatle fanatic or anything but) a great example of this is McCartney's Paperback Writer--the lyrics were written conceived to a melody in his head (written on a paper napkin actually), then they made music to fit that.
When I have written songs in the past they are almost always done from the #1 method…I'm just stronger lyrically than I am musically I guess...
There are books of course about how to build a bridge into your music, how to know what key you're in etc….I would suggest three things instead: 1) Find some people to jam with who already write songs; 2) Learn all the great songs in a genre (if you like country blues learn those songs or Soul etc.)…it's like getting a lesson from the greats, and; 3) Bring your instrument with you everywhere…because you never know.
So I've been thinking about this as well.. As far as I can tell the Blues is a communication between man and his creator. This seems to have happened while the man was working like picking cotton and this would be working rhythmically or to a rhythm. Place the words to a rhythm and go. That'show I'm gonna start...
I been writing for some time now (nothing published or anything like that), and I write about relationships...news I don't like seeing....pretty much anything really. I usually start by asking myself what genre' of music I want my song too be played in, then create a rhythm on guitar and write the words as played. I'm sure everyone has their own way of doing it....
Happy song writing....