If you are a decent song writer:

alexiscastillo · 09-28-2009, 01:10 PM

okay, well i have been singing and performing over all for about 9 years, but i just always seem to get writers block when i try to write music.

im into the whole indie/acoustic scene and i would appeciate some help on how to write a song, thank you(:

OceanAndSilence · 10-05-2009, 03:46 PM

...first rule; don't ever "try"

Pillowmint · 10-05-2009, 05:04 PM

I have done a wee bit of songwriting... Well, just two or three songs, and I'm not ready to use they for anything yet. But I can't just sit down and write, what I have written so far just kinda came to me at random (dreams, etc.)

kouki · 10-05-2009, 05:16 PM

I have to agree with ocean and silence,dont try.It should come natural.Or drink a brew and reminis.Get your mind relaxed.

Arya Stark · 10-05-2009, 06:28 PM

Write what you feel.

Write it how it is in your mind, don't try to rhyme or anything.

That's a little biased of me, since I hate rhyming, but it's true.

I would suggest a subject that you're passionate about.

I would suggest brainstorming if all else fails.

Do you read a lot?

Astronomer · 10-05-2009, 06:45 PM

Is is music or lyrics you're having trouble writing?

As for writing music, this is how I normally do it. I usually come up with a progression of base chords, for example a simple progression would be Em, C, G played in a loop. Then once I have discovered a progression of chords that I like, I start to mess around with them - break them up, play them in scales or arpeggios, play alternate versions of the chords, etc. A lot of writing music for me has to do with messing around until I discover a melody or progression I really like.

As for lyrics, they may start off as a string or words that I like. Then I might add to it a rhyming sentence, or another sentence that doesn't rhyme, or sing them to a melody that I like. As I said, for me personally a lot of writing music is just about messing around and building on things that I create until eventually they resemble a song.

Arya Stark · 10-05-2009, 06:46 PM

Whoops, I based it solely on lyrics.

But I guess it applies, still.

Stone Birds · 10-07-2009, 11:03 PM

lyrics can actually be made from just about anything: poems, experiences, dreams, fantasies, protest, love, hate, etc...

the list is endless

Certif1ed · 10-08-2009, 01:30 AM

"Writers block" happens to everyone.

When it hits me, I just practice.

The best way I've found to practice is simpy to write stuff in a style similar to your existing "good" material - or, failing that, someone else's.

There's no shame in learning someone else's song note for note - every classical musician does that, as do jazz musicians.

It seem that in Rock music, people prize this non-existent ability to just write stuff with no prior experience.

Like I say, this does not exist.

If you are a composer, compose.

~~serenechaos2319~~ · 10-27-2009, 09:57 AM

I have problems with stuff like this all the time . . . I'll come up with 3 or 4 really good lines and from there I'm S.O.L but I never throw away the bases I get . . . if you can do something like that, you can look back at what you've started and add on later . . .

09-28-2009, 01:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
alexiscastillo Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4	If you are a decent song writer: okay, well i have been singing and performing over all for about 9 years, but i just always seem to get writers block when i try to write music. im into the whole indie/acoustic scene and i would appeciate some help on how to write a song, thank you(:

10-05-2009, 05:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
kouki Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Devils armpit (aka Phx,AZ) Posts: 126	I have to agree with ocean and silence,dont try.It should come natural.Or drink a brew and reminis.Get your mind relaxed. __________________ It jiggles when he wiggles-Fez

10-05-2009, 06:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Is is music or lyrics you're having trouble writing? As for writing music, this is how I normally do it. I usually come up with a progression of base chords, for example a simple progression would be Em, C, G played in a loop. Then once I have discovered a progression of chords that I like, I start to mess around with them - break them up, play them in scales or arpeggios, play alternate versions of the chords, etc. A lot of writing music for me has to do with messing around until I discover a melody or progression I really like. As for lyrics, they may start off as a string or words that I like. Then I might add to it a rhyming sentence, or another sentence that doesn't rhyme, or sing them to a melody that I like. As I said, for me personally a lot of writing music is just about messing around and building on things that I create until eventually they resemble a song. __________________

10-07-2009, 11:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Stone Birds myspace.com/stonebirdies Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conor Oberst Was/is Here Posts: 1,401	lyrics can actually be made from just about anything: poems, experiences, dreams, fantasies, protest, love, hate, etc... the list is endless __________________ Silk & Tree Records //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V soundcloud.com/stonebirds [Link removed by mod, no advertising] ... Damn those mods are always gettin ya :)

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10-05-2009, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
OceanAndSilence i write and play stuff Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 239	...first rule; don't ever "try"

10-05-2009, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pillowmint I Am the Lizard Queen Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 134	I have done a wee bit of songwriting... Well, just two or three songs, and I'm not ready to use they for anything yet. But I can't just sit down and write, what I have written so far just kinda came to me at random (dreams, etc.)

10-08-2009, 01:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Certif1ed Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 194	"Writers block" happens to everyone. When it hits me, I just practice. The best way I've found to practice is simpy to write stuff in a style similar to your existing "good" material - or, failing that, someone else's. There's no shame in learning someone else's song note for note - every classical musician does that, as do jazz musicians. It seem that in Rock music, people prize this non-existent ability to just write stuff with no prior experience. Like I say, this does not exist. If you are a composer, compose.

10-27-2009, 09:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
~~serenechaos2319~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6	I have problems with stuff like this all the time . . . I'll come up with 3 or 4 really good lines and from there I'm S.O.L but I never throw away the bases I get . . . if you can do something like that, you can look back at what you've started and add on later . . .