Songwriting Tips Blog http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com Songwriting Tips And Help For Writing Songs And Lyrics Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:27:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Songwriting Tips: What Should You Focus On First? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-tips/songwriting-tips-what-should-you-focus-on-first http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-tips/songwriting-tips-what-should-you-focus-on-first#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:00:59 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-tips/songwriting-tips-what-should-you-focus-on-first

Most people who are looking for helpful songwriting tips are not complete newbies, but neither are they someone who knows all about the innermost workings of music theory.

Chances are that, like you, they are looking for something that sparks creative thoughts and brings them back to the love of writing music with passion.
And like most people, the quicker the better.

Many people already intuitively do things to write good songs, but the real trick is to know why it works or doesn’t work.

Coming up with a short chord progression for a song might come easier to you than coming up with the full arrangement of the song’s components, verse, chorus, bridge, etc. but can’t one be about as easy as the other?

Everyone gets stuck in a rut from time to time, but having a palette of new ideas is always the quick way out.

Even if you are already a competent songwriter then you might need to fill and organize your tool drawer.

The first skill you should make sure that you have in that drawer is the ability to look at other people’s music and know what makes it good (or bad).

Analyzing important elements in other peoples music is an enormous skill to possess in order to grow your own songwriting abilities.

After all, every successful song is a lesson in what to do to write songs that people like.

The book shown above has received rave reviews from everyon who bought it. You might want to check it out as a good starting place to jump start your songwiriting.

Visit here often for great resources for how to write songs and lyrics and other songwriting tips.

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]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-tips/songwriting-tips-what-should-you-focus-on-first/feed How to write chords for your favorite song or your lyrics? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics-2 http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics-2#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:27:11 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics-2 Is writing chords for lyrics is a complex process? Is it possible to learn it from internet? Do you know any site?

It’s not difficult at all if your ear is trained well enough, but there are a few points in basic music theory that you should know first.

First, learn basic scale & chord construction from either youtube, gospelmusicians.com, or http://www.soundfeelings.com/free/chords.htm.

Then you’ll want to learn common chord progressions. You’ll find that a lot of your music can fit into one of these.

The way I build the chords for my songs is to first determine the "key" of the song, then "one finger" the parts I want to build chords behind. Then it’s just a matter of using your newly found knowledge of chord construction and build chords off of those notes. At some points, you may even decide to use harmonies of those notes instead. You’ll also need to decide the mood of your song. If it’s happy, you may decide to build your song on chords in a major scale. If it’s a sad song, you may choose to build your songs on chords in a minor scale.

A quick google/yahoo or youtube search should bring up tons of help on this matter. Thank God we live in the information age! :D

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics-2/feed How to write chords for your favorite song or your lyrics? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:27:10 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics Is writing chords for lyrics is a complex process? Is it possible to learn it from internet? Do you know any site?

It’s not difficult at all if your ear is trained well enough, but there are a few points in basic music theory that you should know first.

First, learn basic scale & chord construction from either youtube, gospelmusicians.com, or http://www.soundfeelings.com/free/chords.htm.

Then you’ll want to learn common chord progressions. You’ll find that a lot of your music can fit into one of these.

The way I build the chords for my songs is to first determine the "key" of the song, then "one finger" the parts I want to build chords behind. Then it’s just a matter of using your newly found knowledge of chord construction and build chords off of those notes. At some points, you may even decide to use harmonies of those notes instead. You’ll also need to decide the mood of your song. If it’s happy, you may decide to build your song on chords in a major scale. If it’s a sad song, you may choose to build your songs on chords in a minor scale.

A quick google/yahoo or youtube search should bring up tons of help on this matter. Thank God we live in the information age! :D

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-lyrics/how-to-write-chords-for-your-favorite-song-or-your-lyrics/feed How do I write a whole song (instrumental and vocals) when i don’t know how to play any instruments? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments-2 http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments-2#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:22:47 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments-2 I like to write songs but I don’t know how to make the instrumental and lyrics are sometimes hard

Learn to play an instrument, like piano or guitar. That’ll help you learn the way songs are created, developed, played. Without a base knowledge, it’s difficult to just start making music. Most musicians develop their own sense of style as they learn other peoples music.

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments-2/feed How do I write a whole song (instrumental and vocals) when i don’t know how to play any instruments? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:22:46 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments I like to write songs but I don’t know how to make the instrumental and lyrics are sometimes hard

Learn to play an instrument, like piano or guitar. That’ll help you learn the way songs are created, developed, played. Without a base knowledge, it’s difficult to just start making music. Most musicians develop their own sense of style as they learn other peoples music.

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/how-do-i-write-a-whole-song-instrumental-and-vocals-when-i-dont-know-how-to-play-any-instruments/feed how can i get better at writing songs? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-songs/how-can-i-get-better-at-writing-songs http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-songs/how-can-i-get-better-at-writing-songs#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:20:38 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-songs/how-can-i-get-better-at-writing-songs i play guitar, and i want to start writing some songs. i wrote like one, but i think its terrible. how can i get better at writing them?

I’d suggest just watching television shows or movies that interest you, of listening to music you like to become inspired. As for writing lyrics, reading more books probably would help.

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-songs/how-can-i-get-better-at-writing-songs/feed What are some good ways to write song lyrics? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics-2 http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics-2#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:20:30 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics-2 My band are looking for some easy ways to write good lyrics that make sense, but how can we do this? We’re looking to be a Death Metal/Dethcore band.

well,
start by thinking about your lives and anything you’ve ‘been through’
(dead parents, lost your friends/girlfriend/boyfriend) and use those things as inspiration.
you could write about a weird dream or nightmare you had.
you could use your songs to express your political/social views.
throw in some Metaphors and euthamisms.
decide whether you want the chorus to rhyme
you could start by writing poetry to practice
look at popular rock/emo/screamo song lyrics, see how they do it, (but dont copy their words!)
thats all the advice I can give really

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics-2/feed What are some good ways to write song lyrics? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:20:29 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics My band are looking for some easy ways to write good lyrics that make sense, but how can we do this? We’re looking to be a Death Metal/Dethcore band.

well,
start by thinking about your lives and anything you’ve ‘been through’
(dead parents, lost your friends/girlfriend/boyfriend) and use those things as inspiration.
you could write about a weird dream or nightmare you had.
you could use your songs to express your political/social views.
throw in some Metaphors and euthamisms.
decide whether you want the chorus to rhyme
you could start by writing poetry to practice
look at popular rock/emo/screamo song lyrics, see how they do it, (but dont copy their words!)
thats all the advice I can give really

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/how-to-write-a-song/what-are-some-good-ways-to-write-song-lyrics/feed help me understand this songwriting tip? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/help-me-understand-this-songwriting-tip http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/help-me-understand-this-songwriting-tip#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:24:39 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/help-me-understand-this-songwriting-tip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fscRgO3rJi8&feature=related

can someone help me understand this better, i’m having a little trouble with it. i have a general idea of what hes saying, but more help would be great

What he’s describing is known as "pedal point". You play a repeated musical phrase while changing the harmony behind it. Here’s an example:

Play G, F#, E repeatedly on the high E string. Using the lower strings, play a different note each time you hit the G on the high string, like:

High: G F# E G F# E G F# E G F# E
Low: G———-A———C———G

Notice how the sound of the repeated high notes sounds different depending on the harmony below it.

]]> http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/help-me-understand-this-songwriting-tip/feed SONGWRITING HELP!!?!?!?!?!?!!!? http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/songwriting-help-9 http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/songwriting-help-9#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:55:26 +0000 admin http://www.songwritingtipsblog.com/songwriting-help/songwriting-help-9 i really want to start songwriting
i have a guitar but the thing is
i dont know how to play it
is there any websites for a 14 year old
to help about song writing?
everyone i have been on i just dont understand it
please help xxx

Ultimate-guitar.com is one of the best online resouces for everything guitar (and then some). Click on lessons and start with the basics: hand exercises, chords. etc.

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