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Post subject: writting songs
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:04 pm
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what do you write first? the lyrics or the music?


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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:11 pm
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Everyone works differently. I write music then put lyrics to it. Other's write lyrics then create a tune for them. There's no set way or right way.

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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:24 pm
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Depends on the day. Sometimes words or a phrase, sometimes a melody or a chord progression. Sometimes a riff will come to mind in the middle of the day or while practicing. Or I'll come up with an interesting rhythm pattern.
There is no set way

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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:36 pm
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-Ryco wrote:
Depends on the day. Sometimes words or a phrase, sometimes a melody or a chord progression. Sometimes a riff will come to mind in the middle of the day or while practicing. Or I'll come up with an interesting rhythm pattern.
There is no set way


I concur and sometimes when I get stuck for lyrics, I'll use rhymezone.

http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Wo ... syl&org2=l

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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:47 pm
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Miami Mike wrote:
-Ryco wrote:
Depends on the day. Sometimes words or a phrase, sometimes a melody or a chord progression. Sometimes a riff will come to mind in the middle of the day or while practicing. Or I'll come up with an interesting rhythm pattern.
There is no set way


I concur and sometimes when I get stuck for lyrics, I'll use rhymezone.

http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Wo ... syl&org2=l


I'll often use a Thesaurus when writing lyrics. It helps a lot when I'm looking for alternative ways to say what's been said a thousand times before.

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Is that a mexican poncho
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:23 pm
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I haven't written much lately, but when I do, it's usually based off a chord progression or something in my head. If I come up with a phrase I really want to use, though, I may try and put a tune to it and work from there.


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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:10 am
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My songs are usually inspired by either a guitar line or, more often, a melody. After that, the words and music sort of get built at the same time. As a result, I'm usually happiest with the first half of the song.

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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:41 am
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Usually for me the music comes first, then I put lyrics to it. I find that to flow better. Sometimes it goes the other way around but not as often.

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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:45 am
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Admiration for all those who can write lyrics and music.

'Can write fiction and nonfiction by the ream, but the concept of writing music is as elusive as cold fusion to this soul.


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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:30 pm
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JSJH wrote:
Admiration for all those who can write lyrics and music.

'Can write fiction and nonfiction by the ream, but the concept of writing music is as elusive as cold fusion to this soul.




Have you tried Library music. I did this for years. It sounds like you have good imagination [fiction writer] Instead of painting mental pictures with words, try it with music. A single chord can be library music and then work around that.
A great example of that is a documentary I once saw. They were flying their plane along the Grand Canyon, no narative for minutes, just the instrumental intro to Pink Floyds-Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
Can you see it? Can you hear it? You can do it.


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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:43 pm
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JSJH wrote:
Admiration for all those who can write lyrics and music.
Can write fiction and nonfiction by the ream, but the concept of writing music is as elusive as cold fusion to this soul.
Like anything -- the more you do it, the easier it gets!

Just keep snippets of phrases or thoughts on a notepad. Keep it on you all the time.
Same with licks, riffs and phrases: write 'em down or record 'em on tape. Just get 'em down so you don't forget them!

Start little libraries, one for words and one for music.
Also work on stuff a little at a time. If you get stuck on a song part, put it down and come back to it later - go work a little bit on another song. Go look at ideas you've stored in your "libraries" - maybe an idea for a part will be in there.

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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:55 pm
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-Ryco wrote:
Depends on the day. Sometimes words or a phrase, sometimes a melody or a chord progression. Sometimes a riff will come to mind in the middle of the day or while practicing. Or I'll come up with an interesting rhythm pattern.
There is no set way


When I was young, I used to think there was only one method to songwriting, but my inspiration comes in many different ways. In the recent past, I was writing only instrumentals, but this summer I started writing tunes with lyrics again and I was surprised that the lyrics came to me first , then the chord progression and finally the melody. Never did it that way before.

BTW, I used to have what I called a 'Dead Song Drawer' where I would put my unfinished, dead end songs. I'd let them sit for weeks, months and even years before taking one out for another try at finishing it.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:25 pm
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I write music first and then the lyrics. For me it is easier to get the right rythm for the lyricss once I have the melody line just the way I want it.

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:42 pm
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I go with the music first.

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Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:34 pm
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Im more of a lyricist i have a goal to write atlest 1 song every 2-3 weeks. By the time i cut a recors ill have enough for 4-5 so id sell em to other artists kinda like The Basement Tapes

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