Writing

who here writes their own songs (lyrics, guitar, piano, sheet music.....etc.) ?
I've written a couple songs but only one is completely finished.

if anyone needs advice or has advice to give come here!

I also write my own songs, err... I've written about 50 so far including 1 1/2 symphonyies, some classical stuff. And rock songs too for guitar. I do my own lyrics too.

My band are hoping to move on to originals soon. I was wondering.. what's the best way to get everyone to write their piece for their instrument and make sure it goes together all really well?
I'm not sure. Should we have lyrics to build a melody on? Should someone start and have their piece and everyone else plays to compliment that, or should it just be jammed and freestyled until we go, 'hey!'?

I don't know. And if its one (or more) of those, how do I find out which is best for my band?

I usually write the lyrics first and add a melody/ harmonies after the lyrics are completed. then work on a bass line then piano/ lead guitar and build it up....then if there is any parts of the lyrics that dont keep on beat tweak it up from there.

anyway thats what i do .....you might end up with a couple errors (a wrong note or two) but nothing major

I'll try that then. It sounds like a fairly effective method.
Thank you!

I always write my own stuff, including sheet music and lyrics. When I do solos I NEVER write them down because they're always spur of the moment. But for choruses and stuff like that, yes, I write them down. I used to play only a little of my own stuff, but now I don't like playing a lot of unoriginal tunes. There are times though, when I just HAVE to play a good blues tune or something.

i usually get good ideas for lyrics when im randomly singing in the shower ......but i can never remember the words when i get a chance to write them down....lol

i just write lyrics

i write lyrics. or i start to but i never finish them, i get so close to finishing a song, but i never do. any advice? i'll take all the help i can get

if you start writing a song stick to it......come up with a story or purpose for the song first. ask yourself "What is this song about? , Who am I writing it for/ about? what mood is this song? Who's point of veiw is this song from? , who is the lead singer in this song (ie. themself, a narrator, a soul, a girl who has been abused by her boyfriend, i dont know ...a bag of skittles...)

ask your self these questions then generate the lyrics from that....stick to it until it is finished and as i said before tweak it up after.

also when finding the purpose try writing or comming up with a short story....like say :

once upon a time there was i boy i had a crush on. we were so happy together

then he broke my heart....oh the sorrow

i hate his f-ing guts and i wish he chokes and dies

now i feel guilty because he did....the end

ok so the first line is saying about how happy she was with the guy (so the lead singer is a girl who has had her heart broken)

the second line is about her depressive phase after he dumped her (say he cheated on her so talk about maybe how much she hates the other girl)

the third line is about her hatred now. her vengeance.....

and the fourth is about her guilt.


so yeah now you get how to make sure you stick to the point of you song and not make it sound like you are singing about ADD.

^ just stick with them. Don't give up writing until you finish them. If you get stuck, have a break - anything from thirty mins to a couple of days - until you feel ready to go back.

I find it helps to get my lyrics done in one sitting: I loose things, otherwise. I tend to get this idea in my head and I have to put it down as fast as I possibly can in case I forget any of it >_< strange, I know, but that's how I work. And then I do harmony. Then melody - I only write ballads for piano - voice at the moment as I haven't learnt guitar, which is a lot less complicated.

I have just started writing lyrics. I got a few stuff down but I don't knw if the are good or bad. I need to get them proof read.
I am trying to write bass lines aswell but it always ends up being boring or too complicated.

yep my band does originals (check out myspace.com/janedoeftw), but yeah, just try writing down absolutely anything you can possibly think of no matter how bad it is and you're sure to come up with some winner lol xx

I write guitar pieces and lirics but i'm not in a band anymore i'm looking for a band to join. if your stuck with writing a song grab a dictionary, open on a random page ang pick a word aslong as you know what it meens and isent realy long or confusing.

cowriting songs is a really good place to start if you're having trouble... just grab a like-minded friend (a friend with songwriting experience is always good) and have a go... share your ideas with them and just let it happen... just make sure you both get credit for it or it could be the end of your partnership/friendship/band/whatever