songwriting thread

[sleewell]

So how do you write songs? Do you follow the same process every time? Does it start on an acoustic or piano? Do you do it solo or with others? How has your process changed over the years?


I swear sometimes it feels like the song already exists inside my head and I just need to get it out somehow. I wrote a song last night called Bad Attitude, can't wait to share when our singer writes the lryics - its a fucking rock n roll song.

I'm learning I need more confidence. I think I suck and sure I'm not great but it hinders my songwriting. I write best solo on my acoustic, then present it to the band and my drummer helps form it into a song.

[NinjaRaf]

I suck at writing songs. I write badass riffs that go nowhere because I have no idea on how to make them fit together or transition. Best way for me to write is over a drum track. If I can get an entire song down on drums (that I dont write, of course, cuz I suck at that too ), then I can get some sweet guitar tracks over it. Most times, Ill write a riff, send it to my friend Frank, who puts drums on it and sometimes throws in a guitar riff over more drums, and hopefully gives me a full drum track to work with, then I can fill in more guitar riffs from there, add harmonies, leads, layers, etc.

[gb74]

It really depends. I like to write stuff on my own, but with my current band we write everything together. We normally jam on an idea until it starts to take shape, then structure it.

When I am writing on my own, it really depends of what type of song I am writing... if it's something slower, I probably will start with a nice chord progression. For heavy songs, I normally pull up a drum beat and write a riff around it and go from there. Lyrics are always the last thing I write, because honestly, I hate to write lyrics. Thankfully, my bass player is an outstanding lyricist so he's been handling most of it for this band, and the singer writes lyrics too, so I haven't had to write any lyrics in years.

[phrophus]

It really depends. I like to write stuff on my own, but with my current band we write everything together. We normally jam on an idea until it starts to take shape, then structure it.

When I am writing on my own, it really depends of what type of song I am writing... if it's something slower, I probably will start with a nice chord progression. For heavy songs, I normally pull up a drum beat and write a riff around it and go from there. Lyrics are always the last thing I write, because honestly, I hate to write lyrics. Thankfully, my bass player is an outstanding lyricist so he's been handling most of it for this band, and the singer writes lyrics too, so I haven't had to write any lyrics in years.

That's usually what happens with my current band too. I used to write a lot more on my own, but I've been enjoying the collaboration with the current band a lot.

[cibyl]

With the band it's pretty standard -- someone comes in with a riff and we jam on it, adding things, taking away things,...bridge, etc. After we have a structure I come up with the melody and lyrics. Demo it -- then listen back and make any changes that we all agree to. I've written some good riffs but I'm better at putting together/forming the entire song

If it's just me it usually starts strumming an acoustic. Get a basic structure of what I want to do then hum/mouth words to a melody. Then pick a subject to write lyrics to and go.

[sleewell]

yeah i cant write lyrics to save my soul. i was really impressed with our new singer. showed up to her first practice, listened to our songs and went upstairs to write. 45 minutes later she came down and belted out lyrics she just wrote. was awesome.

I'm like you Raf, i can write riffs and progressions but struggle to form them into actual songs so having a drummer who can help me is a huge bonus. I also agree with Billy, generally we jam a riff for a while before establishing a working structure.

[EndTime]

For me, its totally organic and spontaneous.. Even when I'm in songwriting mode, like I am now, since I have a label interested in putting out a full length. Even now, I can't just go down to my room and "write a song".. It has to just happen.. And that generally all starts from a riff, and more often, a few riffs.. Having that first change or more is what usually triggers my instinct to write more.. Sometimes I'll keep trying to bang it out with just me on my guitar, but if that isn't quite happening, I record it on my DAW and build drums around what I have. Then I just continue jamming.. Typically by playing along with what I have and just trying to continue on after the recording ends.. And once I get a song completed, I'll usually fine tune the repetitions, the arrangement, add different layers, tweak the drums, etc. etc. all that is done on my daw.

But every once in a blue moon, like a track I've just recently written and another one I wrote about a year ago, I'll be in the zone so good, that I will basically jam/write a complete song in one singular jam.. I just have to go back and relearn the riffs and tweak the arrangement, but this last one was basically a complete song from start to finish just from playing it back.. That's why I rarely stop myself if I'm in a creating/jamming mood.. Even though I'll be digging on stuff I'm playing, I avoid stopping that flow and just record it all and keep playing rather than trying to write around a riff that I might be into at that moment.. Its a tricky balance, because sometimes I need to work on the 2 or 3 riffs I just jammed.. Other times, I need to just keep playing and coming up with as many ideas as possible

[sleewell]

^ great post man

recording and listening back really does help, so does using a looper.

with me sometimes playing it over and over helps find transitions and changes but sometimes it just creates a rut so i give it time and come back to it later.

[Ostinato Rubato]

I can write and structure a lot of different music, covering a lot of different rock genres. In several keys, lots of stylings, but all rock based on some level. Sometimes heavy and metal, sometimes very soft and smooth jazzy, but never brootz for whatever reason... not brootz like most guys write with drop tunings and 7 strings. I can arrange and vary the chord progressions, I can write some good drum patterns, bass lines... and I'm a decent singer and poet.

Having said all that, I haven't ever really finished my pieces. I can make good rock music like a factory, but I'm lonely and I don't have dudes to jam with. I record all of the main motifs and melodies so I don't lose or forget them, but really I just wanna jam with some guys and make some collaborative music...

[sleewell]

dude finding the right people is the hardest part by far. you are in LA right? i struggled to find people when i was costa mesa. fucking screamo was big at the time and that is just not me.

keep trying, dont give up. you seem like a cool cat and once you find one or two people it gets easier to round out a full band. nothing beats jamming with other people though, all that bullshit about worrying about gear is gone from your mind and just creating music is so much fucking fun.

[Ostinato Rubato]

dude finding the right people is the hardest part by far. you are in LA right? i struggled to find people when i was costa mesa. fucking screamo was big at the time and that is just not me.

keep trying, dont give up. you seem like a cool cat and once you find one or two people it gets easier to round out a full band. nothing beats jamming with other people though, all that bullshit about worrying about gear is gone from your mind and just creating music is so much fucking fun.

[phrophus]

dude finding the right people is the hardest part by far. you are in LA right? i struggled to find people when i was costa mesa. fucking screamo was big at the time and that is just not me.

keep trying, dont give up. you seem like a cool cat and once you find one or two people it gets easier to round out a full band. nothing beats jamming with other people though, all that bullshit about worrying about gear is gone from your mind and just creating music is so much fucking fun.

Definitely true. It took quite a few years to find the guys that I'm jammin with now. I found the singer prolly 2 or 3 years ago, bass player prolly 1.5 years ago, and the drummer about 6 months ago. You've gotta be patient and find the right mix of people.

[Cirrus]

I swear sometimes it feels like the song already exists inside my head and I just need to get it out somehow.

That happens a lot for me.

Me too. In fact, sometimes I rebel against it because it seems too obvious to me when it makes it into an actual song.

I like writing songs with an acoustic and develop the lyrics as I go. When I get to the end of a section and I don't know what will come next, I just launch into another chord, while singing. I don't know what I'll sing, I just go with whatever happens. If it's crap start again, if it's good keep going!

For me the song is all about capturing a feeling about something with lyrics, melody and chords. I always want something that stands alone and develops melodically, then i can get to work with the arrangement- riffs, beats etc. I usually find that all comes quite naturally as I play the basic song, but I enjoy input at that stage from the band.

Sometimes a riff or beat will inspire a song, but for me the heart of it always has to be lyrics I believe in, and a melody+chords that paints a picture.

[Dickarms]

jam > organize > play > bitch > reorganize > repeat

[ovid9]

I am terrible at writing songs. I can write lyrics and when I do, I have an idea how I want it to sound as a song. But...actually getting it to SOUND that way....ugh.

Now I'm going to read the thread and hopefully get tips.