[slug]

i'm a songwriter wanna-be. i've written maybe 50 or so songs over the past 15 years. i find that music, melodies, and hooks are easy to come up with but lyrics are tough. the more i write, the better my songs get though.

i never paid much attention to lyrics until i took some vocal lessons, mainly because all the singers in my band were so flaky and unreliable, i decided i needed to learn to do it myself.

if you write songs - what kind of songs do you write? mainly instrumental, mainly with lyrics? what kind of lyric themes do you write about?

who are some of your favorite songwriters and why?

i have writer's block a lot. i never get started because i feel like my lyrics will suck or i just feel emotionally dead and have nothing to write about. what helps you get through writer's block?

do you know of any good books or online information or courses to help with songwriting?

[DanteFalling]

I pretend to, although I often write either instrumental music or poetry, rarely do the two meet, unless I'm writing for someone.

My INFP mother wrote music for a living.

When in writer's block I force myself to write, make it as likely as possible that I'll dream while sleeping, and then I read.
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[Kronos]

I used to write lots of music.... although could never put my own lyrics to it. Therefore I ended up mostly writing prayers and Masses, that sort of thing, where the Latin text is already there and requires no alteration. If someone could give me good words, I'd write some good music!

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[uncon]

I'm a sporadic songwriter:
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Lyrics always come last for me. The only way to get better is to do it, even if the results are embarassing at first. Love Me Do is not A Day in the Life. John Lennon said he always hated his voice - sometimes you never get over the self-consciousness. Do it anyway! People that aren't musical think it's magic anyway - keep that in mind. An artist's perspective has a depth that the average person's perspective doesn't usually reach.

[Samoan Corleone]

Back when th first Crash Bandicoot game was out I used to make up tunes to remember the codes you enter to automatically go to certain stages every time after I'd get one. To this day I could pick up the game and start at the end (I can't find my PS1 memory card).
I used to write rap lyrics when I was 10 as well, listening to Nas, Jay-Z, and Eminem back then.

[Shorgenfunkel]

Composer/songwriter here. I mainly do the former, writing instrumental music for non-traditional ensembles (two contrabassoons and drum set, 6 flutes, etc.) but I also sometimes write stuff with ridiculous wording. Music composition is the area of the arts that I spend the vast majority of my time in.

[jazziejazzay]

I play guitar and piano and sometimes I write a song or two. Only when I'm absolutely inspired and something has happened in my life and I want to sing about will I write down anything. Most of my music is without words.

[Xanthippe]

I've written a few (classical) songs. I'm quite fond of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetry, and I like some Latin lyric poetry. I can't write lyrics to save my life, although I've written some poetry my mum wants to set.

When I have writer's block, I generally read Greek myths or try to paint something (sadly, this is not a talent I have time to pursue often, though); I can't write anything without some sort of imagery in mind. But that applies more to symphonic music (which I've gotten into lately) than to songs.

[d3br074]

	Originally Posted by slug To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	i find that music, melodies, and hooks are easy to come up with but lyrics are tough. the more i write, the better my songs get though.

For me it's the opposite. I always have the words, but never have a melody.

[ElstonGunn]

I stopped trying in order to avoid the aneurysm I would have given myself if I kept it up. Being intensely critical of whatever I wrote wasn't a good combination with sucking horribly at it.
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[slug]

I do both visual arts and music. I often get images in my mind when I listen to music, but for some reason never thought about getting music from looking at images. I will have to try that.

I find that the artistic process is much the same for both art and music.

I just found out I have a show to do this summer that requires some original songs, so that will be a goal to get me writing.

[joshy]

i'm really an ameteur when it comes to songwriting, but i'm currently in the process of writing 3 songs, and the lyrics and melody usually come about the same time.

[Mader]

Used to be a bit of a writer - Prozac took care of that.

Owned a publishing company once, long story, not nearly as great as it sounds. Did you know that anyone can own a publishing company? I am suprised that more guys don't use this for a pickup line.

Blocks: work with someone else, go somewhere or meet people who are very very different from you, write when you are upset. You can be as serious or silly as you want. If you want "in the biz", it is a lot about who you know.

[Imposcillator]

Another songwriter here. Operating about 90% on talent and 10% on work/theory. I want to balance the percentage. I'm thinking of actually studying music somewhere/somehow. I could use some guidelines from those of you that are actually classically musically trained.

I play the guitar, bass, keyboard and can do some percussion (great sense of rhythm and a good ear for melody). I write my own lyrics (self-proclaimed poet) and I sing my songs as well. I don't have a great voice but it's decent enough and I guess it suits my style of writing.


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are
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of my songs in case you're interested. Mainly rock/metal stuff, some electronic thingies thrown here and there, largely experimental.

[music221]

I am. I write lyrics, guitar music, bass music, and drums. I'm currently working on an album with my band and hope to have it completed by the end of the year. Recording takes lots of work and makes you very self critical. Between playing live or recording I rather play live.

[SelfInflected]

Lot's of composing and some writing here... at least before the depression really kicked in. Now I find that I'm a bit co-dependent when it comes to music. INTJness and co-dependency ain't good.

[kurokisakura]

I've been a poet for years, and am now attempting to give songwriting a shot...or at least, writing the lyrics for the songs. I'm a vocalist, primarily--I figure that if I am going to try and break into the music industry in a few years, I might as well try writing my own songs. Unfortunately, despite all of my efforts to figure out how to play some kind of instrument, I am forced to acknowledge that I have two left hands--I am instrumentally challenged. I can probably compose a melody if I put some thought into it, but it will be difficult.