me being lyricist vs all the talented songwriters here

[jdblessing1970]

I have come to the conclusion that I, being strictly a lyricist and not a true songwriter, am a bit out of my league on this bbs. While I may be decent at putting words together, I struggle to even come up with music for any of my writings, and what I do come up with changes everytime I try to "sing" my own lyrics. I'm not versed in writing music down on paper, nor do I play any instruments. In short, I may be good at part of the process, but I feel like such a small-fry being surrounded by all of these talented full-process people. I have enough trouble trying to come up with a melody; you guys come up with melody, harmony, drums, guitar, etc, then put them all together, record them, and put them online to review. My talents do not extend to all of that. I appreciate the feedback on my posts and will continue to post. I just wish I could contribute feedback as helpful as you guys give me; I will give what I can, but please forgive any rookie mistakes or misconceptions...

Me

[ido1957]

Okay - my first recommendation would be to learn how to play an instrument. It's not easy, it will take some time but it will really help. You will be able to accompany yourself while you sing and it will help you write the music. Being accompanied will sound better than just singing into a tape recorder acappella. The instrument will help you to find melodies within the chords you play. You will get a sense of what melody goes with what chords the best.

Your other alternative would be to get a collaborator, who can take your lyrics/melodies and arrange them into full songs.

Personally I think being able to sing and play your songs is much more rewarding. Guitar and vocals or piano and vocals is plenty. You don't need a full band to get a good song across...

[dementedchord]

the excersize in self awareness you've just gone through put's you ahead of alotta guys IMO... i've never been able to right good lyrics myself.... never could understand why... i have a great vocabulary and no problem expressing myself but somehow the poetics of the language escapes me... so go figure...

[Yonce N Mild]

I play a little bit of guitar bass and keys. A VERY little bit. Not even decent on any one of them. It helps me write melodies when I am trying to write a total song.

Luckily for me I play in a band with a great group of guys. We really see eye to eye when it comes to music. Our communication is great too. If we don't like something that someone comes up with we tell them, no hard feelings. No big egos just some guys that love music and respect each other as musicians and friends. It's opened up a whole new world for me musically.

I used to do the one man band thing and had little success. Now writing is so much easier. All I have to do is write lyrics and a melody. The band does the rest. Once they come up with a new riff I break out my notebook and try to find some lyrics that work with it or if I have a bit of a melody in my head I sing it for them and they come up with something.

Much respect to the one man bands out there. That takes some serious talent hard work and dedication.

[cnix]

Finding a collaborator is a great idea for you. There are many people that want to play, but struggle coming up with lyrics, and you write some great lyrics. But, if I were in your shoes, I would get a cheap keyboard. It is so easy to learn a few cords on the keyboard, hard to get good, but easy to start. Example, the key of C has no sharps or flats, meaning you play only the white keys, and every cord is played the exact same way, which is every other note. Thumb, middle finger, and pinky. Thats it. Most songs are basically 1,4,5 and 6. C is one, then move your thumb up 4 notes to the 4, F, up one more note to the 5, G, and up one more to the 6 Am, and each is played with the exact same finger position, thumb, middle finger, pinky. Now you have music to sing to. Play them in any order you choose and listen to your songs come alive.

[jdblessing1970]

Thanks for the input, guys. I do have someone I collaborate with from time to time, actually met him here...Kudos to Dave Morehouse aka Upfiddler. But I know that Dave is a rather busy man in his own right, and lives WAAY up north from me, so communciation with him is limited to mostly email and it's rather hard for me to get across a tune idea via that medium.

As for getting an instrument, I've been thinking along those lines. A keyboard sounds like a good place to start. Next I've got to figure out what chords sound good with what notes I'm singing or visa versa I guess.

[mikeh]

For what it's worth - the primary reason I started to learn to navigate a melodic instrument was indeed to write songs. I was a drummer who found I had things I wanted to say and stories I wanted to tell - but I needed a way to present the lyrics with music. I picked up a cheap acoustic guitar and had someone show me some chords - and I was off and running.

That was many, many years ago and I became obsessed with learning to play each instrument I thought I needed to present my songs. I am now reasonably proficient on guitar, bass and keyboards (oh yeah and I still play drums) and can get some usable sounds from a banjo, a violin and harmonica. (I've tried a few horn instruments - but I spent more time drooling on myself than actually creating any decent tone)

As ido1957 indicates, learning to perform on instruments and actually presenting your songs with music is very satisfying!!!! It takes a lot of time, effort and dedication - but it is sooooo worth it. (Stay away from the recording side - that is an endless vacuum of cash and energy)

I've seen some of your lyrics and you do have a writing talent! I think you owe it to your self (and to your writing talent) to at least try to learn the basics of a melodic instrument. I think keyboard is the easiest to learn - since all the notes are clearly laid out in front of you in a relatively logical format.

To be a writer is a long and joyful journey - you've already started down the path - now it's just a matter of picking up new skills along the way.

[chazba]

They may have a point suggesting that you learn to play an instrument, and Guitar is the ideal in my opinion. It has a short learning curve to get you started actually making music rather quickly.
On the other hand, if you know that your gift is for writing, you may be better served to hook up with someone who is already there, that is, who is a musician on the same level that you are as a writer. There have been some very notable writing teams in music history. Rogers & Hammerstein, etc...etc...
So do not despair or sell yourself short. If you are driven to write, you will write, period. Achieving financial success as a writer is a whole different deal and the subject of many other posts on this BBS

chazba