I want to write a song

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janissinger

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If I have been playing the piano and singing for years and I have no trouble writing poetry why can't I write a song? I have tried so many times but they all sound like someone elses songs? Any quick methods to just get me started. I have even tried lifting other peoples stuff but I really don't want to do that either. Comments?
 
We all want original melodies and ideas to trundle out of our heads fully formed when we write songs, but a genuinely good technique to use when this doesn't happen is to take whatever does come out -- be it cliched or sounding like someone else's song -- and then tinker with it, until it sounds different. That technique is even more effective with piano players, because coming up with new chords can be as easy as sticking your pinky out a half-step. Thnk of it as a carving-away & molding process, instead of an additive one. Most pop tunes are pretty similar in basic ways, so it shouldn't take too much to give a cliched tune a more original sound. Changing majors to minors here and there is a good start. Try to find the one chord that really stands out as the truely cliched moment, and then change it drasticly (to something that sounds good, of course), then go to the next particularly cliched moment, and alter that. Soon, you'll have an original tune. Use the same concept for words. Find the biggest cliche first, twist it to something unexpected, then find the next one, etc., etc...
 
Wedge has some great ideas. It would be wise to try some of his exercises.

To add, writing good original music and lyrics is a process in which you need to take off your "judge" cap and just brainstorm. Many people are too hard on their own lyrics when they start. free associate. Don't worry about what comes out of your head or how "good" it is.

Also, being a poet does not necessarily help when writing lyrics. The two are distinctly different art forms. Poetry is meant to be read over and over and analyzed. In my case, I get the most out of poems when I read them 10 times by myself. Lyrics are naturally meant to be recited and have the added responsibility of fitting in with the music!

Also, if you want to avoid cliched topics in a song, try making characters, places and actions in your song strictly concrete. As in, no 1st person. no generalizing. no generic names for things. Just proper names of real people going to real places, doing real things.

IE, instead of,

"I went down to the store the other day"

try,

"my neighbor's son Jimmy was shopping at Lou's deli"

etc etc etc.

The song might be stupid but it'll be original. :)
 
Often I will get an idea (inspiration) from something I heard. It may sound similar as I begin to work it out. However, by the time I am finished with the song in my small home studio, it takes on a whole new life, often times even quite different than what I had originally envisioned.

If you dont have a four track recorder, they are quite inexpensive these day, especially the cassette ones. Get one and toy with your ideas. You will be amazed how they can morph it something unique and original

Bill
 
Either you have it or you don't. It sounds like you just don't. Stick to writing melodies. I can do it all but I'm kind of a lousy singer. So even when I write a good song theres not much I can really do besides have someone else sing it.
 
This is just brain-storming but you could take your favorite poem (of the ones you have written) and try to communicate its "message" with music...you may use a lot of the same phrases etc. or end up with lyrics far different from your poem...to me the problem is finding something worth singing about (and that's not corny)...after that it is probably finding a hook/chorus phrase...remember a song does not have to have a lot of lyrics. There are hit songs with just 8 lines (this is way out there but I just thought of the song "Everybody's Got a Learn Sometime" by the Korgis).
 
When you sit down to try and write something, what is the first thing you do?

Do you play a standard chord? Do you play a scale? A melody that you know?

If so, then that may be your problem. I don't play piano and have no idea how to play chords on it, but when I sit down to play, the coolest, weirdest chords come out because I just stick my fingers wherever.

The songs I write are on guitar and are riff based. I use a lot of standard techniques but what sticks out as original in my writings are the weird chords during choruses, because I found them when throwing my hands on the fretboard and seeing what open/fretted notes sound cool together.

Also, this idea of "you have it or you don't" is wrong. You have it, you just haven't developed it and it appears weaker because your other skills are stronger. Take the time to do weird things you wouldn't normally do and you will eventually find that one thing that doesn't sound like you. That's when you know you are on the right track.
 
I agree with the other person that poetry is different to lyrics- Lyrics really can be beautiful when sung, yet on the page they can look a little but silly. Its best not to try to judge lyrics until you have set them to music.

Here is a lyric/music technique I am currently using (it seems to work nicely) -

1 ) Write 3 simple songs with simple lyrics - dont judge yourself (as per the previous posters) - just get a couple of songs with 2 verses each and mnidless lyrics. You dont need choruses or any fancy stuff

2 ) Choose the best one of the three and write a chorus- Make the chorus repetitive and mindless

3 ) Choose the next best song and slot it somewhere into the first one - perhaps there is only a single line which sounds good, but fit it in there somehow. Your original song should be a lot more origini/varied now

4 ) Write a new verse for your song - chances are by now you are feeling a bit more pleased with your accomplishments, and can relax a bit more about the lyrics (meaning something better will come out)

5 ) Rewrite all the other verses based on the first one.

6 ) Voila - you now have a song, ready to go (with numerous minor tweaks)

Basically it comes to a bit of creation, attacking something from numerous angles (writing the song 3 times) and arrangement of your pieces into something rich.

When the song has been started, its easy to alter and improve it - In actual fact this is the best part for me becuase the "pressure" is off. I guess you have to start with a bit of dirt to be able to create a pearl!!

-- I am not trying to plug a song, but here is the lyrics to one I completed over july 4th weekend using this very technique

DONT LET IT GO TO WASTE
(Richardson/Richardson)

Dancing here with you I feel the pull
Beneath this neon light
Its like a raging summer storm streaking
across this city night
I know that now's the moment
When everythings in place
You and I were made for this
Dont let it go to waste

Dont let it go to waste
You dont know how cold its been
You dont know what you've done to me
By giving me a taste - Dont let it go to waste

A crazy test no book can teach you
A leap to the unknown
A magic shuffle into something special
From the great alone
I know that now's the moment
I see it in your face
You and I were made for this
Dont let it go to waste

Dont let it go to waste
You dont know how cold its been
You dont know what you've done to me
By giving me a taste - Dont let it go to waste

And this spell is ours to break
it's ours to take
to awake.

<guitar solo>

Dont let it go to waste
You dont know how cold its been
You dont know what you've done to me
By giving me a taste - Dont let it go to waste


You can listen to it at the link below to "Dead Mans Corner".
The opening lines are from song 1, the chorus from song 2, the middle eight and second part of the first verse were created to join the pieces together. The lyrics were culled from about 5 attempts at the words.
 
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