Looking for a thread.....

[swivelingchair]

and I need some help please. I've been looking for one that list/outlines the basic rules of songwriting, more specifically the time tested rules needed to build a strong foundation. I found some good info but not quite what I'm looking for. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[azraelswings]

www.musesmuse.com might have something you're looking for. I'm not sure what basic foundation building rules you're looking for. Keys? Chord Progressions? Lyric writing? Proper technique for sacrificing a virgin in the new moon?

 

[swivelingchair]

I'm sorry, when I think of songwriting I always think of lyrics. I should have been more clear, but yes a thread to the basic rules of songwriting. Also, thank you for the link I'll check it out.

 

[azraelswings]

I'm sorry, when I think of songwriting I always think of lyrics. I should have been more clear, but yes a thread to the basic rules of songwriting. Also, thank you for the link I'll check it out.

General rules of lyrics:

1. Avoid overly poetic melodrama

2. Avoid bizarre shifts of tense to form rhymes

3. Avoid stupid rhymes for the sake of rhyming

4. Remember the power of melody to revive a mediocre lyric. An exercise in this follows:

Get the song "Saturday" by Elton John in your head. Think about the song, bob your head to "Saturday, saturday, saturday, saturday, saturday..." until you're reallly into it. Now, replace saturday with "grundle sweat." Catchy isn't it?

An' it harm none, do as ye will.