How to compose a song?

Spaceman · 11-04-2006, 09:44 PM

Today at band practice my band and I tried to compose a song based around a riff my keyboardist came up with. Pretty soon after we started to do that we realized that we had no idea how to go about composing a good song. I could really use a explaination of how do this.

PontiusPirate · 11-04-2006, 09:55 PM

I have no good advice.
I just do it.
According to alot of people...
this isn't normal.

Adam_8287 · 11-04-2006, 10:30 PM

There is no secret method to songwriting. There are however some basic guidlines I can give you, but you pretty much just have to feel your way through it. So here's a couple things you can think about to get you started.
First of all, look at what key the riff is in and what chords fit behind it. How does the riff feel...is it sad, happy, lonely etc? If the riff is catchy, you probably don't want lyrics directly on top of it...it would be much better suited as an intro or a pre/post chorus. Now just listen to where the riff wants to go. Does it seem to be leading your ear somewhere?

Songwriting just takes time. You need to develop your ear and just practice. Just sit down and jam by yourself and with your band, just play and play and play.

beau99 · 11-04-2006, 11:29 PM

I just write lyrics and then improvise.

That way the song doesn't sound the same every time.

Demon_Hunter · 11-05-2006, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Today at band practice my band and I tried to compose a song based around a riff my keyboardist came up with. Pretty soon after we started to do that we realized that we had no idea how to go about composing a good song. I could really use a explaination of how do this.

Go to Barnes&Noble and pick up a basic music-comp book.

As for acutally giving advice, I would say that Adam pretty much hit the nail on the head.

All peices of music, no matter how big or small have a pull to the next phrase, you can either decide to follow along where the musical phrase is leading you, or you can choose to go another direction. Thats basically all it is. Just feel it out, and use whatever sounds best to you and your band.

Spaceman · 11-05-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam_8287

First of all, look at what key the riff is in and what chords fit behind it.

That's the part I think we're having the most trouble with, I tried figuring it out by looking at what note the riff started and ended on but I wasn't sure if that was the key it was in or not.

Adam_8287 · 11-05-2006, 02:31 PM

Have you had any music theory training?

Spaceman · 11-05-2006, 03:41 PM

I haven't had very much of it, I don't know about the other guys but I doubt they have.

Adam_8287 · 11-05-2006, 04:10 PM

I would recommend learning some theory. It will make it much easier to put together a song. Finding the key of a riff is a relatively simple matter, so if you're having a hard time with that it's probably only going to get more difficult to write songs.
That's not meant in an offensive manner, so hopefully it didn't sound that way. So many musicians think theory is old fashioned and out dated when it's really not. I've taken theory I & II here at college and my writing has improved greatly with the increased knowledge of harmony, chord structure, voice leading and just knowing more about music overall.
So if I were you, I'd take some lessons or pick up a scale theory book.

Spaceman · 11-05-2006, 04:46 PM

The closest thing my school has to a music program is praise band so I'll pick up a music theory book soon. Are there any specific ones you would reccomend? Thanks for your help and, no, that didn't come off as offensive.

Adam_8287 · 11-05-2006, 10:02 PM

sorry, I don't really know of any good ones. we didn't use any books in my private lessons and my college theory classes just had the text books. but pretty much any book that give you some scales, and some explanation will be fine. the basic scales are pretty cut and dried.

Demon_Hunter · 11-07-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman

The closest thing my school has to a music program is praise band so I'll pick up a music theory book soon. Are there any specific ones you would reccomend? Thanks for your help and, no, that didn't come off as offensive.

Once again... Barnes&Noble.

They carry mostly music theory books (the ones in houston have about 12 different theory books, and music-dictionaries), and Im sure that the rest of the stores arent radically different in their selection.

Pick one that you think fits your personal style (reading style that is; what style of book would you like to read).

AudioACanuck · 11-10-2006, 05:30 AM

I kinda have the same problem, my Dad wrote a song and I can play the same notes as he sings, but I don't know what to do about putting chords to it or how I should put music to it without playing the exact thing as the singer.

AudioACanuck · 11-10-2006, 06:09 AM

Oh ya btw, I have been playing it in F# major.

bobthecockroach · 11-10-2006, 06:47 AM

I mean no offense, but...

This may come as a surprise, but most professional songwriters have been formally trained in their fields. No one can just decide one day to write a song and do well at it. It takes practice and a great deal more study than you might expect. I've been playing music for something like 6 years, and I have a fairly good grasp of music theory, yet I still can't do any sort of composition. If you want to learn it, you need to study it. You need to learn as much music theory as you possible can. For guitarists, this is an excellent place to start: http://www.scenicnewengland.net/guitar/index.html. For pianists/keyboardists, you should have no difficulty finding a theory book for piano. After you've learned theory, start studying composition itself.

Now, granted, if you just want to make simple rock songs, slam out some power chords and yell over them, but if you want to do more than that, study.