Writing Better Lyrics/Songwriting Tips

Charlie Duncan · 03-31-2002, 08:45 AM

Hello,
there has been a lot of discussion about writing songs lately. If you could post your songwriting tips in this thread, i am going to sticky it. Thanks!
My Tip:
write dow everything you want to say onto a piece of paper. arrange the thoughts into a song. figure out music. make a rough recording of it. and then set it aside for a cople of weeks. then work on it again.

froggee501 · 03-31-2002, 03:32 PM

Here are my tips, gathered and copied from other threads.

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As you go about your daily life, looking for something that really speaks to you..... my friend always passes this homeless man on a concrete bench on her way to college in the morn, and she wrote a song about him...

Write from what you feel….. That way it is sure to be from the heart. Don’t be afraid to sound like an angry punk, but don’t be afraid to sound like a hopeless romantic.

Just write.

Even if you don’t like what you’re writing, write it, and then if you have to, tuck it aside.

If it helps you, use a guideline (i.e. V1 PC C V2 PC C B V3 PC C where V=verse PC=pre chorus C=Chorus and B=bridge).

If you are completely new to songwriting, find a song that you really like, and write your own words for it. Find a poem that flows, and put your own music to it.

SING SING SING!

PLAY PLAY PLAY!

Remember: If it takes 100 bad songs before you can write a good song, then get those 100 done!

Read Dr. Seuss and write a song like him

Read other books and poetry and song lyrics, and use them as your inspiration.

Read the poems and songs that other people have written, and their comments about them: What inspired them? What did they write about? Why did they write it?

Find a polital event that really touches you, and write about that (i.e. my third song, “Lend A Hand”, was about the starving people in Afghanistan).

Write a bee-bop song (a song totally comprised of nonsense syllables)

Go someplace to write (i.e. the beach, the middle of a busy city, the forest, a mountain top, a waterfall, a soup kitchen, an animal pound, another country, a chemistry lab, etc.)

froggee501 · 03-31-2002, 03:34 PM

These are poetry sites that I put a link to on another thread.... They deal with poetry, but you can take what you learn on some of these sites and use them for song writing.

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hope you enjoy these..... they might help ya with forms, or different poetry techniques.

http://poetic-endeavours.com/main/format_list.html

http://members.aol.com/lucyhardng/pointers/quick2.htm

http://www.hypersven.com/poets.corner/poetry.types.html

http://www.wrensworld.com/blessusa.htm

http://www.civilwarhome.com/poemssongs.htm

http://rhyme.poetry.com/

http://haiku575.blogspot.com/

http://www.webcom.com/wordings/arto...ygenerator.html

this will help for stories: http://www.webcom.com/wordings/arto...orystarter.html

http://65.107.211.206/tech/tropes.html

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilr.../assonance.html

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/foot.html

http://thewordshop.tripod.com/forms.html

froggee501 · 03-31-2002, 03:36 PM

here are links to other "tip" threads.... they might help, or they might not, you decide.

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http://www.christianguitar.ws/board...&threadid=21332
http://www.christianguitar.ws/board...&threadid=20109
http://www.christianguitar.ws/board...&threadid=20424
http://www.christianguitar.ws/board...&threadid=17198
http://www.christianguitar.ws/boards...threadid=21915

Ilyena · 03-31-2002, 10:02 PM

Don't consentrate so much. It only causes your thoughts to get all jumbly. Write what is in your heart. If it is from God, it will be exactly what he wants it to be.

Ask others what they think about what you wrote. Make sure that they will be honest with you.

Make sure that what you are writing is what you want to come across, but do not be upset when others don't feel the same way that you do. Let them get out of it what they want to get out of it.

My last piece of advice is to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, and give what is on your heart to God.

I hope that helps.

nestamanchris · 03-31-2002, 10:13 PM

Freewrite. Take a piece of paper or blank word document and just start writing for a set period of time (5-10 minutes is best). Don't stop for any reason, particularly to think. Usually at first you'll end up with a handful of good lines or thoughts and 2 paragraphs of randomness, however the good lines are always worth it. After a while you'll only have a couple subpar lines. It's also interesting to see your thought processes on paper.

cool_E · 04-01-2002, 11:44 AM

You should be able to write the purpose or message in
a single sentence. Every word and phrase should be
in the song only if it supports the message.

Less is more.

Work hard on the songs you write. You are doing this
for Him and should put in your best effort.

Learn new words. Language is extremely important
in songwriting.

Try to say things using images instead of being
blunt & straightforward. This makes for more
compelling lyrics.

Listen to & analyze lyrics & songs of artists you
admire. Figure out what they do and why they
do it.

Write, write, write...

devwilk · 04-02-2002, 05:54 PM

I think the best songs come about when they are least expected... inspiration!!

Ali4God · 04-03-2002, 06:14 PM

Keep a pen and paper with you wherever you go... you never know when an awesome line will come to you that you could base an entire song around!

Don't get focused on complexity or anything like that... write from your heart.

Find a style that works for you and stick to it... you will change as you grow- don't try to rush it!

And yeah, pray!
*Alison*

footstone · 04-04-2002, 04:42 PM

Ask for guidance from the Lord. Look in the bible for inspiration. Give Him all praise and glory. Seek to share His joy.

Strat_dude · 04-07-2002, 03:18 PM

Be Honest: Don't try to change the wording of your song or how something sounds to try and look better.

If you're having trouble trying to get your lines/phrases to work together, I've always found that writing one line exactly how I want it to sound and then trying to make the next line fit with the first helps...

Be Patient: Sometimes, I'll spend a whole afternoon trying to write a song and get absolutely nothing that sounds good, and other times, inspiration will hit and I'll write a whole song in thirty minutes...Count on God for that inspiration, and then write songs for His glory.

Strat_dude

cool_E · 04-08-2002, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Strat_dude

Be Patient: Sometimes, I'll spend a whole afternoon trying to write a song and get absolutely nothing that sounds good,
Strat_dude

Strat_dude,

I've spent over a year on two separate songs! Be patient
is right.

froggee501 · 04-08-2002, 03:05 PM

Take something that happened to someone else, and write about your feelings about it, or similar experiences you've had.

.torrin. · 04-12-2002, 04:19 PM

write about things you know. I usually write the music first, i record the music then play it back a lot of times so i can really just tell where the song is going. It is a happy song, sad song, angery song. That helps me out a lot.

Marshall_Stack · 04-15-2002, 06:35 PM

Being relatively new to this board, I find the advice given prior
to this post quite good.
I especially like the idea of writing lots of things down.
Inspirational tidbits.
Sometimes it's just a one or two line bit.
Sometimes it's 4 complete songs in a row back to back.
Praying is a must. Since we desire the work of our hands to
prosper.
Sometimes it's just slowly picking a version of some tune you already know which leads to one neat sounding part which when
repeated starts a whole new song chugging along.
There is no inspiration like His inspiration.

SG at Marshall Stack