I’ve written 3 songs recently and several a decade or so go. These are some of my learnings / things I did / sources of inspiration for the three I recently wrote.
Feel free to comment. Do you use similar techniques in your song writing? Or are we completely different? It would be great to know if this triggers creative thoughts in others.
Lyrics can come from anywhere. The main lyric / hook for 2 of the 3 came from things people said or wrote to me. For one of these songs a single sentence from my wife gave me the main hook and a line for a bridge. The lyrics for the 3rd song came to me on a bike ride - but in this case I already had an idea that I wanted to write a punk song on a particular topic using power chords.
Once I have a lyric I try to do something with it. That could be write other lyrics that might work with it; or maybe think what genre the lyric will work with (is it a Clapton style blues, a ballad, a doo wop progression…….?); or strum some chords over it; or maybe sing a melody into the voice recorder into my phone.
Repetion of lyrics is good. Loads of songs repeat somewhere. I’m not thinking of a chorus (which is the most obvious repeat), but perhaps a single line that repeats. Or use a pseudo repetition e.g. “Always remember” can be repeated as “Never forget” (I’ve already used this one, so you’ll have to think of a different one……or give me a cut of your lyric rights😀).
Repetition helps the listener to get into the song in fewer listens.
If a verse is 4 lines, but I repeat the 3rd line, I might be able to use the original 4th line somewhere else: the extra verse I need to turn a 2min30s song into a 3 minute song; another song.
……and if I think I’m being too repetitive (listening to commercially released songs suggests I’m probably not) there is always a bridge / middle 8 to write and instrumental breaks to add some variety.
Think what chord sequence might work with it (if not already done as part of 2). Common chord progressions are a good starting point. I may well change my initial thought, but it helps with the creative process.
If I think I’ve finished with a song and am happy with it, it’s probably worth leaving it a day or so. Something else may come to me that improves it e.g. a lyric that says the same but fits better with the strumming pattern.
Those are great tips. 4 is really good. I realized in my earliest song writing that I was writing way too many lyrics. It took me a little bit to realize I am more writing another book of the Odyssey. So I began to do who you are describing. Far far fewer lines, more repeating phrases.
At first it felt like it was too many, but its really not. In reality when looking at lyrics we are just looking at the lines of words. because there is a lot of music in between the lines its easy to forget about that space and the times there.
That is really interesting Simon, thanks for sharing your tips.
I so admire people who can write songs with both music and lyrics.
I once worked out two chords progressions with a bit of intro and outro; I also developed a melody from that as part of a homework Justin assigned us for two of his live PMT classes.
While working all this out I felt there was something I wanted to express, but when it was time to write the lyrics I soon gave it up…it was like too painful for me to bring the words to life.
Next time I might try to start from the Lyrics as you suggest
As someone who shares your passion for songwriting (I think I’ve written roughly 20-30ish now, I’ve lost count ) I’m always fascinated by the path other people take to get from idea to completion.
I’ll add a +1 for these
I think the best lesson I’ve learned along the way is how to self-edit. Sometimes less is more. Take my word for it as someone who has written their fair share of 6+ minute songs … There is definitely a time/place for longer songs to exist. However, it is helpful to know when that time is versus when you could really cut the 2nd guitar solo or extra verse.
I also know that not everything I write is going to be good. I always remind myself that I am learning and not everything is going to be my 100% best work all the time. I’ve had a lot of pieces of songs that I’ve scrapped when I realized they weren’t working. Don’t let it get to you- It’s all part of the process
Great tips @simon_plays_bass. I usually write the music first and then put lyrics to it. Although I’m currently writing a song and the way I imagine the lyrics of the chorus going doesn’t match the chord progression of the chorus, so I may need a rethink!
Like you, a simple sentence is usually a stimulus, often combined with something that is making me happy or annoyed at a particular moment in time.
The song I’m currently writing will be my 4th in the past couple of months. They’re not great, but I think the process of writing songs, coupled with the feedback on this forum, will make me a better song writer. And the songs that I’ve finished can then be revisited and improved as my song wrting improves.
) I’m always fascinated by the path other people take to get from idea to completion.
