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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2025
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I have the musical basis (chords and melody) for a song, but no lyrics. I think the song will be a good one based on what I have musically. I’ve tried a couple of times to start writing the words but after a couple of lines I go ‘Nah’. Usually, once I find a theme to work with, I can get the words happening.
Any ideas about methods to find a theme or lyrics that suits some music? I realise this is a ‘How long is a piece of string?’ type of question, but looking for any ideas of approaches that might help me crack open this nut.
Andrew
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Well, as you know, I get lyrics from my brother. Highly recommended. Ha! But when I write lyrics (or music, for that matter), I usually write "inside out". I'll find a catchy phrase and try to make it sound cool. (I stole this from something Paul Simon said over 50 years ago) This will become the "center" of the song. Then I'll figure out a way to get to the "center" of the song lyrically (or musically). That is, what is the song about? This will become the "theme". It usually goes quickly from there. Honestly, despite your protests, your lyrics are WAY above average, and your songs are always fun to listen to. Some people think good rock lyrics are gibberish anyway. Just putting that out there. 
Last edited by DC Ron; 8 hours ago.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jun 2017
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They say "write what you know". There's a lot of inspiration that can be taken from your own life or the world around you that can inspire some pretty meaningful lyrics. What emotions or mood does the "sound" you've created strike within you? What are some events in your life that have made you feel a similar way? What are some important things that were said to you during that time? That might be a good place to start!
Cheers,
Ember
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Songwriting
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Andrew, Great question. I think that there's no single answer, but please read on. Many (most?) times, the write / composer starts with lyrics and adds a melody that suits. Think: Hal David and Burt Bacharach, or Bernie Taupin and Elton John. On the other hand, think The Bee Gees, where they would compose a melody and then write lyrics to suit. Quote: “The style of writing songs doesn't change at all, really. Melody first, lyrics second." - Robin Gibb" and quote: "They always wrote the music first, then when they'd get together in the studio, they'd play the music and come up with the lyrics on the spot. They never wrote lyrics ahead of time." So if you've got a melody, think hard about what concepts you may have had in mind when you wrote the melody. Use that as an inspiration. Case in point: I wrote the melody to this song before I had any lyrics. I wrote the lyrics to match the melody. If I can do it, you can too Be positive. Good luck!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 923
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Well, as you know, I get lyrics from my brother. Highly recommended. Ha!
But when I write lyrics (or music, for that matter), I usually write "inside out". I'll find a catchy phrase and try to make it sound cool. (I stole this from something Paul Simon said over 50 years ago) This will become the "center" of the song. Then I'll figure out a way to get to the "center" of the song lyrically (or musically). That is, what is the song about? This will become the "theme". It usually goes quickly from there.
Honestly, despite your protests, your lyrics are WAY above average, and your songs are always fun to listen to. Some people think good rock lyrics are gibberish anyway. Just putting that out there. Thank you Ron - and thanks for pumping up my tyres a bit. I’m always using the line that ‘the lyrics are just the vehicle for the music’ so not sure why I’m doubting my mantra on this one. I think it’s because the song *could* be good, so the stakes are a bit higher. Well … I’ve found a centre of sorts and running with that for the time being. Andrew
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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 923
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Joined: Mar 2025
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They say "write what you know". There's a lot of inspiration that can be taken from your own life or the world around you that can inspire some pretty meaningful lyrics. What emotions or mood does the "sound" you've created strike within you? What are some events in your life that have made you feel a similar way? What are some important things that were said to you during that time? That might be a good place to start! Thanks Ember! While I’ve lived a sheltered life, I have taken a leaf out of your message and got my first draft - based on how I have felt about some situations - and I think it suits the style I am aiming for. It will probably go through some wordsmithing to improve it’s singability (I do most of my melody writing inside BIAB in the editable notation window, then I sing it with guitar and find I introduce stumble changes and emPHAsis on the correct sylLAbles). Andrew
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Songwriting
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Joined: Mar 2025
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Andrew, Great question. I think that there's no single answer, but please read on. Many (most?) times, the write / composer starts with lyrics and adds a melody that suits. … So if you've got a melody, think hard about what concepts you may have had in mind when you wrote the melody. Use that as an inspiration. Case in point: I wrote the melody to this song before I had any lyrics. I wrote the lyrics to match the melody. If I can do it, you can too Be positive. Good luck! Thanks Trev! In about 95% of my songs, music comes first, so I am mostly retrofitting lyrics to music. My false starts in this case caused me to reach out and see if others had novel approaches to this same challenge. Today, I sat down and forced myself to write lyrics on a slightly different theme to my false starts, and so far I would rate today’s efforts as ‘plausible’. So I’m on my way! BTW - good song of yours you linked to! Thanks for the encouragement! Andrew
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Songwriting
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Hi Andrew, FWIW:
Although I do mostly instrumentals I do have a technique I use for lyrics, and sometimes instrumental leads and bass lines. I strum my guitar and make up some lyrics. If I strike on something that I like I grab my Tascam DR 05 and record it. (You can use whatever you have for recording just have it on and ready to record.) The recording may only be a line or two but it is something you can potentially build into a song.
However other times I will think of a line or two then grab my guitar, find a chord(s) that fit said line and record it.
The main thing is to get it recorded and get the lyrics saved. I place the typed lyrics in my "Unfinished Song" folder on my desktop and I save the recording in my Tascam.
Checkout person "Did you find everything OK"?
Me "Why do you ask? Are you guys hiding stuff"?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Songwriting
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I write about what I know or think I know, personal experiences, maybe something a friend or family says provides the spark, or maybe I have a line or a title or a topic, but it's almost always the case that a chorus or a verse or a lyric and the rhythm and the melody develop at the same time.
I'm presently trying to write a song with a couple of friends. They suggested a line/title, but finding lyrics and a melody and a song structure, anything, is a challenge for me. Ideas are percolating, but the scenario I can relate to and write about has yet to present itself.
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We much like Ember’s thoughts. Our current song is an example of that.
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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