Finding the spark - Tips for writing music

Darian · #1 05-05-2005, 06:43 PM

How many of you write your own music?

I've written a few songs - nothing worth any special mentions but I'm wondering how you go about writing a song.

I usually create the best riffs on my guitar when I'm trying the least. If I TRY to come up with a good riff, I never can. But if I'm half asleep watching tv with guitar in hand - I can suprise myself with some pretty good riffs... the problem is remembering them the next day haha
I should get a tape recorder cued and ready for my rare moments of riff genius :P

Lyrics are my weakness, I outright suck at lyrics. The closest I come is by venting my anger on a notebook I've kept for a few years. Reading back through the pages there's some crazy angry shit in there - I bet if I had any skill I could write half a dozen songs direct from my notebook... If only...

As you can see I'm fairly average at writing music. I guess I'm looking for new ways to find the spark :wink: How do you create music? How do you write lyrics?

GumbY · #2 05-05-2005, 09:11 PM

Over the years Ive written a number of songs lyrics wise, some worthy and possibly good for an album depending on genre, mine are mostly personal based ones others political, anti religion,technology etc, some are thought out over much time others came and come about by compling a collection of random words and eventually it becomes a song, Ive not written any new lyrics in a number of months but from time to time i get this sudden rush of inspiration and off i go, ill usually get 2 or 3 verses and maybe a chorus down but then thats it!, so ive got a number of "works in progress".

Music wise well theres the hard part for me, I have a nice little "riff basic" but I cant really fit much of my own music to my lyrics, but some riffs ive come up with have worked well with other peoples lyrics too.

I guess for me it just comes naturally ....sort of.... when it does, what tips can I give u, possibly things like picking a specific theme of sorts and working with ideas based on that theme....ummm cant offer much more really but to say keep working at it and in time things will fall into place.

Darian · #3 05-05-2005, 11:17 PM

I've heard a lot of lyrisists (try saying that 10 times) use the notebook method, carry a notebook EVERYWHERE they go incase they are struck with a new line or half a verse and they quickly write it all down.

I don't go that far - do you wait for lyrics to come to you, then write them all down. Or do you only find lyrics when you sit down and think about them?

I don't know, maybe there isn't a best way to come up with lyrics - and I'll just suck at it no matter what haha.

GumbY · #4 05-06-2005, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrQuan

I've heard a lot of lyrisists (try saying that 10 times) use the notebook method, carry a notebook EVERYWHERE they go incase they are struck with a new line or half a verse and they quickly write it all down.

I don't go that far - do you wait for lyrics to come to you, then write them all down. Or do you only find lyrics when you sit down and think about them?

I don't know, maybe there isn't a best way to come up with lyrics - and I'll just suck at it no matter what haha.

Take up drinking and the consumption of other illicid substances lol....nah dont....i dunno ha......

If i sit down and think its the collection of random words ill write down and ideas for a song then it eventually turns into something
They come to me at anytime but not too often but when they do ill try scrable for paper and pen and write.

The_TrOoPer · #5 05-06-2005, 04:42 AM

You gotta take it step by step...

Fluent words require a fluent theme.. If you dont have a base, the project will fall through, and words will not appear....

Wyrm · #6 05-17-2005, 03:57 AM

Writing has been one of my main passions for a wihle now. I usually keep a pen handy because random things people say can be twisted into great lines. Writing lyrics is (at least not for me) something that you can force yourself to do, it has to hit you in some kind of personal way.

Darian · #7 05-23-2005, 01:17 PM

Maybe I should just give up if it's just a waiting game :P

Is there anything you do that helps to kick start the inspiration? I don't mean forcing it, but maybe going for a walk?? or a place or whatever that helps you?

Wyrm · #8 05-23-2005, 03:21 PM

Well I wouldn't give up, I'm sure its different for everyone! For me there's nothing really in particular just life in general. Hard to explain, just certain things strike me but it's never the same each time.

Mourn · #9 06-03-2005, 05:34 AM

I usually write the lyrics first, as I have a tune in my head.. it all falls into place there. Usually I use occult and generally dark themes in my lyrics, but thats what works for me. Try and write in a style which you can adapt too.. Doom is hard to write lyrics for, because usually they're very poetic. Where as say grindcore lyrics could be easier, because they can be outright fucked up. And as messy as you'd like. What i'm trying to say is find your niche and work with it. I go for walks in a forest by my house sometimes for inspiration, other times I could be watching a movie and it'll come to me. Idea wise I get sparked in all different ways. And I use the notebook approach.

Dethscorpion · #10 06-03-2005, 08:51 AM

I wright some.I don't cary around a notebook or anything. If I have a good line I usually end of forgetting about it. :?