- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Songwriters-what's your process?
Posted on 10/21/24 at 10:53 am
Posted on 10/21/24 at 10:53 am
Do you come up with the story seed and then let the melody develop?
Get the tune in your head and fill in the lyrics later?
Hook or verse first?
Get the tune in your head and fill in the lyrics later?
Hook or verse first?
9
Posted on 10/21/24 at 11:30 am to fr33manator
Auggie said I string cliches together
Posted on 10/21/24 at 11:37 am to fr33manator
It's never exactly the same for me, but a lot of times, it starts with a common phrase or cliche that I try to twist around for a different meaning. Let's say "pay by the week", then I'll try to imagine a story that revolves around that line, probably involving a man and woman in some kind of crazy relationship.
Then I'll pick up my guitar and start working it out. Hopefully.
Edit to add: I really try to develop the personalities of the characters of the song in my head. I usually loosely base them on people that I know, or have met
It helps me to imagine how the story is likely to go and makes it seem more natural.
Then I'll pick up my guitar and start working it out. Hopefully.
Edit to add: I really try to develop the personalities of the characters of the song in my head. I usually loosely base them on people that I know, or have met
It helps me to imagine how the story is likely to go and makes it seem more natural.
This post was edited on 10/21/24 at 11:55 am
Posted on 10/21/24 at 11:38 am to el Gaucho
You're good at it though.This post was edited on 10/21/24 at 11:41 am
Posted on 10/21/24 at 11:51 am to fr33manator
I either have a sound I want to emulate, like the mood or a general sound from
another influential song; or, I come up with a beat, guitar part, keyboard riff, etc and then build out the song from there.
I get myself cornered often because I frequently start with a beat, which locks me into a structure and makes it difficult to deviate from there. Biggest issue I’m working on now.
another influential song; or, I come up with a beat, guitar part, keyboard riff, etc and then build out the song from there.
I get myself cornered often because I frequently start with a beat, which locks me into a structure and makes it difficult to deviate from there. Biggest issue I’m working on now.
Posted on 10/21/24 at 11:59 am to fr33manator
I come up with a chord progression. Then I hum along to it. Then I start randomly signing words until a pattern develops.
Mostly stuff that will never see the light of day, but I have to release creatively regardless.
Mostly stuff that will never see the light of day, but I have to release creatively regardless.
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:04 pm to auggie
quote:
It's never exactly the same for me,
Yeah there's not really one way to do it.
Sometimes I'll get some story I want to tell so I start with the verse and just go from there and let the chorus feed off of that.
Sometimes, like right now, it starts with a chorus phrase that I build off of. And then the other parts fill in around it.
On this particular one it was the chorus intro.
Then the bridge came,
And the verses I have no clue how they are gonna work out.
Should've left yesterday
[verse]
[chorus]
I should've left yesterday, but I'll be gone by tomorrow and that's fine
Should've left yesterday cause I know that being here's a waste of time,
Well the past can't change. It only stays the same,
But the present's got me thinking what I'll do,
And tomorrow, tomorrow ain't yet written,
But I think I'll write that story without you
Nothing left to say, I should've left yesterday.
[verse]
[bridge]
Well, these days go by-y,
And nobody can say we didn't try-y-y-y,
and I think you know
Nothing's left now but the leavin'
And it's time for me to go
[chorus]
I should've left yesterday, but I'll be gone by tomorrow and that's fine
Should've left yesterday cause I know that being here's a waste of time,
Well the past can't change. It only stays the same,
But the present's got me thinking what I'll do,
And tomorrow, tomorrow ain't yet written,
But I think I'll write that story without you
Nothing left to say, I should've left yesterday.
~~~~~
Sometimes I write on my personal feelings.
But I'm happily married.
This time I'm putting myself in the headspace of someone in a relationship that's just not working, (of course I've been there so it's not hard to get back there).
I just wonder if I'm writing wrong sometimes
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:22 pm to fr33manator
quote:
I just wonder if I'm writing wrong sometimes
I don't think there is any "wrong" way to write.
As long as it keeps coming to you.
Sometimes when I hit a wall with the story, I'll try maybe twisting it around and see how that works out.
For instance, in the case of your song example, I might would try " She Should Have Left Yesterday" (not saying you should do that, just giving an example of some tricks that I use to finish a song).
It's important to me to always try to finish a song even if I know it's not working well. That way I'm more likely to remember it and keep it drifting around in my brain. Then one day, maybe years later, something will happen, or someone will say something and Bam! I know how to fix the song.
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:36 pm to auggie
quote:
Then one day, maybe years later, something will happen, or someone will say something and Bam! I know how to fix the song.
Likewise.
Hell this weekend I was using the search function in my notes and came upon a chunk of a verse I had written a year ago and forgotten
And then BAM. Like you said
Growing up and Movin on
[verse]
Well You were my Bully in high school,
And swirlies were part of my world,
yeah you sure had a laugh when you pantsed me,
In front of those girls,
Be now we're long past graduation,
And buddy we've surely now grown,
Yeah now I've got a lovely new lady and truck of my own,
[chorus]
Yeah i truck her to the north
And I truck her to the south,
And I'll truck her from the back if she's running her mouth,
Yeah I've trucked her all over,
And she handles with utter aplomb,
Yeah I truck your mom
[Verse]
'Member how you thought it was so funny,
When you ran my shorts up the flagpole,
Well I leave my shorts down, truckin her around,
That's how we roll,
Well I hope this ain't causing frustration,
This ain't revenge, that wouldn't be right,
And I hope you don't mind, because I'm gonna truck her tonight,
[chorus]
Yeah i truck her to the north
And I truck her to the south,
And I'll truck her from the back if she's running her mouth,
Yeah I've trucked her all over,
And she handles with utter aplomb,
Yeah I truck your mom
[bridge]
Yeah isn't life funny?
Isn't life grand?
Yeah of deep backroads truckin, your mom,
well she's surely a fan,
Yeah how the turn tables...
Would it make you mad?
If I keep truckin her this way,
soon you'll be calling me...
Dad.
[chorus]
Yeah i truck her to the north
And I truck her to the south,
And I'll truck her from the back if she's running her mouth,
Yeah I've trucked her all over,
And she handles with utter aplomb,
Yeah I truck your mom
[outro]
Yeah I truck her to the east
And I truck her to the west
Yeah she tells me out of everyone,
I truck her best,
Well She's pure sophistication and she takes it with utter aplomb
Yeah I truck your mom...
Growing up and moving on
Just turned out to be a fun, lighthearted, raunchy without ever being vulgar song about petty revenge.
I don't have any idea where the story is going sometimes but it just seems to write itself.
I love going back and finding pieces and having the muse hit. It's satisfying
This post was edited on 10/21/24 at 12:56 pm
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:44 pm to fr33manator
Bro try to rhyme more than one syllable jeez
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:52 pm to el Gaucho
I'm not even entirely sure what you are trying to say?
Like pimento and memento?
Blockaded and degraded?
Ferociousness and precocious mess?
Like pimento and memento?
Blockaded and degraded?
Ferociousness and precocious mess?
Posted on 10/21/24 at 12:59 pm to fr33manator
Her face was tinged with botulism
Carrying a catechism
Carrying a catechism
Posted on 10/21/24 at 1:02 pm to el Gaucho
Bama love it is eternal,
Commonly it's quite fraternal,
Wicked, some would say, infernal,
Bring a chair and popcorn kernels.
Commonly it's quite fraternal,
Wicked, some would say, infernal,
Bring a chair and popcorn kernels.
Posted on 10/21/24 at 6:20 pm to fr33manator
For me it varies. There are times where a line/phrase pops into my head (that’s often because I have been listening to something different than normal). Other times I just sit with a guitar or at the piano and play through progressions and hum a vocal melody to it. Eventually, the lyrics come.
When I get in a rut, I listen to music that I normally don’t.
When I get in a rut, I listen to music that I normally don’t.
Posted on 10/22/24 at 7:14 am to MontanaMax
See I don't actually play music, which is my own fault. But I'll sort of make beats and notes and the melody with my mouth or in my head and sing it.
I like to tie alliteration and (what I think is) clever wordplay in. Depending what sort of song I'll use Double entendres, hauntingly poignant lines or catchy rhymes.
My stuff is admittedly more lyrics based than music because that's my wheelhouse, but someone can give me a tune and I can work in lyrics pretty easily.
I like to tie alliteration and (what I think is) clever wordplay in. Depending what sort of song I'll use Double entendres, hauntingly poignant lines or catchy rhymes.
My stuff is admittedly more lyrics based than music because that's my wheelhouse, but someone can give me a tune and I can work in lyrics pretty easily.
Posted on 10/22/24 at 8:25 am to fr33manator
I never thought I would be a songwriter (thought I may be too dumb for that). But, I always played some kind of instrument. Started with guitar, then harmonica and piano. A buddy kind of forced me into a songwriters group and next thing I know, I have a bit of a knack for it.
I’ve always been in bands and my current band does mostly originals that I’ve written. Hell, I’ve even had a couple make the radio (I’ve written some absolute stinkers, though). It’s really fun and I’m similar in that I love stringing lyrics/phrases together and putting music/melody to them.
Keep it up! You’re putting stuff into the world that did not exist before you. As I tell my bandmate, “there is no such thing as a bad lyric. Just a miss-used lyric”
I’ve always been in bands and my current band does mostly originals that I’ve written. Hell, I’ve even had a couple make the radio (I’ve written some absolute stinkers, though). It’s really fun and I’m similar in that I love stringing lyrics/phrases together and putting music/melody to them.
Keep it up! You’re putting stuff into the world that did not exist before you. As I tell my bandmate, “there is no such thing as a bad lyric. Just a miss-used lyric”
Posted on 10/22/24 at 8:34 am to MontanaMax
I love telling stories, or chasing emotions or feelings.
Like just this morning, was working and something jarred a memory from when I grew up and then i thought, "that place isn't even there anymore.
Guess you can't go home again,"
Well that started with the title,
Then I just did a straight through write, meaning I didn't skip around and just let it flow.
I'm pleased with how it came out. Has a country/folk feel.
Guess you can't go home again
[verse]
I recall running cattle, when I was a kid,
Past our house down the gravel, with dad and his friends
Now the roads are all blacktop and the cowfield's a school,
Took 'round-about an acre,
And it's filled with carpools,
It just ain't the same, my friend,
Guess you can't, go home, again,
[chorus]
Yeah I'd spend my days,
Berry-pickin, down fences and fields,
Price of progress, I guess,
Cookie-cutter suburbs feel surreal,
once the land stretched on and on,
But now all of my mem'ries are gone,
Like dust in the wind,
Guess you can't go home again,
[verse]
At my grandparents house, there were woods and a pond,
Where we'd camp and build forts,
And forge many a bond,
The trees are all cleared and nobody goes fishin'
And the land being sold for one more subdivision
It's a cryin' shame, my friend
Guess you can't go home again
[chorus]
Yeah I'd spend my days,
Berry-pickin, down fences and fields,
Price of progress, I guess,
Cookie-cutter suburbs feel surreal,
once the land stretched on and on,
But now all of my mem'ries are gone,
Like dust in the wind,
Guess you can't go home again,
[bridge]
Half the roads and stores have changed,
You know seein' it's sa strange,
Condos where there was swamp,
All those hallmarks of our lives,
We can't even recognize,
grounds that we used to stomp,
All the woods turned to stumps,
Has me down,
in the dumps
[chorus]
Yeah we'd spend our nights,
By the campfire as embers would dance,
And I'd pay any price,
For a moment back there once again,
When the days went on and on,
But now all but my mem'ries are gone,
And it feels like a sin,
Guess you can't go home again,
Missin' family and friends,
Guess you can't go home again
Like just this morning, was working and something jarred a memory from when I grew up and then i thought, "that place isn't even there anymore.
Guess you can't go home again,"
Well that started with the title,
Then I just did a straight through write, meaning I didn't skip around and just let it flow.
I'm pleased with how it came out. Has a country/folk feel.
Guess you can't go home again
[verse]
I recall running cattle, when I was a kid,
Past our house down the gravel, with dad and his friends
Now the roads are all blacktop and the cowfield's a school,
Took 'round-about an acre,
And it's filled with carpools,
It just ain't the same, my friend,
Guess you can't, go home, again,
[chorus]
Yeah I'd spend my days,
Berry-pickin, down fences and fields,
Price of progress, I guess,
Cookie-cutter suburbs feel surreal,
once the land stretched on and on,
But now all of my mem'ries are gone,
Like dust in the wind,
Guess you can't go home again,
[verse]
At my grandparents house, there were woods and a pond,
Where we'd camp and build forts,
And forge many a bond,
The trees are all cleared and nobody goes fishin'
And the land being sold for one more subdivision
It's a cryin' shame, my friend
Guess you can't go home again
[chorus]
Yeah I'd spend my days,
Berry-pickin, down fences and fields,
Price of progress, I guess,
Cookie-cutter suburbs feel surreal,
once the land stretched on and on,
But now all of my mem'ries are gone,
Like dust in the wind,
Guess you can't go home again,
[bridge]
Half the roads and stores have changed,
You know seein' it's sa strange,
Condos where there was swamp,
All those hallmarks of our lives,
We can't even recognize,
grounds that we used to stomp,
All the woods turned to stumps,
Has me down,
in the dumps
[chorus]
Yeah we'd spend our nights,
By the campfire as embers would dance,
And I'd pay any price,
For a moment back there once again,
When the days went on and on,
But now all but my mem'ries are gone,
And it feels like a sin,
Guess you can't go home again,
Missin' family and friends,
Guess you can't go home again
Posted on 10/22/24 at 8:43 am to fr33manator
I like to get something 50-75% of the way there and then abandon it completely
Posted on 10/22/24 at 9:05 am to fr33manator
I think you need to find a niche to write in
I could send you my not finished album to show you what this looks like if you want
ETA: I come up with lyrics and melody then match the notes
I could send you my not finished album to show you what this looks like if you want
ETA: I come up with lyrics and melody then match the notes
This post was edited on 10/22/24 at 9:09 am
Posted on 10/22/24 at 9:06 am to OceanMan
quote:
I like to get something 50-75% of the way there and then abandon it completely
But it's still partly built.
An exercise I sometimes use is to search for a random word in notes and then see what pulls up. If it's unfinished or unpolished, and I can readily get back into it, I'll do some more work on it or finish it.
I don't ever try to force things. That's not the way it works, at least not for me. Feels dishonest
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News