How to begin a song

Post by **olly** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:08 pm

This is where I struggle.

I know I have the ability to write music but I struggle with where to start.

How doy ou begin your music?

I also seem to suffer from not being able to enjoy music until it becomes familiar to me, so it means I struggle badly with wrting. I may be playing something I would really grow to appreciate but then too quick to pass it off as it's unfamiliar.

Am I alone on this one?

polyal · Post by **polyal** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:17 pm

most people who struggle writing songs are non singers...are you a singer

Post by **olly** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:33 am

I enjoy singing a long to songs that I know but I am not a good singer in any way! I dislike my voice, I am certain others would too however I am not going to let this stop me as I figure once I have a song, i can get someone else to redo the vocals.

But maybe this is why I do struggle with writing?

GuitarTutorHelp · Post by **GuitarTutorHelp** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:34 am

Hey Olly, I think it's really important to be inspired.

Also, listen to songs that you like for ideas, and put in
your creativity too!

A good place to start might be to play some nice arpeggios.
These can be inspiring, especially on nice sounding sus2 and
sus4 chords.

Another idea is to practice moving open chords along the
neck. While some positions will sound bad, some will sound
very beautiful and harmonious.

Hope that helps my friend.

Great forum by the way!

Sincerely,
Eric

Post by **olly** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:28 pm

Thanks Eric

Always pleased to get some advice! Still not managed to actually write something yet but workign on it as much as possible!

Have you written your own songs?

GuitarTutorHelp · Post by **GuitarTutorHelp** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:36 pm

Anytime Olly, it's my pleasure! Yes, I've written songs but it's been a while

Would love to hear some of your tunes or ideas!!
I can tell you what I think and give suggestions if you like.

Post by **olly** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:34 am

Thanks a lot for that - maybe you could post some of your songs/playing over in the Your Recordings section?

My issue is that I get stuck with starting anything. I am sure once I get going I will be fine but starting a song off seems to be really a block for me. I have been saying this for months, in fact years on here but I still haven't actually written anything despite best intentions.

I am going to try an new approach which I have not tried before which is to write some lyrics and try and build from there. I bought myself a new notepad and a nice pen and sat down. So fat the notepad is still blank after several weeks!

Hopefully soon though when I have a little more time again (if that ever happens!!)

JohnnySaur · Post by **JohnnySaur** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:05 am

I also want to compose a song and give it to my special girl. I wish I can do it this year and I'll be posting the lyrics here guys.

Instructor · Post by **Instructor** » Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:08 pm

I don't think you can write a song, except by writing songs. Let me explain.

I can write letters. But unless I have an idea, I cannot write a story. I can sit here and think of many ways to write a story, but unless Im inspired and *I* feel it, chances are, I'm not going to make an interesting story. After all, if it doesn't move me, why would it move you?

The best way to do anything is to start doing it, and hone your craft through what you learn as you go. Although I have a mastery of the guitar in many respects, I do not write a song, unless it "happens" to me, because thats when its at its most authentic. The best way to do that is to put yourself in a mode where you are receptive to inspiration. That inspiration could be a riff you just got, a 2 chord idea youve never played or heard the same way that you are now hearing it etc. The best tool for those who have opened themselves up for being inspired is the portable recorder. Carry it around with you so that on a moments notice you can capture the moment before its gone. For me that is my iPhone. It has a recording function, and Ill take an idea and record it and leave it for a while and see what comes of it. Sometimes it flows, and sometimes it still needs time to cook, and I wont rush it. Id rather not use it than use it in a way that turns out to feel canned contrived and so-so.

Instructor

Post by **olly** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 4:39 pm

Great tips there - I hadn't considered using my iPhone but it has a recorder on there that is perfect for the job.

What for do your song ideas usually take? Are they usually a guitar based idea or a lyric or melody or any of the mentioned?

I have come up with a few riffs. I recorded them on my PC and that is where they have kind of stayed. I don't think I have ever written a lyric before though I have been thinking about it a lot more recently and sometimes someone says something and I think "that would fit well in a song" though this is also as far as it has got.

So where I am at right now is having the ability to start to turn these tiny ideas into something more.

crowhue · Post by **crowhue** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 12:29 pm

Not sure as Im not great at writing either but a lot of my favourite songs start with a false beginning, "Under The Bridge" for example. They take the listener down one route and then pull a quick left and go somewhere else.

Olly wrote:This is where I struggle.

I know I have the ability to write music but I struggle with where to start.

How doy ou begin your music?

I also seem to suffer from not being able to enjoy music until it becomes familiar to me, so it means I struggle badly with wrting. I may be playing something I would really grow to appreciate but then too quick to pass it off as it's unfamiliar.

Am I alone on this one?

Post by **olly** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:16 pm

crowhue wrote:but a lot of my favourite songs start with a false beginning

I like the song and I like the idea of the false beginning. It certainly can add real interest.

I'm still finding it a struggle to get a song down. I really must concentrate on trying to get something down that is complete, rather than just small ideas that don't develop further!

OrenJellow · Post by **OrenJellow** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:14 am

I suffer from the same problem I can’t put two and two together. It always happens when I start a song. But when I don’t think about wanting to write a song it just keeps flowing naturally.

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:30 am

So what I do is I record various bits of music then I place them together to see if a song starts to developed...

polyal · Post by **polyal** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:23 am

all music is written initially by non professional people...the only time they become professional
is when somebody buys their song ...it will always be ' being in the right place at the right time'
there are loads of great song writers ...................pissed off by ' the system'
so get your tunes recorded and posted ...you never know

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:37 am

polyal wrote: get your tunes recorded and posted ...you never know

I wish...just waiting to be discovered...mmmmmmmm the dream.......Kids at boarding school......Coke, not the drink

.......as women, Id rather have a good stake with chips

Patrick Spence-Lewis · Mon Apr 01, 2013 5:35 pm

I make jam tracks: http://www.patrickspence-lewis.bandcamp.com

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:19 pm

The only bit of advice i have from taking lessons is this.My teacher said you need to read music, and try to structure the music so it flows.I am not familiar with much of the fretboard, but try to keep all the notes close and not from one end of the fretboard to the other, continually, as it doesn`t flow and will be hard to play.That was all i was told, but no idea if it has any relevance.

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 11:53 pm

to start with i can see the logic......

as skills grow so does confidence then you get a bit more adventurous....

you start putting to gather all sorts of great things......

Although i think the best songs are the simple ones......

ACDC "you shook me all night long" Simple G.C.D chords and the solo in G minor pentatonic....

no need to go dancing all over frets to get great songs

Post by **olly** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:14 pm

jamesd74 wrote:no need to go dancing all over frets to get great songs

This is so true. There are so many great songs that are nothing more intricate that a few standard chords. It is the way they are played, the rhythm, the timing, the melody that makes it great - that is something that reading music isn't necessarily going to help you with!!