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This is a thread for songwriting tips and extras Ive mustered up. Feel free to add your own here as well. Ill post little here and there each day beacuse there is soooo much to talk about. ill start out with the basics, and then Ill move onto Syllables, Rhyming, Solos, Flow, Technique, Orginality, and so forth. So just be patient for me and others who want to add on to this. (Yes, help from others would be greatly appreciated, add your own to help this guide out. )

Writing

Why is writing music good? Well, it is an excellent way to get your emotions and feelings out on paper. Sometimes its a good time killer, othertimes its a great way to deal with life situations. It also improves your writing skills and helps develop ideas.

So you've written your first riff, bridge, chorus, or whatever. Now you need to put some words into your music. What do you do?

Well, before we move onto that, you might have hit something known as Writer's Block. Now this is not a fun problem.

Writers Block

Writers block is not a fun thing to have, but everyone eventually gets it sometime in your life. It sorta feels like you can't write music anymore, can't write a good song ever again, or you just feel frustrated for yourself. The only cure Ive found for myself in this is just continue to write. Brainstorm as much as you can, and then you will find something that you can work on. Key here is inspiration. Easy way to get inspiration is to listen to your favorite bands, artists, read a book, or just go outside and watch people. (Not in a stalking kind of way.)

Inspiration

This is where you find reason to make harmony in your song. Walk around in this big world. Focus on the people that exist here, the fake things, the personalities of people, anything and everything. Inspiration comes differently for all of us. Do what it takes. Its what works for you. For me, there are a few general areas that I work in. (Which might be all of them. )

[u]Nature[/u]
Take a an hour and spend it outside. Browse around your area and get a feel for it. There is always something, whether its hidden beauty, animals, people, fake people, mimes.... whatever.

[u]Reading[/u]
Read whatever. A newspaper, magazine, book, article, flyers, antyhing. You can get plenty of innovation from books and poetry, from poetry like Edgar Allen Poe, to books from the author Dan Brown. Whoever fits your style, work from there.

[u]Music[/u]
Listen to your favorite bands. See if it will jog your mind on something to write about. Like classic rock music? What? Only classic rock music? Well then youre not a fan of music, just classic rock. Listen to some folk or some blues, broaden and expand your horizons. You don't have to become a fan boy/girl of the band or artist, but be adventurous and test new waters.

[u]Your Life[/u]
This is where the deep and sound lyrics come from. Many people can relate to these, do to the fact that they might of been in the same position before. This can be about your family, relationships, breakups, friends, pets, cars, anything in your life that makes you go or your hear beat. Make it a song about you and yourself or about your feelings about Care Bears. This is the area where your mind meets imagination.

Tip: Don't make your whole song completely about emotions, unless that is what you really want it to be. Avoid rhetorical questions unless the song answers them. The readers wants to be told, and not guess. Also, keep your lines short, unless your super-musicman who can write 200 word syllable lines, keep them in a nice number count. Make sure your song has flow to it.

Syllables/Rhyming

Putting these two into one due to their similiarity and that they're complementary to one another.

If your guitar riff or whatever has a melody to it, then your well on your way to getting your syllable count right. Syllables are made up of vowel or phonetic segments in words and sentences. They're kind of like sentence breaks, but in the words. So in a sense, they're "word breaks". For example:

He-fought-the-beast-a-way
With-his-si-lent-words-of-fray.

While this isn't the greatest, you can see the sentence breaks and the word breaks in "away" and "silent". Line one has six syllables, line two has seven syllables. Normallly its good to keep syllable counts close to each other in lines that are near each other. Hopefully this briefly explained syllables.

Rhyming is when two words with similiar endings are put together and sound a like. Rhyming is good and bad, depending on how its used. Overused or foced rhyming is just horrible. For example:

While walking I had to say
Which words worked each way
But I wouldn't tell May
That I will walk away.

Notice that while it is a horrible verse, the point should come through. Each line ends in an "a" sounding word. Its working in a rhyming scheme going like this, AAAA. This just won't cut it. If you had to use forced or overused rhyming, use something that alternates that goes like ABAB. That way there is minimal variety.

While most new songwriters and guitar players will use rhymes in simple formats, some use what I call inconsiten rhyme. Which iis where two word seem to rhyme, like Tied and Bride. Some work their music from there which in essence, is ok, but seems to be missing something.

Over rhyming in a song can kill a song. One artist that knows how to rhyme and rhyme a lot is Bob Dylan. His songs have many catchy rhymes where he is able to glue them together. The Beatles also have a few songs where there is a lot of rhyming.

Most people use the basic rhyming schemes that are either AABB, ABAB, and AAAA. Well to make your song yours, and more personalized, they key is to add onto those or make up your own. Examples such as, ABBAC, ACABBC, or something that works for you.

Get inspired, get your style, and get some rhyming and syllables in for a possible rough draft of your song.

Flow

Having flow can be a difficult thing to accomplish in songwriting. I for one, have to re-do many songs to have a flow to it, and it is frustrating. Flow is when your song and lyrics don't overdoing any sort of rhyme.

To start off with flow, you need rhythm. Rhythm for both ends of your lyrics and your instrument. It has to come together and sound as one with song, which will make it complete. (I sound like some monk.) To help this along, keep your syllables in your lines constant and even.

Next to keep the flow going, is mastering rhyme. As said previously, don't over do rhymes. Keep them going smoothly throughout the song. When you write your song, sand your song out so it is smooth like glass with no rough burs. While this can be daunting, just stick with it and work with it, and you'll get through. Shape the song.

Originality

You want to keep your songs original, or near original. You don't want to be uncreative with your songs. Go all out with them.

Avoid cliches. Ill go over them later but don't make your songs all about the same thing that is heard all the time. For example, not meaning to bash this band in any way or disrespect anyone, this is just my opinion, Korn is very cliche in their album. Listen to their songs and they are very familiar and similiar to each other.

Sometimes, using simple, basic lyrics and words isn't always the best idea. While you are writing for other people to hear your song, it does not mean you have to write in their language per say. Write for yourself and fine tune it to how you see fit. If it has meaning to you, that is what matters, that is the real gold in the songs you write.

While I did explain simplicity, also don't over do crazy lyrics and words. Unless you reallly really want to, don't go for whacko imagery.

Tip: The thesaurus is your friend. Use it to add spice to your songs if your stuck on a word or if you want to change a word. It is a very handy tool in songwriting. I don't use it nearly enough as I should, but I will try to now. ;P

Cliches

Cliches are overused similes, metaphors, phrases, and words. They are normally predictable and have nothing outstanding about them. Reason why is because they have no factor and impact in the song. You shouldn't use cliches because it give the listener a feeling that he/she has heard it all before. It has no special meaning or value. Here are a few common examples:

[u]Broken Heart[/u]
While this can be used in good ways for some songs, it is for the most part, a cliche. Extremely overused, especially in emo songs. But if you are a talented writer, you can use this in a creative way and not make it cliche.

[u]Razorblades[/u]
More emo stuff. No one cares or wants to know about you slicing yourself. Unless you use razorblades creatively in your song, don't use it when you're writing about cutting yourself.

[u]Fallen Angel[/u]
This has a meaning of all hope and life gone or missing. Really boring type stuff where I don't think many people are interested in.

[u]Crying/Lonesome[/u]
When these words are used together, normally an emo effect is established in my mind. Using them seperately and creatively is a postive.

[u]Diamonds[/u]
Used to be cool, but know it's old and overused. Not that great anymore. Phrases like, "Your eyes are like diamonds" or "You're the diamond for me", are extremely cliche. Unless there is a very, very, and I stress very creative and decent way you use diamonds, I suggest you use a different word.

[u]Politics[/u]
This is my least favorite of all. I can't stand when people use songs to support their extreme political views. Just like I can't stand when artists talk about politics at their concerts and how they feel (Bono and Springsteen.) Besides a little bit of Springsteen who used to be good at political songs, and Steve Earl, no one seems to be good at political songs. Used humorously just for fun, then ok. Other then that, anyone who likes songs bashing our country, president, soldiers, people, etc... do something else.

[u]Lost[/u]
Phrases like "I'm lost without you" or "If you leave me, I'll be lost" are old. Had a good effect to it a while back, but now it got overused and has little meaning. You can use it and not make it cliche, you just have to watch how you word "lost" into your song.

There are a few others, but I can't think of them all. Just try your best to avoid cliches and be original.

Lyrical Vocabulary

These are just some words that you might need to know. Vocab words that you might have heard of that might help you out in getting some ideas for songs. Might be useless to some, but might help others.

Allegory- When characters of a song represent a moral or value.

Alliteration- Repetition of consonants in words and phrases.

Allusion- Reference to an event or person from the past.

Apostrophe- When someone talks to a missing or absent item or person.

Asides- Words in parenthesis.

Assonance- The repetition of vowel sounds.

Compound Words- One word made up of two seperate words. Such as "butterfly" or "into".

Diction- Language of speech and words selected in a song, by the songwriters discretion.

Enjambment- run on sentences.

Figures of Speech- Types of speech. Such as similes, metahpors, alliteration, onomatopoeia.

First Person- Using "I" in your songs. More or less, about you/songwriter.

Images- Senses and impressions that are made by the listener who is hearing the song and coming up with their own interpretations.

Imply- A hint to lead to something, but indirectly.

Metaphors- Making two unlike objects, seem alike.

Mood- Feeling or tone of a song.

Onomatopoeia- Words that have sounds that have an "echo" to what they are trying to point out.

Oxymoron- Putting two contradictory words together. Like happy and sad.

Paradox- Contradictory statement that may be true or false.

Parallelism- Lines that are similiar in length, structure, meaning, and style. A form of poetry.

Pathetic Fallacy- When nature acts like someone. A bright, sunny day, is like a happy 5 year old boy.

Personification- A non-human thing is given human characteristics. Such as "The grass danced in the wind."

Points of View- Perspectives that a song is written in. 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person.

Refrain- Verse or line that is repeated throughout the song. Normally the chorus.

Rhyme- The repetition of sounds that are normally at the end of lines, but can be in different spots, such as a prefix.

Satire- Using humor to criticize.

Second Person- Using the word "You".

Similes- Are direct comparisons between two things that are alike in one particular way. Draws comparison.

Symbols- Objects that represent an item.

Theme- The main idea or message of the song.

Third Person- Using "He","She", "They" etc. Used in songs with more that one character. Or just one.

Theory- Idea or suggestion for a song.

Verisimilitude- Making the impossible seem possible.

Melody

Melody is the way your song sounds, its catchy tune or phrase, the overall tone and sound of your song. This overview is fairly general and simple.

To get your melody right, you need to have your song finished or in a rough stage of experimentation. What you do is read through it and start putting voice into the words. You can normally find out on your own which lines, phrases, and words will have a high or low sound to it. Or you might want to have your whole song sung in a monotone voice. Which is fine.

A good idea is to keep your melodies interesting. You want to keep interest in the song for yourself and others. To do this, try different words, chords, or scales to add spice to the song.

Always look for new words. If a word doesn't sound right, change it. You will always be changing words for consonant and or vowel sounds to match your song. And if you find yourself doing that a lot, thats good. It shows that your are fine tuning a piece of writing in the right direction.

To get better at this, keep writing and trying new melodies. Create phrases, lines, sentences, and glue them together. Keep your mind working and thinking, and you will come up with something.

Chords

Choosing chords for your song is relatively easy. Just go with the flow and pick what sounds good. If you are fairly new and need some chord and strumming ideas, start with the basic G, C, and D chords. Those are the easiest to learn and have much flexibility to them. Strum them a couple times and choose a pattern and style to your liking.

Then, if you want to be adventurous or a more advanced guitar player, add some other chords. Like Am, F, E, Em, and other chords. Try fitting them in your current chord pattern and see how it sounds.

Normally, verses and choruses have different patters, choruses tend to be more lively and become the main point of the song with various styles and strumming. End riffs and outros tend to have more excentric styles, but it can be made however you want.

The key to getting the right chords and stumming style down is making sure it sounds good with your song. You don't want it to sound so completely off that it sounds like monkeys on a trombone and harmonica per say.

Even if you don't know that many chords, just knowing three or four can complete your song. "Wonderwall" by Oasis is a good example of limited chords. The way I play it, I only use four chords, but with varying stumming styles.

So practice some chords, get a pattern in, and then put the main forte of music into your song. Eventually, you can add hammers, pull-offs, slides and such to add spice to the song.

Solos

Putting a solo into your song is a very easy thing to do. Some think that solos are extremely difficult due to the mastery that guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, etc show in solos. Well, unless your are a super-guitar player, you don't need to play those wailing solos that way.

Most guitarists just use normal scales, such as the C or Dm scales. Easy scales that can add an amazing touch to your song as a solo. A lot of professionals just play scales as a solo, sometimes adding an extra note or slide to make it sound cool, in which you can do yourself.

To do that, master a scale of any kind, like the C scale. Make sure you can almost play it flawlessly. Then, experiment with hammers and pull off throughout the scale. Try to hear what sounds good. If need be, add an extra note or two to make the scale sound complete. While I don't do my own solo making often, with time, you will be able to create an infinite amount of solos with just scales. In due time, you will be a Solo Constructor.

If you really, really want to start off from scratch with a solo, the best way to start off is with a slide, hammer, or pull-off on the first note. That way, the audience knows a solo is coming. And the best way I can say to go on is to test notes in various frets to add on to the solo. Find a solo that sounds good? Write it down and edit it later. Always write down tabs or notes that sound good to you.

Hopefully this small audit for solo construction is a bit of help to you, even if you might not need it. ;P

Lyrics or Music First?

It is really whichever way you prefer. If you are not sure, try both ways. Get some words down and then put some chords into the music. Or get a few basic chords down and get rhythm to it. And then try singing what comes to your head at the moment and write it down. Do it multiple times and see what you come up with.

You choose if you want to be more musical or lyrical in your music. Test styles out and choose what best suits you. In the end though, you want a strong combination of both music and lyrics to make your song work.

I do it both ways, it just depends on how I want the song to come out.

Structure

Structure is how your song is formatted. Standard structure of your song is like this:

Intro
Verse
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus
Outro

Sometimes there is an added Chorus before the Outro to add on after the Bridge. The goal is to have your song come together. Stick to words that sound good together and with the music. Keep it interesting.

If you are into emotional and deeper songs, add slides and bends to your song. And possibly make the bridge repeat more, as if it was almost like the chorus.

A lot of good information here. I can only think of one thing to add. Keep a pen or pencil and some paper on your nightstand. I can't think of how many times something would strike me at night and I was too lazy to get up and write it down. Some of what I think are my best inspirations come when I'm half asleep but can't get my mind to settle down.


Lou