Karaoke Forums

...there are some folks here who have "written" their own songs (and I put "written" in quotes cause that may not be exactly the way its done).  The Beatles just did it all by ear, didn't know a lick about music notation, etc.  Elton John makes the music, and his partner (name forgotten) makes the lyrics. And this is one thing that's bizarre to me, writing music without lyrics, cause I think the music is about the lyrics and the lyrics are about the music (a handshake).

Point is, I'm interested in hearing about the different styles people may have to get it done. Do you do the music first and if so, what steps do you take to put it together. Do you think of the lyrics later, at the same time, before, etc. What "sparks" you to write the song in the first place?..

Much appreciating any comments....

Russ

Well, I see you have no response yet, so I'll go first.

I have always had the lyrics come to me first, but usually they come with a melody attached. Does that make sense? (probably not)

I have to have a mood going that inspires a song I guess, and that's when the song is made up. I have never ONCE in my life sat down & thought "Okay, I'm going to write a song". I don't think I'd be able to do that.  I'll be heartbroke/sad, or mad, or god knows what else what- but those 2 emotions seem to get it going with me.

And then a thought runs through my head, but it's like- blended with a melody. I don't know why,  that's hard to explain.  I think that way of alot of things that happen in life-  if they weigh on my mind,  they transform to "lyrics" not just "thoughts".  Am I confusing you further? Gosh, you're gonna think I'm a nutcase.  

Anywho, if I think "Hey, this is working"....... I go grab my guitar and it goes from there. The rest of the song is written and the melody made together.  I've been known to sit outside at night with my guitar just cause I don't want to lose the idea that's in my head, and I want to finish what I started. (and I can't EVER write with someone listening in) Actually, I have written many without ever writing them down. My mom used to yell at me, she'd want to read along as I sang the song, and I would not have them on paper yet. She's say "You're gonna forget them". Then after having a few instances over time of actually FORGETTING some parts to songs I've done, I started putting them all on paper.  I have never written lyrics, and then tried to build a melody off of that.

I have however, on a few songs,  been playing around with a new guitar melody or fiddle melody I'm making up- and then start adding words to it, cause I like the melody...... and then same thing, I'm starting a new song all of a sudden. So I guess those would maybe be "the melody came first".

I'm interested too to hear what others have to say.

Cool thread  Russ.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

..thanks much for the brain dump Blue...yeah its kind of a mood/emotion thing and not something to be planned or called upon on purpose or on schedule. Your way of putting down a song is much educational for me. Thanks so much. Today I started my first original song, and its goin well. Just started playing it while playing something else.

I don't expect lots of replies here as there aren't that many songwriters on this site...most are strickly Karaoke singers which is what this site is about actually. I'm going to check to see if you subbed any originals.

waz nice of you to take the time and share...oh yeah, I'm writing down everything per your advice (and yer moms)....

I have no idea how music should be done (LMAO) But this I know: Elton John did most of his music on lyrics that Bernie Taupin (THE buddy) had pre-written. In fact they were very effective. Bernie would wake up in the morning with the mood to write. He would take lyric sheets to Elton one by one and Elton would start finding a melody to it from his piano. That would take about 20 minutes. So basically they created songs (including some of their best) in just one hour a piece and normally they would have material for the next album done within a day. That can work when there's real talent in question and in their case Elton knew a lot of Bernie's life (the songs usually told about Bernie's own life, like Tiny Dancer for example) which made it probably easier for him to compose and cling to Bernie's lyrics. Some other song writers may need many days or weeks to finalize the lyrics and / or melody. Don't know but that's how it was with Elton and Bernie!  :worship:

Actually, when you think about it thoroughly: Some EJ melodies are quite unexpected considering the message of the lyrics (altho most of his well-known songs are well in line). This proves that Elton didn't always take it too seriously to find exactly the right mood or then just understood the lyrics his own way. That's the obvious "danger" when lyrics and melody are not done by the same person but then again it's really rare that those talents are in the same mind. Elton wrote lyrics too in the beginning of his career but he was not happy with his material so he wanted to concentrate in composing.

jee

Hopefully jvj will add to this thread, but from watching him work, I can tell you that it happens 'like magic' with him (most of the time). Sort of like what Blue said, about sitting down & playing with a melody or something, but usually I see him sit down at his keyboard synth with his guitar. He will find a beat he likes on the synth, then just start jamming out a melody on his guitar and start singing...

I've found that when he does this, I need to record him while he's doing it, because his best work is usually the 'first time through', totally impromptu. I guess it just sort of comes out of him as he goes along. It's fascinating and he creates completely new songs (fully birthed) in a matter of minutes.  :shock:

Although, on the other hand, not too long ago I saw him work the other direction (the song he did for Terri Schiavo), he wrote the lyrics first, then went over to the keyboard and just started playing it.

The little experience I've had with 'writing' songs.... (and no, you're not going to hear them ) I usually get a 'piece' of the song on my head, much like when I'm writing poetry. Like, the 'hook' (words and melody) will just pop into my head, then I have to work the rest of it out.

Interesting subject Russ.  What I usually do is just tinker around on the acoustic until I get a good chord progression going, then try to add the melody to it.  Lyrics are always last for me, mainly because that is always the part I have trouble with, . I don't really know how to read music, so this is the way I have always done it.

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Satisfaction is the death of desire

...again this is another "no formula" topic. I've picked up a few pointers so far, and I'm workin on a song right now. I started with a chord progression first, one that fit the mood of what the song is about, then selected a guitar setting and a synth setting again to enhance the mood of the song, now "workin" on lyrics and playing around with different wayz/arrangement the song could go.  This is FUN!  Thanks everyone for your input so far....

Russ