There's a decent book by R. Rooksby (sp?) out there if you are a book-learner.
Otherwise, listen to music you like and pay attention to the song structure (e.g. verse - prechorus - verse - chorus - verse - bridge - chorus).
Even the amazing-phenomenal-wondrous-godly Velvet Underground started with three-chord songs.
As for lyrics... write. A LOT. Write all the time. Write on the bus. Write on the subway. Write in the bathroom. Write while you're watching TV.
I second Caitlinsdad's recommendation of a notebook.
I prefer Moleskines (delicious paper to write on). Fill those suckas up!
Are you composing just instrumental or music with lyrics? I guess they have all of the musician guilds that you can ask around in. Are there any music teachers that you can ask? I have found those that work in music stores are usually aspiring or gigging musicians that would love to offer advice or tell of their travails.
I guess you would have to know how to read/write music notation as a first step. It seems there is real theory into song composition that is studied at music schools but if you have talent I don't know if you need to go deep into other than understanding basic song structure. Keep a portable tape recorder to record any licks or riffs that come to mind. I think composers have called their voicemail/answering machine to humm a tune they want to expand on. Try a freebie midi recording software to help compose something on the computer and play it live.
This of course is only advice from a humble amateur recreational keyboard player. Check out Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius clips on youtube for great bass playing(jazz/fusion).
I suggest keeping a small notepad in your pocket to always have handy for jotting down any ideas, words or phrases that seems to be interesting or evoke any emotional response. Kind of like a diary to note any observations or record good stories. Read poetry-good and bad/simple and complex to get creative. Listen to everything to see what kind of style you might want to emulate or improve upon.
Discussions
11 years ago
There's a decent book by R. Rooksby (sp?) out there if you are a book-learner. Otherwise, listen to music you like and pay attention to the song structure (e.g. verse - prechorus - verse - chorus - verse - bridge - chorus). Even the amazing-phenomenal-wondrous-godly Velvet Underground started with three-chord songs. As for lyrics... write. A LOT. Write all the time. Write on the bus. Write on the subway. Write in the bathroom. Write while you're watching TV. I second Caitlinsdad's recommendation of a notebook. I prefer Moleskines (delicious paper to write on). Fill those suckas up!
11 years ago
Are you composing just instrumental or music with lyrics? I guess they have all of the musician guilds that you can ask around in. Are there any music teachers that you can ask? I have found those that work in music stores are usually aspiring or gigging musicians that would love to offer advice or tell of their travails. I guess you would have to know how to read/write music notation as a first step. It seems there is real theory into song composition that is studied at music schools but if you have talent I don't know if you need to go deep into other than understanding basic song structure. Keep a portable tape recorder to record any licks or riffs that come to mind. I think composers have called their voicemail/answering machine to humm a tune they want to expand on. Try a freebie midi recording software to help compose something on the computer and play it live. This of course is only advice from a humble amateur recreational keyboard player. Check out Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius clips on youtube for great bass playing(jazz/fusion).
Reply 11 years ago
well right now i want to get some practice in lyric writing, then once i have a feel for that, i'll put music to it.
Reply 11 years ago
I suggest keeping a small notepad in your pocket to always have handy for jotting down any ideas, words or phrases that seems to be interesting or evoke any emotional response. Kind of like a diary to note any observations or record good stories. Read poetry-good and bad/simple and complex to get creative. Listen to everything to see what kind of style you might want to emulate or improve upon.
11 years ago
It is easier to set a set of lyrics to music if the cadence balanced
11 years ago
You could write them about personal experiences...
Reply 11 years ago
wow that was a quick response.
Reply 11 years ago
Was it? I just hit the forum button... Or do you mean, it was a short response containing no thought?
Reply 11 years ago
it was quick as in i posted the topic then clicked forums and bam! i saw i had one reply.
Reply 11 years ago
Either it's a coincidence or a shift in time and space.
Reply 11 years ago
One minute after, you post came. 6:50 PM 6:51 PM