Question for Musicians?

[Scott Lawlor]

I've been learning acoustic guitar and listening to a lot more music lately than I used to and as someone who has always liked writing both stories and poetry I wondered what it'd be like to try and write songs. I like more Indie-type stuff and was wondering how I can best analyze the songs I like and how to construct my own songs. I know it'll be something I've gotta work on but I thought it'd be a fun thing to give a try.

Any personal tips or website links on the subject would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[SevenSamurai]

Listen to the greats of writing songs

Beatles
XTC
Hendrix
Kinks
Elvis Costello
Bo Diddley
David Bowie
Stevie Wonder
Neil Young
Warren Zevon
Otis Redding

etc etc

Worry about Indie rock later

 

[Da Speeit]

First of all "Indie" music is music on "Indie" labels.
You mean "Alternative".
Sorry, just a pet peeve.

You've just got to get good at learning about music.
Listen to beats, signatures, melodies.
And just practice. Not everything will be great, most of it will be terrible, but just practice.

And listen to a shit ton of music from good songwriters.

Are you the kid that wants to write a screenplay?

 

[Scott Lawlor]

First of all "Indie" music is music on "Indie" labels.
You mean "Alternative".
Sorry, just a pet peeve.

You've just got to get good at learning about music.
Listen to beats, signatures, melodies.
And just practice. Not everything will be great, most of it will be terrible, but just practice.

And listen to a shit ton of music from good songwriters.

Are you the kid that wants to write a screenplay?

Funny you mentioned that, I used to call it alternative and a friend of mine was like "don't you mean indie?", I assumed he knew what he was talking about.

And yes, I am that kid. I've been trying to broaden my writing more, I imagine trying to improve at more than one form of writing will benefit me. The story itself is coming along, it still feels too "cheap" to me so I'm still deleting and adding things every few days.

How old are you btw?

 

[Da Speeit]

Funny you mentioned that, I used to call it alternative and a friend of mine was like "don't you mean indie?", I assumed he knew what he was talking about.

And yes, I am that kid. I've been trying to broaden my writing more, I imagine trying to get good at more than one form of writing will benefit me. The story itself is coming along, it still feels too "cheap" to me so I'm still deleting and adding things every few days.

How old are you btw?

Tell your friend to go cut himself to a Dashboard Confessional song.

Good to hear you're still writing. Plug away.

I am old, oh yes i'm old, at least as old as you are.
That's an Alex Kapranos line. See how easy songwriting is?

I think you still havent found your voice, from the sound of things. It'll happen if you keep working and keep writing.

 

[Da Speeit]

Worry about Indie rock later

Meh, the older greats aren't the only people capable of brilliance.
There are many great songwriting contemporary.

Aesop Rock is more responsible for my affinity for structure, and he isnt the musician i consider Prince to be.

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Whats your musical theory like TS ?

How familiar are you with scales, modes, keys and all that stuff ?

Learning basic music theory definitely couldn't hurt

 

[SafyreSchool**]

Hey, congrats man.
I like to hear someone who wants to write their own stuff instead of becoming yet another cover band.
I don't know much about the structure of an alt song, but I will say that everything starts with a simple melody. The genre just determines how you're going to build around it.

 

[Scott Lawlor]

Tell your friend to go cut himself to a Dashboard Confessional song.

Good to hear you're still writing. Plug away.

I am old, oh yes i'm old, at least as old as you are.
That's an Alex Kapranos line. See how easy songwriting is?

I think you still havent found your voice, from the sound of things. It'll happen if you keep working and keep writing.

Yeah, I'm very much trying to find my own "style".

I hate feeling like what I'm doing has been done before, I like having influences that are present in my work but I still want it to be mine. Lately, I've been watching more Tarantino to help with my dialogue to make it seem more natural.

 

[Da Speeit]

Yeah, I'm very much trying to find my own "style".

I hate feeling like what I'm doing has been done before, I like having influences that are present in my work but I still want it to be mine. Lately, I've been watching more Tarantino to help with my dialogue to make it seem more natural.

Well, i hate to break it to you, but it has all been done before.
The difference is in the quality.

An artist is someone who can take a commodity and make it seem rare through their interpretation.
Tarantino being a good example.

But to that point, there is actually very little that's natural about his dialogue, and that's what makes it so brilliant. It's very sharp and beautiful while it fits the atmosphere, but it is overdrawn; people usually don't speak how they do in a Tarantino movie.

I'd suggest Jason Reitman or Mike Judge. Really helped me with my dialogue, anyway.

 

[Scott Lawlor]

Whats your musical theory like TS ?

How familiar are you with scales, modes, keys and all that stuff ?

Learning basic music theory definitely couldn't hurt

Very slim, I know some guys who are pretty into music so I'm gonna have them "show me the ropes" as I try to get the hang of it.

 

[SevenSamurai]

Meh, the older greats aren't the only people capable of brilliance.
There are many great songwriting contemporary.

Aesop Rock is more responsible for my affinity for structure, and he isnt the musician i consider Prince to be.

Not what I meant. -I am not discounting Indy rock

I am saying learn the basics and classics first.

Then learn what others have expounded on from those

 

[Da Speeit]

Not what I meant. -I am not discounting Indy rock

I am saying learn the basics and classics first.

Then learn what others have expounded on form those

I understand what you're saying, i just don't think it's necessary.
I listen to mostly contemporary music and i can bust out a decent song in a short amount of time.

You didn't give bad advice, i just differ in view. No big deal.

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Very slim, I know some guys who are pretty into music so I'm gonna have them "show me the ropes" as I try to get the hang of it.

Ok sweet. That will help you out a lot, I'd definitely hit them up for some tips

After a while maybe find a key your are comortable playing guitar in and work on your writing from there

I used to be part of the "Who needs theory?" gang when I was younger, when I studied music at Uni my mind was opened and it became a big help when I was in a band. Specially for guitar harmonies and stuff like that

Just remember practice makes perfect and have fun while you're messing around on the guitar

 

[Shot]

The key to writing is inspiration. For me, at least.

I have to feel inspired in order to write something, whether it's by music or something personal. I have to be feeling intense emotions.

Once you do that it's a matter of using your instrument to facilitate your ideas. The more you practice, the more you get better at that.

Playing with other musicians can lead to some inspiration as well.

 

[SevenSamurai]

I understand what you're saying, i just don't think it's necessary.
I listen to mostly contemporary music and i can bust out a decent song in a short amount of time.

You didn't give bad advice, i just differ in view. No big deal.

Dammit! No... Unacceptable

I really think listening to XTC is a must for aspiring songwriters.

David Bowie is excellent for expanding your musical pallet -songs like "life on Mars" have almost 30 very non standard chords used in fantastic progressions.

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Dammit! No... Unacceptable

I really think listening to XTC is a must for aspiring songwriters.

David Bowie is excellent for expanding your musical pallet -songs like "life on Mars" have almost 30 very non standard chords used in fantastic progressions.

Weird non standard chords are my kryptonite on guitar. I really should have learnt some Jazz in my guitar travels, if you can play the crazy jazz chords that make your hand feel like they are going to fall off , you can play pretty much any chord out there I feel

 

[MrBoombastic]

Meh, the older greats aren't the only people capable of brilliance.
There are many great songwriting contemporary.

Aesop Rock is more responsible for my affinity for structure, and he isnt the musician i consider Prince to be.

My man! Skelethon was a beast of an album, ZZZ Top was my song of the year. Great year for the Def Jux survivors

TS focus on music theory, how everything works together. Once you have a feel for it, you'll start to puf things together because, basically you like how they fit/sound.

I'd try and give more advice, but I'm a bassist. Picking up an acoustic guitar very soon though, Elliott Smith and Nick Drake are responsible for that.

 

[SevenSamurai]

Weird non standard chords are my kryptonite on guitar. I really should have learnt some Jazz in my guitar travels, if you can play the crazy jazz chords that make your hand feel like they are going to fall off , you can play pretty much any chord out there I feel

Agree. Sometimes when I hear a great Spanish/Portugese, Middle East, Asian, or African song with some mellow compound augmented/diminished style in a unique voicing -I feel like my pallet just got bigger.

So much opportunity for development and fretboard dominance!

 

[destructive]

Guitar pro, 911tabs, YouTube