Song no.1
The writing process is very personal and I'll hopefully be as open and honest as I can be, so you can see my methods.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I'd written the main parts to this first song about 6 years ago.
There's loads of different ways to write songs. Some writers start with lyrics or a melody, others start with the music and some just start with a theme or emotion.
I started this one by putting my capo, which looks like this:
on the fourth fret of my guitar as around there suits my (limited) vocal range.
I then started jamming around a very familiar pattern of Am, G, F. Used in loads of songs, probably most easily placed in all along the watch tower (although in a different key).
You can hear the pattern clearly from 20 seconds into this clip:
After jamming them for a bit and trying some different inversions I decided on some chords for the verse which sound like this:
(Capo 4) Am ' G ' F ' C ' C/B ' F
I then wanted a more staccato sound for the bridge and to write something that builds and came up with this:
(Capo 4) G ' Am ' F
Finally some simple chords for the chorus:
(Capo 4) F ' C ' C/B ' F ' C ' G
The structure of the song is fairly classic:
Verse
Bridge
Chorus
Verse
Bridge
Chorus
Middle 8
Chorus x2
It probably doesn't sound very exciting and is very basic at the moment but hopefully it will give you an idea of how the song started.
Next is lyrics and melody.
As far as melody goes, I can't quite say where that comes from. Personally the songs I listen to must be logged in my mind somewhere and I borrow phrases and hooks and put them into my own context. When I'm writing the songs from scratch I can show you how I get the melodies - which is mostly through warbling in an out of tune manner into the voice recorder app on my iPhone.
Lyrics - My belief is you have to write about something that means something to you otherwise it most likely won't mean anything to anyone else - which is somewhat limiting to your audience.
I wrote this song about wanting to tell someone you love them but being too scared to let go and be the first to say it.
The lyrics I have so far are:
Verse 1:
I'm missing the right times to say the things I feel
And I'm high, I'm laying waiting, it's amazing
And I find my moments with you they go too fast
Before I know, you're saying goodbye and I miss you
Bridge:
I'm looking at you to say the words, I have in my mind
And I'm scared to let you in, to the place I try to hide
And I'm, I'm going away so soon but I,
I'll stay true to you
Chorus
How long, is the distance to leave between my words
How long, should I wait to say what's on my mind
How long, for you to see my smiling eyes
Just say it won't be long tonight
Verse 2:
It's always the way that you find someone, when you think you don't need anyone
Right now, I wanna be with you, just to watch you
And I'll tell you this now, I've never felt so vulnerable
I'm not sure I'm gonna get through this but I feel this
Bridge:
And I'm looking at you to say the words, I have in my mind
And I'm scared to let you in, to the place I try to hide
And I'm, I'm going away so soon but I,
I'll stay true to you
Chorus
How long, is the distance to leave between my words
How long, should I wait to say what's on my mind
How long, for you to see my smiling eyes
Just say it won't be long tonight
So things to do next:
1. Write a middle 8 - music and lyrics
2. Record a rough demo of guitar and vocals to a click track
3. Find suitable drum loops + fills
4. Re-record guitar and record bass
5. Record vocals
6. Add any piano, organ, pads, synths, electric guitar
7. Mix
8. Master
9. Publish
I think first I shall have a Guinness.
X
