How do you get a song to sound like a song?

[iwannalearnbass]

So, my band has been together for just over half a year now, and we don't have a vocalist (not that we are opposed to having one, but we just want to be sure we have a good one), so we are mainly writing instrumental rock with a proggy sort of twist.

The problem is, all our songs just sound like a collection of badass riffs and basslines sewed together, but there is no continuity. For songs with lyrics, a standard structure is verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge, but it's obviously a bit more complicated with instrumental music.

In short, how do you get a song to sound like a song? Don't tell me you just have to keep going back to the same riff...

[billjr]

Every song needs structure and some type of format. An instrumental song doesn't have to be any more complicated than a vocal pop song. Don't put too many different musical ideas (riffs, themes, motifs, etc) in a song. You get continuity by focusing on one or two motifs, while you build and keep interest by altering and playing variations of those same motifs.

Study some forms of classical music, like the sonata, and you'll see what I mean. The first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is a great example of a sonata, and it has a four note motif that is used throughout the movement. Those four notes are altered in length, pitch, direction, etc. The single motif gives the song continuity, while the variations keep each section fresh and interesting. It may be old and use different instruments, but the structure/format works with any instrumentation.

If you listen to any purely instrumental group, you'll find that they all use this concept in their songs - limited number of themes/motifs and prodigious (and wise) variations of those same themes/motifs.

[Jazz Ad]

Before being a collection of riffs, a piece of music is a mean to convey emotion.
Build the song around a structure that will enhance the emotion you want to bring out.
Then and only then come out the riffs.

[jgroh]

ABACAB

[MalcolmAmos]

When you have a vocalist you have lyrics , which tell a story, and a verse structure to fit the story into. Each verse starts at rest, moves into tension, reaches climax moves to resolution and ends back at rest. A new verse starts another thought, discusses it, reaches a conclusion and ends that thought. The next verse brings us another thought, etc. etc. The chorus is the hook the thing you want them to remember.

You don't have verses per say, however you have melodic phrases -- those phrases should take that same journey I outlined above. IMHO

Have fun

[Montsegour]

Build the song note by note, not riff by riff..

[caeman]

One aspect, in my opinion, is having a song from the start, and not just a collection of riffs being played in a random order. A song has a theme, a flow to it, a series of connected statements it is making, either with voice, instruments, or both in concert. Listen to Dream Theater. Awesome sound, I think. Even when they aren't singing, you can hear the song unfolding, it is all connected.

Start from scratch and build what you have into a coherent piece.

[Infernal Affair]

Originally Posted by iwannalearnbass

For songs with lyrics, a standard structure is verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge, but it's obviously a bit more complicated with instrumental music.

It doesn't have to be more complicated. In fact, it can be even simpler depending on what you want to do. The structure you highlighted would be ABABC. The letters designate similar/same musical sections, in case you didn't know. I would go ABABCA or ABABCB just to bring the song back to some sort of resolution and tie it all together. A lot of dance music like trance and techno can have very simple structures like ABAB over and over.

There's tons of music that doesn't have vocals. I really would suggest listening to a lot to figure out what they are trying to do. Since it seems you guys are a rock band, maybe one of the many post-rock style bands like Pelican, Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, El Ten Eleven, etc.

Making songs out of riffs is not a bad thing. You just gotta figure out when and where to put those riffs.

[Infernal Affair]

I forgot to point out that there's always exceptions. For example, Between the Buried and Me probably has a lot of structure in their songs, but they throw in everything but the kitchen sink so it sounds like a mess of random genres.

[mambo4]

Start with a Melody.

Doesn't have to be sung, but It will give reason to all the riffage.

I used to always build my own songs from riffs or chord progressions and throwing a melody out on top and "filling in the blanks". After spending time listening to my favorite song writers, I decided to flip my process and begin with a melody. I start with an idea made up in my head, away from an instrument to influence my thinking with habit, or comfort, or "that's too simple" thinking. when I come up with an idea I like that feels strong I grab an instrument and work it out, then get on to filling in the riffs and chords.

The result is usually a much better , more "song-like" composition.

YMMV

[xzzy]

If you're really really good at what you do.. you can jump around as much as you want.

Take a listen of 'Echoes' for an example of that. Though they do revisit themes throughout the song, there's several sections that really break the pattern.