To all you lyric writers out there

[DumbChild]

Apparently for this semesters assessment my composition HAS to contain lyrics. I've never written a lyric in my life and the majority of the music i've written have been very "classical" instrumentals.

So i wanted to ask all you singers and lyricists out there if you could offer any tips on structure of lyrics, rhyming, amount of syllables etc.

Just any tips at all would really help me out. I've got a few ideas but writing and putting them to music is not going to be easy>.<

Thanks guys!

[MirageBass]

Write the vocal melody as if it were any other instrument, like a guitar. Just be sure to hold notes - nobody wants to sing a shred solo.

Once you're confident with the way it compliments the music, write lyrics around the melody.

Amount of lyrics is relative, as are syllables. Synonyms are your friend, just make sure the structure isn't forced. It's always better to drag out syllables than to cram them in like sardines.

[DumbChild]

Any basic rules to follow when constructing the song?

[baalroo]

depends on the genre.

the universal rule for lyrics: write about what you know.

Many first time lyricists get caught in the trap of trying to be overly clever. Your best bet is be direct and write the lyrics in a similar fashion to how you speak. Don't worry too much about meter or rhyming at first, just get used to writing things down in prose. Just start right now and write down your thoughts, if you manage to rhyme something great. By the time you write a lyrical melody for your song you will hopefully have plenty of bits to choose from.

[Low D.]

If you ll write the music first, record it and then sing various stuff on the top of it... when you ll dig a nice melody keep it and then write some lyrics to fit into it. Its simple and it gives you freedom to write the proper melody for the song first and then the whole time on the earth to sit down and figure out some good lyrics to go with it.

edit: yeah writting down random thoughts might be handy afterwords. cheers to baalroo.

[Stumbo]

Keep it simple.
You can also write about what you see: a falling leaf, a rainy day, etc.
Or something that happened to someone you know, positive or negative.

[Wasted Bassist]

I'd love to help, but I can only write in a rap/metal style for my band. So there mostly yelling and fast talking. I love it when my 'fans' and friends ask me about lyrics that they think are deep. My thought process is about as deep as the average gangster rapper writing about bangin' bitches and hoes.

[dancehallclasher]

Everything you could want to learn about writing lyrics can be learned from John Darnielle.

http://hypem.com/track/678605/The+Mo...lack+Pear+Tree

[DumbChild]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Ive composed the music for the piece and i've done some humming over the top and gotten some pretty neat melodies too choose from. Now i just need to come up with some lyrics that fit the song

[Mr. Lovejoy]

Lyrics are the easiest part of the song to write imo, just think of it as poetry that fits the music. But if you don't like writing at all, then you may have a problem.

Just think of lyrics like the music in word form. Translate what the instruments are saying into English, and you will be done in no time.



First, you want to collect your ideas. Write a story or some personal feelings down on a piece of paper until you have enough fodder to last your mind until you are finished.


Next, you want to think about structure. You might want to try the bog-standard verse+chorus+verse+chorus+bridge+verse structure to start out.


Word choice and style is next. Just listen to the music (melody as well, if you have it down already) and write down whatever comes to mind. Make sure to use your own words. You don't have to rhyme, but if that is your thing, go for it



If what you end up is satisfactory to you and makes you proud, you now have your first song lyrics down

[cdef]

While rhyming is of course not obligatory, I'd like to add that rhymes have a peculiar way of generating the thoughts to connect them, and provide a pretty effective method for writing song lyrics. What I usually do is 1) decide on a rhyming scheme (such as aabbab or ababcc - whatever will fit the melody and bar structure), 2) invent some interesting rhymes and put them in place, trying to avoid the most banal or hackneyed pairings, and 3) let these words suggest phrases to fill in the blanks between them. When you have no more blanks you have a lyric that you can modify or polish as you wish.

I've found this is a good way to surprise yourself. You never know what the song's about until you're done and can start digesting what you wrote.

[Jared Lash]

One piece of advice.

Inexperienced songwriters have a habit of using too many lyrics, both trying to cram too many words into each line and singing over almost the whole length of the song.

Just like overplaying on bass, you have to serve the song and let it breathe a bit.