Songwriting tips?

[John Deacon]

Hey guys. One of my major problems when I start songwriting is that, my music tends to be too simple. You know, power chords, simple chords. But I hear songs I love that just uses power chords, so I figure that that can be good enough.

I guess I am just having some writers block. Do you guys have any tips? Thanks!

[RickenBoogie]

Just keep working. Nothing wrong with simple, but you should evolve over time, and become more creative. Only way to proceed is to just continue on. Let it all hang out, so to speak.

[TOOL460002]

pick a key and run through all the modes, then change the key and do the same thing, then change the type of scale and do the same thing again. listen to the beatles, and analyze the song structure and key changes; thats how i was taught theory and structure. if that variety doesnt inspire change, i dont know what will.

power chords are fine, but if youre stuck in that rut, then just dont do it. maybe itll be awkward, but thats how learning goes. that said, some types of music just seem to gravitate towards power chords (why i hate pop), and there are more note combinations that sound minor than there are that sound all happy. that may or may not suit your style. play around.

[KPAX]

You're John Deacon. You wrote the riff to Under Pressure so what's the problem? Sit back and crack a cold one. You deserve it man.

Originally Posted by John Deacon

Hey guys. One of my major problems when I start songwriting is that, my music tends to be too simple. You know, power chords, simple chords. But I hear songs I love that just uses power chords, so I figure that that can be good enough.

I guess I am just having some writers block. Do you guys have any tips? Thanks!

[JTE]

Don't worry about "too simple" or "too complex". Let the SONG be your guide. Here's what I think song-writing needs.

A. You gotta know a ton of other peoples' songs, in all genres. Why? So you start to be able to recognize the difference between a good song and freakin' great one.
B. You need to be a no-holds-barred editor of your own work. Just because you wrote it, dont' mean it's good. Most people's turds are still turds.
C. You gotta have some people who are great songwriters to tell you which of your stuff is worth keeping, and what's gotta go back to the junk bin
D. You gotta WORK at it.

Really, I stole most of those ideas from Rodney Crowell, one of the all-time BEST songwriters ever. He's talked a lot about the process and editing. Dig up those articles on-line.

jte

[Dosed_Mind]

Originally Posted by KPAX

You're John Deacon. You wrote the riff to Under Pressure so what's the problem? Sit back and crack a cold one. You deserve it man.

I find this amusing




...




Nope, nothing else to contribute with here...

[Phalex]

Nothing wrong with simple and or power chords. It's gotta have a hook though IMO.