Help me put my song lyric idea on paper

[PlungerModerno]

this isn't a song...it is a concept album.

+1. This could be half an album... I'm afraid to add ideas coz they could be gold.

I have never written / recorded a complete song with lyrics. But I can feel the potential for a pink floyd type flow. Something along the lines of wish you were here...

I gotta listen to that album tomorrow... good luck with the writing. poetry is a finicky think. From some angles perfection looks rubbish or too obvious. Feel the character and try to come up with blank verse and/or a short story. Feel the despair and denial (or whatever you want the song to capture) and go from there.

That could be totally useless but that's where I'd start. I love music with soul. The lyrics are a hard part to get right.

 

[PlungerModerno]

• Yep 8 line verses, I like 4 lines per verse - works the same.
• Cookie cutter chord progression - I-IV-V7-I or I-V-IV-V7-I or I-vi-IV-V7-I whatever, just grab one.
• Start with the I tonic, move to IV near the end of the first line -
• Continue with the IV in the second line and end the 2nd line with the V7. The V7 pulls you into the 3rd line where you repeat the I- IV- V7 progression. Ending each 4 or 8 line verse back with the I tonic to close that thought. Repeat this same cadence through out the song.

• Now work on melody. Draw your melody notes from the chord's pentatonic. That will give you three like notes for harmony and two safe passing notes for color. One melody note per lyric word. Your melody line being made from the notes of the chord - your melody line and chord line harmonize each other.

• That will get you a lead sheet. Take the lead sheet and come up with a bass line based upon the chord tones used already - this way everything harmonizes and sounds good and you got yourself a first draft. Flesh it out from there.
• Yes you can start with lyrics and work from there. If you want you can start with the melody and work from there. Does not really matter which comes first. When you finish everything has to harmonize and be something you want to listening to. If you follow those steps it kinda falls into place.

• All you need is a story worth telling. Put it into verse format - rhyme or not up to you. A cookie cutter chord progression. Move the chord changes around to where the changes match up with lyric words, i.e. lyric climax matches with the V7 chord, etc. Draw your melody line notes from the chord's pentatonic - so everything harmonizes. Then come up with your bass line that follows the chord changes. Song writting 101. First time, it'll sound like the first time, gets better........

I'm so trying this! (I've been using I-IV-V's and my own blues inspired progressions mainly).

Thanks. This forum is awsome. I'm considering getting a supporting membership.... don't give me a deadline now (I just haven't got around to it).