Writing Songs
What's a good Song?
A good song is obviously in the ear of the beholder. People are different, they like different things. Songwriters are different and so are listeners. Often Record Company personnel and the producers, managers, engineers and the like, don't know what the public will like.
To me a song is good if someone gets some feeling transformation out of it. Whatever you want from it, songwriting seems to come from practice and emotional experiences. Otherwise it doesn't really matter. But that's just our opinion.
I'll describe to you the way I do it. I have done this as an individual, and part of a group. I like rock, but this method will apply to any kind of music. Try different approaches, different locations, and most of all, different perspectives. One thing I know for sure, there's likely sweet spot out there for you in songwriting if you play enough, focus, explore and enjoy yourself all at the same time. The most limiting thing, as usual, is useless fear.
And like most everything else when you learn more that most about something, what used to look like magic to you, now is second nature. The magic of music is not where you may have thought it was, but that which you get back from it is purely what you put in to it in energy, effort, time, heart and soul.
How do you write a song?
There are likely thousands of ways. You can start with lyrics, or music or maybe even both. You just have to start somewhere and then try to learn as you go..
Two chords that sound good together or maybe just a phrase, or a hook. Just start somewhere where you like the sound or the feel of it. Then try to add something else to it until there seems like there is enough and it all sounds good. And keep the parts you like or what other people like, depending on who you are and what you are trying to do.
Songs with vocals and music have really three functional parts, lyrics and music and melody. It helps to approach it in pieces, at least at first. Either way, it all comes together if you keep at it, and learn to get out of your own way.
After many years, this is what I typically do...
I bought a small stereo cassette from radio shack. I now mostly use my laptop PC for a studio and even my iPhone to record fragments first and then put them together.
I usually find chords I like and them just sing ooh, aaah, e, and i vowel sounds and try to find what notes in my vocal range match what chord I'm playing on the guitar or bass guitar. There really aren't that many notes that sound right to a chord that the typical vocalist can hit and just few scales that work, if you know what those are.
So. once I find a few chords that sound good and then I try to hack at the vocal part, as most of my stuff has vocals. I start with the notes and vowel sounds and then I just start replacing the vowel phrases with words. Mostly the words fit how the music makes me feel. A soft slow chord progression has a different feel that a fast and heavy one. But remember, contrast is powerful and very happy music with sad vocals, and vice versa, often really grabs you. And the words follow that, most of the time...Sometimes, the lyrics are first.
One things for sure. In songwriting there are guidelines, but there are no rules. Just keep trying something else, and then something else again. Then run with what works over time.
It is great to record your song and listen back to it. Listening to your own performances can really let you hear what works and what doesn't.
In songwriting for tempo, my only advice is try it much too fast, fast, slow and really slow and go with what your gut and your ears seem happy with or other people really like. If you can make a recording, which I strongly recommend so that you remember what you wrote, listen back to it and see if it sounds like it drags or rushes.
Having something to say, and saying it in a way that rings true makes lyrics a powerful thing. A pure blend of pitch and tone seamlessly joined with the spoken lyrical word.
At its best, music affects mood. It brings memories and/or feelings in people playing it and listening to it. And you don't need lyrics to do that. Music often speaks to those listening to it. Whether they "like" it or not. Whether it makes them happy, angry, thoughtful, or whatever, depends on what you are trying to say, and how you are saying it.
For most, the best songs likely come from the saddest and happiest of days or the deepest of thoughts. The lyrics I like usually describe things less directly, less literally. Sometimes the tone of the words sort of agrees with the tone of the music, sometimes starkly contrasting it. Describing things in uncommon terms that ring true for a reason you can't even describe. Or something that just sounds right for some reason, unknown or not.
Listen to songs you like and aspire to write and think about how it speaks to you. The blend of the instruments and chords, with the melody, voice, lyrics or overall feel and try and do something similar, but different, in one aspect or another. It is illegal to copy someone else's work and call it your own, but using a song you like for education, inspiration, or as a way to get started and get better is done all the time.