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Wanting to create a song

Jeremy Healey

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Hey everyone!
    For the first time ever, I am actually committing to try and write my own song. During the month of February there is something happening called the RPM Challenge (Record production month). Basically it’s challenging you to write a song or an album! So it’s the perfect time to create!
    I feel as if I’m ready! I have the desire! I’m right on the front porch! I just can’t seem to open that door and take my first couple steps into the world of writing.
    If anyone has any kind of tips they would like to share, I would love to hear them! ✌🏻
     

    Jamie London

    GYNNER
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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    The best advice I can give is pretty basic, but it’s just, start. Sit down with whatever you feel like starting with, guitar, lyrics whatever, and start, even if the intention isn’t to instantly have something written. Something I like to do when writing music & lyrics is set a timer. 3 minutes.

    The rule is I can’t take my hand away from the notepad or fretboard for the entire three minutes. I have to write, or play whatever comes to mind the whole time. Sometimes by the end something catches, other times it’s hot garbage all around haha but I’ve always found it to be a helpful way of getting started at the very least :)
     

    Ed Seith

    Supreme Galactic Overlord
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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Find a drumbeat to start with, even if it's a loop on YouTube (some form of programmable drums might be easier). Find a beat, find a tempo, and just start playing until you keep coming back to something over and over, and then keep playing it until you build on it and turn it into something you like.
     

    Muz Malek

    Sold-out Crowd Surfer
    Nov 11, 2019
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    Hey everyone!
    For the first time ever, I am actually committing to try and write my own song. During the month of February there is something happening called the RPM Challenge (Record production month). Basically it’s challenging you to write a song or an album! So it’s the perfect time to create!
    I feel as if I’m ready! I have the desire! I’m right on the front porch! I just can’t seem to open that door and take my first couple steps into the world of writing.
    If anyone has any kind of tips they would like to share, I would love to hear them! ✌🏻

    If I may - don't be afraid to end up having "sound like" something. This mentality of being afraid that we 'might be copying' an existing piece is what stops a lot of people from writing songs. I can't recall where I got that very inspiration. Either i was watching some Paul Gilbert clinics (who is also about "recycling" riffs) or something I've heard from Shads or Syn.

    But yeah, don't shy away from laying out something you've heard and changing things up from there :)

    All the best!
     

    Rad Synner

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    All great advice from people here!

    Here's my take (which kind of bounces back from what @Muz Malek said):

    As an exercise, just try to rewrite a song you really like. What do I mean by that? Simple:

    - Take a song you wish you wrote
    - Analyze it, understand it's structure
    - Figure out it's BPM, drumbeats and key
    - From those info, you can already either create a drumbeat from either a virtual instrument or drum track you find online. At this point, you're kinda where Ed suggests to be.
    - You start jamming around that, play in the same key if you wish so or play around but at least now with the BPM and drumbeat, you found the right groove for what you would wanna do.
    - And from there it's kinda up to you to just exercise your creative muscle.

    Are you taking the risk of sounding like the inspiration? At first yes. But the more you do it, the more you will find your voice and the more you will just end up naturally tweaking stuff around.

    Good luck and I'm looking forward to hear what you will do!
     

    Javier Wienarjati

    Campfire Attention Holder
    Dec 7, 2021
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    I come in right thread, In my my class, I have a projects with my friends. The theme is about reduce-reuse-recycle garbage and I made this song. The lyrics is not done yet. I made this with my mother. This kinda sad but kinda happy song and I love it. The cadence inspired by The Beatles - While my guitar gently weeps and the beats I take from youtube just like what Ed said. Here is my very raw demo, actually I made this with my acoustic guitar. But I record this on myelectric and DAW with my NUX MG-400.
     
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    Synner Endless Summer Collection

    Rad Synner

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    @Radu-Cristian Perde , I believe @Brian Haner Sr. spent a lot of time talking about that, and writing/performing an example of it on the spot, in one of his most recent live streams.
    He indeed has!! I don't remember in which episode but yeah PG did a whole segment on songwriting and how he approaches it
     

    Richard O'connor

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
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    Find a drumbeat to start with, even if it's a loop on YouTube (some form of programmable drums might be easier). Find a beat, find a tempo, and just start playing until you keep coming back to something over and over, and then keep playing it until you build on it and turn it into something you like.
    im a big advocate of this. EZ Drummer has helped me no end in coming up with riffs and complete songs!
     

    Jeremy Healey

    Hot Topic Tourer
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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Thank you everyone for your input! I should also note that I am going to be writing this along side my friend Paul, and possibly get our friend to record it for us (as he has a more professional setup than I do). So im hoping this also helps me move forward and get through that initial door!

    @Jamie London ill try that method this evening when attempt to start! And maybe itll lead to something aha.
    @Muz Malek I was picking away with it last night before writing this discussion! I came up with this little into I liked a lot, but then as I slowed it down a bit, it instantly became very recognizable. Then i realized it was pretty much exactly like "Today" by the Smashing Pumpkins lol.
    @Ed Seith One thing I can confidently say is i can come up with some solid drum beats. It is the instrument I am most fluent and comfortable with and I have no issue. Might possibly start there and just lay down a structure.
    @Radu-Cristian Perde there are definitely a handful of songs I listen to that share a very similar song structure, so I may borrow from them!

    As things progress I will try and post some snippets of what I come up with :rock-hand:
     
    Synner Endless Summer Collection