General Music Chat

Hi,

I have an interest in songwriting and hopefully some talent. However i can only get as far as writing lyrics and a melody.

Can anyone give me advice, or a direction on how to take lyrics and melody, and turn it into a song. Who to speak to? Is there anyone i can send my piece to and they can help me with it?

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Daniel

So chord progressions are a no-go?

Welcome to the jungle, young songwriter Are you a singer?

Having lyrics and melody IS a song. If it has words and you can whistle a tune, it's a song already.

So it sounds like you want help with arrangements or need accompaniment from someone who digs what you dig. There are different places you could look for that person, mostly depending on your willingness to go meet people and your ability to convince someone else to jam with you.

There are things you can do in the mean time to be ready when the opportunity arises. If you're wanting to be a songwriter, then I'd advise charting out your favorite songs to understand how they are structured. Then write using those structures until you understand why it works and expand upon it. There are several free recording apps/programs for doing the pre-production of recording the basic vocal demo that would help you learn how the parts work together.

Some things you can do:
Look for a local songwriter group that meets in your area.
Go to open mics or other music events in our area to meet others, maybe you can find someone to work with.
Online forums such as Musesongwriters.com and online collaboration sites.

So chord progressions are a no-go?

Schmeddy-

Chord progressions cannot be copyrighted so they are fair game to anyone.
The combination of chord progression, melody and lyrics make a song unique.

I meant can this person use a casio keyboard or something simple like that to structure a song with chord progressions?. I don't write lyrics, I don't have vocals, I don't hear melodies. I write music with chord progressions linked together by riffs, basically.

"Learn music theory" or "learn chord progressions" is a tall order, depending on the level of musical ability of this person (if they're still with us). They might not even play an instrument for all we know. The way their request is worded, I'm assuming they need an accompaniment instrument to write with?

And though those are both very good recommendations, a melody is still the only necessary ingredient to define a song, with rhythm implied...even words are optional. So if a songwriter can whistle a melody and then add words, then chord progressions and music theory would only be necessary for interpretations of that song on an instrument.

Songwriters and songs are not defined by musicians or instruments! They are interpreted by them.

::::where is that stick tongue out emoji?:::

There is a surprisingly good book called Songwriting for Dummies written by the cat that wrote Eye of the Tiger and much else. Worth 20$ and offers much in the way of good advice and examples.

Talbot

Firstly thanks to all of you guys who replied. Some great advice.

My music knowledge only goes as far as what i learnt up to year 12 in high school, and that was a little while ago now. I used to play the piano but dont play anymore. But i have the ability to still write a melody, and know how to write it in time, and some other basic things.

Basically I wrote a lot of lyrics and a few melodies but never did anything with them. To me the songs would be ok (probably need a few more opinions to see what they think) but really needs someone who is creative and knowledgeable musically to give me direction.

I am Australian but i now live in Hong Kong and come back to Australia once a year just for holidays to see family and friends. But i saw a comment about meeting local songwriters than i definitely plan to pursue. Thanks also for mentioning the songwriting website.

Basically Id like to get a few opinions on what i have written has legs or not. The songs sound good in my head, and id like to see them come to life and give them a chance. Finding the best way for this to happen is what im not looking for. Thanks for all of your help!!

There are apps for your phone or you could call and leave yourself a message, but try singing what you've got into your cell phone. When you listen back to it, you'll hear what it's missing, and you'll also have a recording that you could forward to a writing partner to work with.

really, WIllie/Kerry, what's the point? DO you ever look in the mirror and not recognize the face looking back?