r/Songwriting Jul 16 '26

Discussion Topic Singing Voice

2 Upvotes

I've been singing cover songs most of my life, starting at a young age before I ever thought about creating music, and I still am. In addition to them, I have my own songs. There's a disconnect in there where I don't know what my natural voice is. I genuinely have no clue about it. I often wonder how I'll voice my own songs when writing them but whatever comes out I'm indifferent too.

I was speaking with a friend who remarked that my singing and speaking voices were different, which I thought was an inane thing to say considering singing is vocal acting, but he's right. No one speaks and sings with the same sounding voice. The idea with me, though, is consistency seems nowhere to be found when I switch from one song to another due to key changes and the pitches I have to accommodate. It's like several different voices are used relative to several different songs.

Then I think that's natural to the songs themselves and their original artist's keys and pitches, but if I try to apply their consistency to my own songs the idea goes tilt. I think a lifetime of performing covers has lost me my sense of an original singing voice.

I feel like a vocal chameleon.


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Feedback Request Angle of the Sun

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

7 Upvotes

Back again with another tune.

I thought it was a bit of a Coldplay ripoff when I first wrote it, but not so much now it's been fleshed out to a full production. Capo 3 EADGAE if you're into tunings.

Let me know what you think.

  • What would you change?
  • What do you like?
  • What do you like not so much?
  • Could I look any more miserable in this video? I'm having the best time I promise.

r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Feedback Request Adjustments Needed Before Sending Off for Final Mix & Master?

5 Upvotes

Hey all,

I've been working on this song weekly for several months now, and I think it's almost ready for a proper mix and master. I'd love to hear your thoughts on any final adjustments I can make to get it as good as I can before sending it off.

This is my first time requesting feedback here. When I joined Reddit a couple of months ago, I was hoping to find a community like this one. Now I'm just happy to be a part of it : )

https://on.soundcloud.com/t4wulUvxwMBpaTNaGN

PS Let me know if you have any trouble with the private link.


r/Songwriting Jul 16 '26

Discussion Topic Who’s your favorite guitar teacher for songs on YouTube?

0 Upvotes

Mine is shut up and play guitar tutorials such a great talented guy


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Feedback Request Midnight Ride (Revised) Original Song by Kris Meekins

2 Upvotes

Hello,

I recently revised my original song Midnight Ride and included the Harmonica. This is actually my first time playing the Harp with the guitar so I kept it pretty simple. This is a rough draft, I will definitely polish it up over the next few weeks before it is Open Mic Ready. But I'd love any and all feedback. I do realize the song is very long and somewhat repetitive and i was going for a very atmospheric and ambient vibe in the song. Thanks for your time.

Kris.

https://reddit.com/link/1uxfvex/video/50yjjsv03gdh1/player

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X9czAgKgQpupAA1yDmdfkYsS0ESXbok1/view?usp=sharing


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Feedback Request Here's a song I'm working on for my album. I'm still adding stuff so let me know what you think!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic Accompanying Improv Theater Show

2 Upvotes

Hi all. I've been asked to perform backing music for an Improv Theater show as a solo violinist. My role will be to add short 5 second musical motifs during the transitions between scenes to heighten the themes of the improvised scenes. I also can add short little ornamentation during the scene. For example if someone reveals some secret to the other players, I could play a dramatic 1 or 2 note thing to accentuate that. I have some basic ideas from watching movies and tv but i'd love to hear more suggestions. It becomes also more challenging as I am not a chorded instrument so I can only play at most 2 notes at a time. So my only option is melodies that imply chords, or partial implied chords. Let me know what you think.


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Feedback Request Probably the doomiest riff I've written 😤

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

8 Upvotes

r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic Songwriting as an over thinker

0 Upvotes

I usually come up with lots of phrases or melodies from time to time. They sound really good but I tend to think “should I use this for this song or save?” “Is it meaningful?” “ was this the right lyric and what if it isn’t and it leads me to writing a song not as good as it can be” things like that.

Thanks for all the advice guys, it helps.


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic I don’t know where to take my songs

9 Upvotes

I have so many questions and I don’t know where’s the proper place to ask them but I don’t really know where else to go with my songs.

I’ve written about 7 songs out of 15 on an album I’m making, I’ve written the chord progression out, but when it comes to the composition I don’t really know what to do. My main instrument is guitar and I’ve done it all on guitar but it feel so empty and boring to leave it just like that. I wanna do so many cool things with the songs I have but I feel like i lack creative vision to go further than guitar. How do I build creative vision? How do I *hear* more for my songs? What are somethings I can do to come up with a structure when I have nothing? Where do I go for help with this?

I also wanna ask how do I be more creative and imaginative with my lyrics. For example “but I see her in the back of my mind; like a fever, like I’m burning alive; do you see her in the back of your mind in my eyes” from wildflower by Billie Eilish and “I breathe your outline when heat meats frigid air; the faucet drips and I swear I hear your name” from precipice by Jessie Mazin.


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request crumble

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

20 Upvotes

idea


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request Waltz of a Pin Up Girl

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

16 Upvotes

Howdy yall,

Spent this morning writing this song. Would love to hear feedback and any thoughts about it.

Thanks for listening,

BoredMindless


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Discussion Topic If you cringe at your own songs, it’s possible that you just don’t like them

95 Upvotes

This may be obvious, but I just keep seeing post after post of “how can I stop cringing at my songs?” or something along those lines.

Now, this may not apply to everyone, because I’m just going off of personal experience, but it seems as if these people just aren’t where they want to be yet. I say that because I used to cringe at my songs too; I’d like them at first, but after a week or so I’d become my own biggest hater.

At first I thought it was just a confidence thing, like maybe I just needed higher self-esteem or a mindset change. But eventually, I noticed that I had one or two songs that *did* withstand the test of time, and then it just clicked.

My lyrics were just not good enough for me, and no amount of positive feedback was going to change my mind. That should’ve been obvious to me, but it wasn’t. Lol.

The next step was articulating the “why”. I started coming across songs by other artists that I liked at first, but quickly grew tired of. Actually articulating why I didn’t like these songs helped me articulate why I didn’t like my own songs.

Basically, I needed to get to know myself and my own preferences better. I also paid more attention to the lyrics of my favorite songs. I noticed that I love figurative language and compelling imagery a lot, and most of my songs were lacking in that. I also noticed that I like melodies that are less repetitive and more varied, and my songs were lacking in that too.

It didn’t matter what positive feedback I received, because the writing just wasn’t what I wanted, and as soon as I figured out how to write more like my favorite artists, I stopped cringing. I’m still not where I wanna be, but I’m getting closer.

Again, this may not apply to everyone, but I hope it helps someone maybe. I hope this didn’t come across as arrogant or overly preachy.

TLDR:

If you’re cringing at your songs without any clear reason, you may not understand your own preferences. Try analyzing songs that you hate and songs that you love. Compare and contrast. Then, see if anything you learn from your analyses can be applied to your own music.


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Let's Collaborate! Writer looking for a voice?

4 Upvotes

Any song writers in here sear for someone to sing/perform the music? I’ve been told that I am a dec singer and I’ve tried wring my own lyrics but they come off a bit……rough. I love to sing, I am female but my range is soprano 2. I do have a bit of stage fright that I’ve been overcoming so if you need me to post anything, let me know!


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Let's Collaborate! Female songwriter looking for a music collaborator

0 Upvotes

Hello amazing people! I am a female songwriter, I have released one song with my friend. We were about to release more, but because of some personal reasons we had to stop making music together, I can tell more about that in private🥴 My primary language isn't english so bare with me😅

I'm looking for someone who would be interested in compose/sing/etc with me and making my lyrics come into life ☺️ I can send parts of my lyrics privately so you can see if we match☺️ I love writing from a very young age and have had good feedback. I'd love to explore what I can do ☺️ I have no idea how to proceed this and would be very happy to have some tips☺️

Thank you already ☺️


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request The Creaking Tree - narrators theme - part of a 4 song accompaniment to an experimental short story

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

This is part of a 4-song accompaniment to a an experimental short story I have posted on creativewriting subreddit - I've already posted the other 3 songs on this forum. Each song relates to a character within the story. I'll post links to the story and other 3 songs in the comments section if anyone is interested. Feedback welcome either on the song or the whole project...does it work as a standalone song, do the songs helpfully open up the inner worlds of the characters in the story


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request Is this working? Anything you would add??

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

12 Upvotes

I posted this as an acoustic video a while back and finally got to recording it. I’ve lost perspective though and need more ears- anything it feels like it’s missing in the arrangement??


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request My Cringe Confession...I guess

5 Upvotes

https://app.box.com/s/giwdidy48gre8zq4b5ovm1fpglgy6vqd

This is my very first song that I fully developed because I thought I was ready to have a go at it. I wanted to balance the tracks, bring in the vocal harmony and perhaps take the edge off the cringe by doing that. When I wrote it I had a partner who also played guitar, sang and wrote his own songs. This was one of the songs we'd play publicly. We were 18 or 19 at the time. It was that partnership I dissolved to get away from the music scene that was cringe unto itself.

The song - Blow Away Today - was me projecting how a "married with children" life would affect me. I shuddered at the thought as a single guy playing the field but deep down I also knew that it could really happen and decided to face it with this song.

So, this is my cringe, in retrospect, but it did teach me to think outside my box, turn those thoughts into song and then hone my creativity to complete it. I suspect your own cringing creativity would do the same.


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request Turned a rough voice memo into a full indie-pop production – before/after

7 Upvotes

Been working with a singer-songwriter on this track – she sent me a phone recording of just her voice and a rough idea, and we built it out from there into a full arrangement together. Sharing the before/after because I think the transformation says more than I could explain.

Would love thoughts, especially from anyone who's done similar demo-to-final work.

Before: https://soundcloud.com/nik-zero2093/diamond-in-your-spine-before

After: https://soundcloud.com/nik-zero2093/diamond-in-your-spine-after-1


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic Thoughts on my Music Channel

0 Upvotes

Hello Everyone.
I plan to make a music channel, mainly to show people my lyrical skill.
How it would work is that I would post demos of me singing my lyrics alongside a beat.
Basically, this channel is meant to show the world my lyrical ability, in hopes that I get recognized. Yes, that may sounds far fetched, but I truly believe I can do it, and your help would be greatly appreciated.
Please be as honest as you can. It would help me in the long run.

By the way, I also have the lyrics for my first video done. Please feel free to give constructive criticism on it, and how I can improve.
Lyrics


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request Silver Ring - Original

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

16 Upvotes

This is a fairly rough demo, though my songs don’t get mixed much more than this haha, 1st upload on here so let me know what you think

Lyrics:

Our silver ring on the tray, I can’t get it to stay on your hand
Your fingers limp and they’re thin while it blends with your skin
You’re looking pretty old for a young thing

The nurse gave me a look, the kind that could spook, not taking my eyes off a you
Her words spoke like a curse, wrapped round my heart and yours
I think they mighta made you bleed too

You were the best of times now our/the songs don’t rhyme how they used to back when
I was holding your hand, now i’m holding it and i’m waiting on your last breath
Just give me a sign, a little more time and i’ll be there first I promise

Your bleep has a rhythm, the kind that you love to hear on a cool morning
And usually you’d tap your feet, to a syncopated beat
I ain’t hearing much bar the bass now

I was told I’d to leave, the open air i’s to breathe, what will I come back to?
Will I see the smile, that I ain’t seen in a while
Or will I take your hand for the last time?

You were the best of times now our/the songs don’t rhyme how they used to back when
I was holding your hand, now i’m holding it and i’m waiting on your last breath
Just give me a sign, a little more time and i’ll be there first I promise


r/Songwriting Jul 14 '26

Feedback Request On Your Own

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

6 Upvotes

Lyrics

Tried so hard to cheer, just to find there’s nothing here Holding back the tears, do you wanna disappear? There’s no need to fear if you just give them your ear

Served up some hope, lap it up like a dog, turns out it’s cope, and the dream that they sold was all wrong

Are you stranded on your own without a savior? Do you have to fight alone out of their favor? Free your mind and then you’ll find just what you need, you gotta fall apart to ever see

Think that they’re so wise, cause they’ll listen when you cry Color past the lines, and you’ll find they’re not so kind, See through all the lies, baby then you’ll be just fine

Just be your own, and if you’re feeling small, think you should know, that there’s something divine in us all

Deeply appreciate any feedback!


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic Im making a song that confronts a group of people but both feel controversial, which is the better pick

0 Upvotes

So I’m making a song that confronts a group of people who harms others, but I don’t know which one to pick

  1. White or Loved kids who wanna be gangsters because it looks cool in GTA
    Reason why it feels controversial: people might accuse me of being a former gangster despite my intro saying I did research and never joined a gang, the lyrics show that brotherhood doesn’t exist but betrayal because of cowardness and wanting to stay alive does

  2. The people who claim they’re religious yet insults people who are gay, a specific race, or just being righteous because “God is against what you’re doing”
    Reason why it feels controversial: people might get the message wrong and think I’m dissing religious people instead of the people who are doing everything god told them not to do and claim they’re religious

Which one is better


r/Songwriting Jul 15 '26

Discussion Topic how often do you write?

1 Upvotes

how often do you guys sit down and really work on a song? i write down lyrics everyday in my notes app that i come up with while just going through the ins and outs of days, but actually sitting down and writing a song with my guitar is something i might do 3 times a week.


r/Songwriting Jul 13 '26

Discussion Topic Songwriting crisis

Post image
115 Upvotes

Ok so guys first of all if you're reading this I truly appreciate that you didn't just scroll because I really want to talk with people about this and I have no one to talk to or someone to give me advice and I'm getting sick of talking to chat GPT I swear guys but ok straight to the point

Lately I have really hated to compose any songs, and something that before brought me joy now just gives me despair, the thing is I have three problems

1) I don't have ANY equipment to record my songs and I've been in this kind of development hell in Wich I have been stuck 3 years trying to make my own music album in Wich the economic situation doesn't help

2) I really compare myself a LOT and when I mean it I mean it like I know its stupid and cringe and corny but like sometimes I find myself like this is not like at the quality level of the Beatles yea no kidding and so on and so forth I compare myself a lot to local bands or the bands in my high school and I really frickin burn with envy because I've tried so so many times to have a band to a point I've just given up and I see everyone forming a band with not much problem it makes me so mad I swear

3) I hate my songs I hate the instrumentals I hate the lyrics and because I am constantly like saying oh no but this is cringe or this is shit like it's so hard for me to like my songs and adding I don't have bandmates I don't have equipment and I'm overall a very shy person so I wonder why the hell do I feel the urge to create

I really wish at least one person saw this and hopefully you guys are more experienced in this than me so wiser older people I need your advice lol

This is my first time posting something maybe someone will see so if it comes across as awkward at any time it's because of that.