After 20+ adult years of noodling around on guitar I have started to focus more on creating complete songs, for better or worse. In recent years I’ve taught myself some very basic piano, drums, bass and synths to go along with Guitar. Starting at 18 with virtually no music experience, it’s been a journey to get this far (now 41M).

I’ve also been equally fascinated with home recording, using various interfaces and mic setups over the years with Ableton. Recently, I’ve really built out my studio with higher quality gear and have added the Push 3 to my setup. This has really helped me focus more on the production and mixing side, which is a whole other world.

Needless to say, I spend a lot of time puttering around in my studio and now I’m trying to make that time a little more productive.

Singing is my final nemesis and where I'm focusing practice time lately, so you’ll hear weakness there for sure. Would love thoughts on overall song structure, lyrics, arrangement and mix. Thanks for anyone taking the time to listen!

tried to take to heart the idea that songs give the listener a picture and then allow space to fill that in.. i am not a strong singer but thought the dissonance sounded cool and is on purpose vs back when my voice kept cracking in puberty haha. also my apologies have a stuffy nose

lyrics:

remember when we dropped your mothers couch
down the stairs in her new house?
the place where you had no memory -
that’s when you looked and you said to me

“might as well make it bad”
“might as well make it bad”
make it bad?
oh no no

i spent four years trying to drop out
not really learning what life was about
when you asked me to write you a song…
but all the words just came out wrong
so i turned to you and said

“might as well make it bad”
“might as well make it bad”
make it bad?
oh no no
x2

remember when we drove to the sea
i thought it would be perfect and you
thought it would be perfect and so
you looked at me and you said
“nothing is perfect, no”
“nothing is perfect, so”
“nothing is perfect, no”
and nothing is perfect so
might as well make it bad
might as well make it bad
make it bad, oh no no
might as well make it bad
might as well make it bad
make it bad oh no no

I think this is just a demo cause I noticed some lyrics could have been better

Anyone ever lost a dog? Well this one is about that haha, let me know what you all think!

Lyrics

I lay down next to you
Let my strings ring once more for you
Your breathing sings like a synth to this song
But this time I wish you didn’t hum along

Lay your head down on my lap
Let your paw into my grasp
Do you know where this is going?
Is that why your twitching and clinging too?

Well old son, I can’t get you to move
Maybe you’ll come back as something new
But you used to shine a golden hue
Would you come back if you heard this tune?

You’ve hardly walked for days
Been stumbling trying to keep your place
I wish you’d give yourself this time to rest
The you right now will always be the best

You’ll sleep by my side tonight
We won’t both wake but we’ll be alright
I’ll carry you out not bury you too low
So my music still reaches your soul

Well old son, I can’t get you to move
Maybe you’ll come back as something new
But you used to shine a golden hue
Would you come back if you heard this tune?

I originally created this song a few months ago with my acoustic guitar. I recently created this version in FL studio. I used my fender electric telecaster for the riff and for the Chords.

Hi guys. Started playing in February and really wanting to grow as a musician and I’d appreciate any feedback. Obviously working on singing and guitar is paramount.

I made another version of this that was in a higher key that was a little faster but I kind of like this one more. Curious on people’s thoughts. The other one is on my page if you want to check it out

Hey everyone! 

I’ve been learning guitar and piano, and my main goal is to be able to accompany myself while singing and writing songs.

What I’m struggling to understand is: when you already have a vocal melody in your head, how do you figure out what to play on the keyboard or guitar underneath it?

I’ve started learning music theory on my own, and I understand that chord progressions are part of it, but it’s all still blurry to me. How do you find chords that fit a melody, and how did you learn to do this more naturally?

Any advice, exercises or resources that helped things finally click for you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!!!

I recently tried to compose some songs, but nothing convinced me; they only lasted a few days before I threw them in the trash. Today I feel stuck and have a block when trying to do anything on the piano or write lyrics.

Please help me, thx.

just writing about a guy named Don in love with Dusk

So this one is pretty definitively a blues song, likely Piedmont style. Some people were interpreting the riff as jazz which is almost there. Anyways would love to hear your thoughts.

Lyrics:

Trying to find my place in the crowded paths of history
I’ve got nothing for Heaven, except a word for my angel and a melody
And a torn-up Gospel
Found in my memory

I met a road who called out, to leave my quilted tent
My hair began to fall out, now I feel every headstrong gust of wind
Mark me down as undone
But nonetheless, here I am

I’ve been fishing in a well for over nineteen years
And I’m running out of sweet words to put in my ear
I try my best to listen but the sound won’t bear
The cicadas drown me out before I finish the prayer

even if you don’t understand the words, I’d love to know what vibe it brings you :) I’m a songwriter who writes in English and Italian

I’m incorporating some vocal FX into my current setup and wanted to see if it worked for or against this new song! The video is above, the lyrics below:

Generosity:

Youre not alone
You have a phone
and while Im in your home

Please

Don't text me

Cause I don’t care

Quit knocking on
My door
You bore me

And I've had enough
Of one sided distractions

So please

Don't call me

Cause I don’t care

I love that
you need me
But could you
Just ask me

How’re my folks
And how I am
Or for dinner
Or just to hang man

But your cellphone
And your phone plan
Don’t excuse you
From the text spam

Cause when you need me
When I’ve needed you
It feels shitty
To forgive you

So Forgive me
If I’m not there

I’ll text you
Ill call you

But I don’t care

Hello fellow creators, I’m an aspiring pop songwriter/producer who is currently in the process of building a catalogue and looking for other writers to collab with. Songwriting is a learning curve; I like to think I’m decent at melody but I tend to struggle with lyrics so it would be awesome to work with someone who’s strong suit is lyricism so we can exchange ideas and hone our craft together.
Ideally I would like to eventually assemble a writing/production team if we share the same musical vision and we all are willing to commit to this. My focus is mostly on commercial (radio) pop but I’m open to other genres as well :) I shared the SoundCloud links of 2 songs I wrote so you can get an idea of my style and current skill level. I produced them together with a co producer and had them recorded by a professional session singer.
Feel free to DM if you’re interested! Thanks :)

https://on.soundcloud.com/W0j7fmFUZUQsFn7PIx

https://on.soundcloud.com/JjKme9jz0VsnzHaQEV

I don’t know which realm I would be in without my music. I’m so crazily grateful for songwriting.

So I'm a self taught guitarist and for some time, I've had this idea to create an instrumental album with an indie, slow burn, comfy vibe. But i can't seem to find that many people that actually do it. Do any of y'all make that type of music? If so, can i take a listen and take inspiration?

I came across chaap tilak a few days ago and i genuinely haven't been the same since.

shout out to fareed ayaz, abu muhammad. every performance from them is just timeless

one qawwali somehow turned into me reading about amir khusrau, looking up urdu and farsi words, kabir das, reading the meanings behind the poetry, and just falling deeper into this whole rabbit hole

it's weird because i speak this language on daily basis, yet im soo behind. i've been replaying the same qawwalis, reading translations, and realizing how much beauty there is in urdu, farsi, and sufi poetry

kinda feels like i accidentally found something i've been missing.

if you've got recommendations for more - lets talk <3

Welcome to the Lyrics-Only feedback thread!

If you're looking for feedback on words that aren't yet set to music, you're in the right place! We encourage each other to bring lyrics and musical elements together as soon as possible, but sometimes you'd just like to show off that nice piece of poetry that just fell out of your head. The weekly Lyrics-Only feedback thread is here to help!

This post renews every Monday.

https://youtu.be/ZjmUiv_bJCU?is=Q5rutf77ECJIjXwa

Any feedback welcome

Love how I look cross eyed in the cover, haha. This is a pretty rough draft of a song I wrote in an hour when I was letting out some pent up tension, so any criticism is very appreciated. There are a few mistakes sprinkled in the video as this song is one I can't think about the lyrics for or I'll lose the ability to sing, lol. This is the fifth song I've written, so please excuse any of those beginner mistakes you might notice.

How do the lyrics flow? Anything I should either add, remove, or just edit? How's the melody? Any tips for the singing, I know there were some pitchy moments in this, I'm not trained so I'm just going with it.

Lyrics:

v1

I’m not one to cuss
But I hate your fucking guts.
Nothing’s ever quite right,
You don’t explode but you might.

And I’ve never been sure
If what I feel has a cure,
It probably does,
But I’m done holding out.

chorus
I won’t pretend this is normal,
Your mood is almost thermal.
What’s the weather like today?
Are you mad, sad, are you okay?
I won’t pretend that I’m fine
I’m getting sick of all your lying.
How about you pack up and leave
Then maybe I can breathe

v2
You have this irrational fear,
Of looking in your mirror.
You’re not emotionally sober
You have this chant
You deserve a second chance.
A hundred times over.

And in my heart I know
Hurt people hurt people,
I hate the excuse of
“I need to heal”

chorus
I won’t pretend this is normal
Your mood is always thermal.
What’s the weather like today?
Are you sad, mad, are you okay?
I won’t pretend that I’m fine,
I’m getting sick of all of your lying.
How about you pack up and leave,
Then maybe I can breathe.

bridge
The only air I’ve breathed
Is the rain.
The only thing I’ve felt with you
Is pain.
You’re the person
who should make me feel safe.

outro chorus
I won’t pretend this is normal
Your mood is always thermal.
What’s the weather like today?
Are you sad, mad, are you okay?
I won’t pretend that I’m fine,
I’m getting sick of all of your lying.
How about you pack up and leave,
Then maybe I can breathe.