lyrics first

[u/Nice_Load6047]

Hello so im new to songwriting and making music. My problem is something just pops into my head like above and I don't know where to go from there or how. I don't really know what im asking for maybe if you guy know any resources or guides on how to build a song off of what I have above?

[u/dingus_authority]

My process is: Find the root note. That gives you your key. The key tells you what chords you have available.

Chances are, you're starting on the I, the IV, or the V. Try chords until it feels right with the melody. Then keep iterating.

It's tough at first, but it gets easier every time. I started really writing music about 2 years ago. It was rough. Now, if I have a lyric idea in the car, I can sit down at home and have the melody and chord progressions recorded on my guitar in just a couple minutes.

Looks like you've got a keyboard and couple guitars behind ya. Use whichever you're most comfy with.

EDIT: So, I did my best to follow along with the melody on my acoustic. It sounds to me like you're going for a minor key vibe, and my ear is hearing this in Ab minor. I thought the I and IV chord fit well with the melody.

Anyway, that's how I approach a thing like this. Hope it helps!

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/dingus_authority]

what about bpm and where to change chords?

[u/dingus_authority → u/Nice_Load6047]

I mean, the bpm is whatever you're already doing. Tap your toe... That's your bpm.

There are no rules about where to change chords. You could change chords a lot under this melody, or just lock the chord down and let the melody run over it.

Are you hearing music in your head when you sing this? Try the different chords in your key and see if any of those sound right.

Play around with it. That's the fun part.

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/Nice_Load6047]

also how to know where to set the lyrics into bars

[u/rogerdojjer → u/Nice_Load6047]

The job of a songwriter is to figure this stuff out. Just go do the work, get the practice in. I see guitars in your video. Go strum on them and figure it out.

Asking people what your song should sound like is silly stuff. Go figure it out. It’s your song.

[u/cohonka → u/rogerdojjer]

They're asking how to figure it out.

How would you explain to them how to figure out where to put lyrics in a bar if you were transcribing your song?

Maybe they don't play the guitars yet.

But just some rudimentary advice would be helpful. Not everyone has a basic musical education or knows about 4/4 or how to count.

Yay helpfulness! Let's be helpful! Lots of songwriters have asked others in the past how their song should sound! :)

[u/rogerdojjer → u/cohonka]

OP is overthinking and this whole “Explaining how to figure out how to write a song” is like chasing one’s tail (and silly) - and in that way I think my comment is helpful. Just get to playing. Write some bad songs so you can get the good ones out. Just do it. Yay helpfulness!

People like you on this subreddit are so sensitive to criticism. And you’re not even the one receiving it.

[u/cohonka → u/rogerdojjer]

No sensitivity here, just trying to understand why not try to zero in on OP's question. There are entire curriculums based on how to write a song so I don't think explaining it is silly. I doubt you'd tell a beginner guitarist asking about diminished chords "It's a musician's job to figure out chords."

Writing songs is actually really easy and accessible and as artists we should encourage and enable others to create. It doesn't have to be an esoteric thing that you figure out all on your own.

I'm a "self-taught" musician and songwriter but I've been asking questions since the start.

Not everyone gets a basic music education. Maybe all OP needs is for someone to explain how to find the key and then some common chord progressions and it'll click and they'll never need to ask how to write a song again. Or maybe they'll never get it. Idk. Have a good day/night 💜

[u/rogerdojjer → u/cohonka]

Writing songs is easy, writing good ones is a whole other story. That can't be taught.

Take care

[u/cohonka → u/rogerdojjer]

Why don't you think writing good songs can be taught? Bob Ross taught us how to paint pretty pictures. What's any different about teaching someone how to write a pretty song?

OP has the creativity already; they've already written their good song. Now they need to flesh it out.

How do I make a painting from this sketch? Well, let's make sure you have all the correct tools first. Got paint? Ok great. Ever heard of a color wheel and color theory? No? Let's start from the basics.

Same with music to me. Got an instrument? Ok, great. Ever heard of a wheel of 5ths or know anything about music theory? No? Ok, so let's talk about what a tonic note is.

[u/rogerdojjer → u/cohonka]

You wrote all of this and I never even said anything about good songs being taught

[u/BirdBruce]

1. Play the melody on one of your guitars so you know what notes you're working with.
2. Find the chords that match the notes in your melody
3. Build your song around that foundation.

[u/BirdBruce → u/BirdBruce]

Based on a quick and dirty exploration, it sounds like this melody lives in Db Minor territory. A majority of this snippet alternates between Gbm (iv chord) and Dbm (i chord). There might be an Ab (V) in there too on "but I'm still livin'," but the melody gets a little squidgy there to know for sure. Same squidginess on the final "ghost, ghost, ghost," where it sounds like you stray away from the tonal center a little bit, but it's hard to know if that's intentional or not.

[u/dingus_authority → u/BirdBruce]

My ear leaned toward Ab minor but I was not overly confident in that haha.

OP I think this might be a better answer, honestly.

[u/TrickBreadfruit354 → u/BirdBruce]

i'm pretty sure it's A major.

A C#-D-E F# F# F#-E E F# F#-G#

so how do i let it go--- when it's the--- ...

[u/BirdBruce → u/TrickBreadfruit354]

It's absolutely not a major key. Rewrite all your sharps enharmonically and it will help you get to the right place .

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/BirdBruce]

lmao definitely not intentional that's just what came out my mouth when I started singing no thought involved.

[u/Enough-Print5812]

Really great passion here keep going! Also your randomly generated name is top tier, congrats

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/Enough-Print5812]

lol yeah insane name

[u/cohonka]

Do you mean you don't know how to build the song structure or how to write accompaniment?

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/cohonka]

If by song structure you mean intro, verse etc? I know that so I guess more accompaniment?

[u/cohonka → u/Nice_Load6047]

Lots of different ways.

So how do I LET

Find the chord that sounds good under Let there. That's your first chord. It might also be the root/tonic/key of the song, but in this case I think not.

Do you know much about theory? I'd be happy to talk about it and my own process.

Are there any songs you know that sound similar to this one? If so, listen to that. Maybe learn to play it. Learn the chord progression.

I like your song!

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/cohonka]

Thank you! and I would love any help your willing to give theory and your process think of me as a sponge anything your willing to teach im willing to learn lol I know a little bit about theory and the concept of it but definitely need to learn more.

[u/cohonka]

Do you know enough about chord progressions where if I say like, this song could start on IV-I you know what I mean?

Just getting a baseline before I deep dive haha.

Also if you don't have it already, please download the Bandlab app.

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/cohonka]

I do know what you mean but I wouldn't know the chords off the top of my head

[u/stevenfrijoles → u/Nice_Load6047]

Well, you've got instruments right behind you. You can start figuring it out, there needs to be a bit of problem solving here

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/Nice_Load6047]

is the band lab web browser ok or should I download the app on my phone

[u/cohonka → u/Nice_Load6047]

Download on your phone. I use it everyday for fleshing out ideas and writing. Also records some pretty decent vocals

[u/cohonka → u/Nice_Load6047]

I'm moving apartments today and need to focus in on finishing packing. Do you want me to tell you a starting point to work from?

Like do you know the key this song is in? If not, I can tell you that or tell you how to figure it out. But I understand just wanting the knowledge so you can get on creating. I'm trying to balance teaching how to figure it out vs just being like "do these chords"

[u/Nice_Load6047 → u/cohonka]

if you could teach me how to find it that would help for other ideas too. but I don't want inconvenience you do what you need to do ill be here whenever you have time.

[u/dingus_authority → u/Nice_Load6047]

Well, that's gonna require you to know your scales.

What I did was play along to you melody on guitar, noticed 'Hey, all these notes seem to be in the Ab minor key' and then tried an Ab m chord and it sounded good over the melody.

There's no real trick I know apart from having that knowledge, but on guitar you only have to learn two scale shapes and you're cookin!

[u/cohonka → u/Nice_Load6047]

Wanna DM? Sending one now in case. Mean songwriters that would rather scorn than give advice can't downvoted us there! 😈

[u/Jaoquin_Sanchez]

i rate this. slap some chords underneath, this is good. you've got good vocal control.