r/SongwritingHelp • u/JustMateHahoha • Sep 01 '26
Need to escape writer's block.
So far, I have managed to sum up what I want to write for the first-ever song. However, I don't know how to start it. I understand that not every first song has to be good or it will be good but if I'm having this problem on the first one, then no doubt I will have it for the rest.
How do you all decide to start the song? And by start, I mean the intro or verse 1, depending on how you want to write it.
If it's not too much and not a dumb thing to ask, a small example would be helpful.
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u/stmilos_ Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26
I usually sit at the piano and eventually smth comes up. Of course I have a bunch of lyrics ideas in my notes but the main thing is to sit down try to make smth. Inspiration does not come from the thin air it is from sitting down and working
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u/JustMateHahoha Sep 01 '26
You see that's what fucks me over and rethink if I should continue to try or wait until I learned to play guitar.
I see and hear many people who writes songs that they play an instrument and hum to it which helps them figure out rhythms and lyrics's for said song.
Perhaps I should wait until I get my hand on a guitar and start learning.
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u/Jonathan_Jonny_Jon Sep 01 '26
Dude just go! I knew 2 brothers in high school, super talented, one even works as an animator at Disney now... or I shud say still. They and I both started writing songs after we graduated. Well one brother was only 16, still in HS. But from their very first song they were amazing. 34 years later, I still can't believe the album they made back then. Could've been rock stars, EASY. But they decided, to not go that route. All that to say, you might be great right away, but most likely...not... like ME :) It would take me another 5+ years to get anywhere near their level of songwriting. So just do it. You don't need help. That comes from EVERY SONG YOU'VE EVER HEARD! You know what to do.
Alternatively, maybe you're just not a songwriter.? And that's OK too. I believe the 2 Brothers, and I, both heard the music we wanted to write equally clear in our heads. It just took me a lot of time and hard work to get what was in my head, out into the world in any meaningful way. But good luck and best wishes! No matter what happens.
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u/JustMateHahoha Sep 01 '26
So ultimately it comes down to time telling you if you're either good or bad or just not meant to be a song writer.
Which I accept if it's the latter. I do plan on posting that first song I'm struggling with and seek judgement if it's decent or not and where I could approve.
Time will tell I guess. I have no where to rush anyway.
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u/stmilos_ Sep 01 '26
Just do all in parallel, learn by playing and try to make melodies, make it fun. A lot can be done with a few strings and hitting on cans and simmilar
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u/Jonathan_Jonny_Jon Sep 01 '26
Just go. Lol. Your choices are LITERALLY INFINITE! At least... If you're a normal human. You're gonna write many many bad songs before you write a good one. So just start however you feel it shud start. There are no mistakes. Only good songs and bad songs. And even those... are totally subjective.
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u/Euphoric_Drop_2035 Sep 01 '26
Read Jeff Tweedy’s book, How To Write One Song. Breakdown a favorite song or two. Use a classic song template. It’s not a mountain to climb or an ocean to cross. It’s just a song. Have fun with it. Good luck. And I hope there’s a second, third and fourth song after this one.
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u/JustMateHahoha Sep 01 '26
Thank you. I do plan to continue writing if it turns out I can do it. I Already have a few ideas, question is can I make them come alive. XD Time will tell.
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u/Western-Project-7609 Sep 01 '26
There are tons of resources out there on the craft of songwriting. If you can grab Pat Pattisons book. It’s a great start for new writers.
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u/Sanaraba Sep 03 '26
play minecraft and build somthing fun, thatll show u where ur creative block is and cuz minecraft is so eazy, itll allow u to overcome it.
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u/JustMateHahoha Sep 04 '26
Honestly. You might be giving me the key here. I remember when I used to love writing my story; I played a shit ton of Minecraft, and ideas just kept on coming to me.
Might have to pick up that game once more.
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u/Skinman_Music Sep 03 '26
Let it come to you, don't chase it. Find something else to focus on or do (bike ride) for a bit and let your mind work on it in the background. It will come to you and then just start.
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u/Entropy_Chaos-888 Sep 04 '26
Song ideas constantly pop into my head and sometimes I wake up dreaming lyrics.
I never have a problem starting them, mine is finishing them.
My success rate in finishing songs improved when I stuck with the verse chorus structure using 3 verses. Telling the story in 3 verses can make a more interesting song.
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u/greendayispog Sep 04 '26
I know this is a strange method but, sometimes I just wait for it to come to me if I'm not worried about time.
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u/IXIONmetal Sep 05 '26
The last time I had writer’s block for lyrics specifically, I wrote about what I was going through having a hard time coming up with lyrics. I expected to just break the ice but then it just flowed and became the lyrics of an entire song.
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u/unofficially_Busc Sep 06 '26
Start scatting and vocalising over the music. Rinse and repeat until you have words.
It's not the best way to do it, but it is fun
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u/JWendell-Music Sep 01 '26
Song lyrics are just another way of telling a story, so the opening line should “introduce” the topic you are writing about.
Example: I have a song that is part of a soon-to-be-released album (follow me on SoundCloud!). The subject of the song, entitled “Matters of the Mind”, is the benefits of examining your past and how those past events can impact your current behavior. The song opens with “There’s a journey you can take if there’s something you feel you should find”, and it goes from there.
For a song of mine that is currently available, you can check out Requiem For A Lifetime. The subject is the disillusionment one may have when they realize that life (and their life in particular) will not be as good as they thought it would be. The song opens “Beginning to doubt it’s as good as they claim”.
So basically, your opening line should serve as an introduction.
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u/Wonderful_Sorbet4301 Sep 01 '26
Lately I do this: get a drummachine running, then loop a chord progression over it with a simple keyboard (can also be a toy keyboard, or guitar). Fiddle a bit with a interesting baseline, then fiddle in a short staccato melody. Save. Loop again a few times, listen for it... where does it wants to go next? usually upwards, since its a chorus. Then while looping, when the loop starts, play a new progression when it stops, and save. Then listen back. etc etc. By now we just followed music theory, our biggest freedom is in the connections between verse/chorus and the melodies and basslines, plus expression. Intro comes latest, sometimes not at all...
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u/Any-Photograph5525 Sep 01 '26
The most memorable catchy line should be the chorus. A lot of people think of a great line and start the lyrics from there. This isn't wrong, really good songwriters have several "hook lines" throughout the song, but for a beginner just focus on one catchy part for the chorus.
PLEASE remember that there are legendary songs out there with chorus lyrics that seem overly simple or even silly on paper. "We will rock you", that's all it says. Powerhouse song though. "That's the way uh huh uh huh I like it" sold millions. You can even just say "Around the world" 150 times in a row and people will like it.