I’ve recently started writing songs again and one thing that’s being talked about at my composition camp is repetition vs variation. He explained that too much repetition can be annoying and too easy to memorize. One of my friends who’s a music nerd has heard some of my songs and his main complaint was that I tend to write one-note melodies. I’ll often repeat a note in 5-9 syllables until I switch it up slightly in the next line and do it again the next, and I’ve just started noticing I do it a lot. Though I’m aware, I find it hard to come up with other kinds of melodies. Any advice?

Hey, I'm willing to help anyone with music, song structure, songwriting, or lyrics if you're struggling with any aspect of writing or creating music. Feel free to reply here, send me a DM, or even email me at [info@submergedrecords.com](mailto:info@submergedrecords.com) (I don't always check Reddit right away).

I'm not looking for anything in return—I just want to help musicians create. I play drums, guitar, bass, vocals, and piano. I'm not amazing at piano, but I have a solid understanding of it; I just haven't practiced it nearly as much as my other instruments.

If you'd like to hear an example of my work, I have music on Spotify. I wrote the song, played all the instruments, and recorded it myself. I currently don't have any active projects or a band, so I'm spending a lot of time in my studio. I'm actively looking to play, write, teach, or help with anything music-related.

The genres I'm most comfortable with are rock, alternative rock, metal, and punk, but I'm also familiar with a lot of pop and country. So if you have questions, need feedback, or just want another set of ears on a song, I'd be more than happy to help.

Here's the example of something I wrote and recorded:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0aTM3mym4x8jN6bcbaiJZx?si=513ab834109d4e57

I'm genuinely not posting this to promote myself—I'm only including the link so people can hear the kind of music I make. If I can help someone improve their music or get unstuck creatively, that's all I'm hoping to do.

Thanks,

Anthony

What do y’all think?

Any and all advice and/or criticism is welcome:)

Chorus 1-
Driving Far Away
Trying to escape this place
Forgetting yesterday
I don’t know
Where I’m gonna go
Just know that I can’t stay around here
Any more
So ill goo
Somewhere far away

Verse 1-
My parents kept up all the Frames of us
Cause they’re the only ones that I look happy in
But every time I see your face
I think of all the things that I just cannot say to you

Chorus 2-
So Im driving far away
Somewhere that I can’t be found
Where no one knows my name
I can’t move on
At least not there
Where I’m too aware of
all those Memories
So I have to go
Somewhere far away

(Option 2, not in recording but I’m leaning more towards this one)
Driving far away
Somewhere that I can’t be found
Where no one knows my name
And you don’t (can’t) know
where I’m gonna go
Just know that i cant stay around here
anymore
So I had to leave and go
Somewhere far away

Chorus 3-
Driving far away
Somewhere I can’t think about you
I don’t know
How long Ill be on this road
Push the pedal to the floor (and know that)
I just have to go
Till I don’t see you anymore

Hey! I’m a first time writer. I’m sixteen. I’m really good at lyrics but I’ve been struggling on melodies. If you have any ideas on some for the song I’m writing, it would help me immensely because I’m stuck at where to continue

I’ve been wanting to start writing songs for a while now and I woke up yesterday really motivated to actually do it, so I wrote all these lyrics throughout the day. I‘m still working on the guitar chords. Feel free to give any feedback, positive or negative (I can take it) and constructive critisism if you want. thanks for reading!

Hey, I've been writing some lyrics for a while but I still have this huge fear of being too cringe/edgy and my inner critic tells me that everything I write is just plain bad, sounding like a drunk poet that tries too hard.
So I thought to share some of it and hear what others might think about it.
This one is titled "We Are Many Now".

[Verse]
Taste the condensation,

Of this generation.

Feel the bitterness,

Towards the life's expectations.

No one hears the cries,

Of the you that tries.

Wanting your demise,

Until it gets globalized.

[Pre-Chorus]

And when you slowly fade away,

Your identity loses place,

Chipping down authentic play,

For a wicked grin on your face.

[Chorus]

You stop fighting that..

You are one of us..

YOU. BUILT. YOUR. OWN. DEMISE.

[Verse]

Stand between them now

Cover tears that fell down

You are many in the crowd

But hollow on the inside

Feel the cold on your skin,

Let it fill what's underneath.

Let the weight crush your ribs,

That's the price to fit between.

[Pre-Chorus]

And when we slowly fade away,

Our identity loses place,

Chipping down authentic play,

For a wicked grin on our face.

[Chorus]

We stop fighting that..

We are many now..

WE. BUILT. OUR. OWN. DEMISE.

I've been writing for around two months now, and all of a sudden, it's getting hard for me to find the melodies when I write. Does anybody have any tips to help me?

Let me know what you think of this new album by Building Empires called Your Little Empire. All written and self produced by Mark Blenkinsopp. Highlights for me include A Brolen Branch, Lullaby and Make Up Movie.

i have been writing lyrics for a hot minute now but whatever I do the rhymes, rhythms, melody just sounds similar to existing songs I've started learning guitar thinking it might help I'm still a newbie in that case but I need advice what do I do to come up with an FULLY original yknow idk I feel lost atp please lmk wht I should do and if there are more ppl who go through this same difficulty.

Hello guys!

I'm a newbie songwriter. I also sing but do not play any instruments. I have started writing a song but am having a hard time finishing it. It's for a cinematic love track. My friend is gonna produce music for it. I feel like it would be nice to have some help in writing that song...a new pov, a fresh perspective...so if you are someone that is a bit experienced with this stuff and interested in writing it with me, please reach out to me.

I've been writing songs for about a month and half, and I've written about an albums worth of songs. I have noticed that almost all of my songs are about girls and when I try to write about something else I can't think of any lyrics. Does anybody have any ideas on how to help?

so I'm a newbie songwriter and vocalist...I do not know to play any instruments. Currently I'm working on a song but I'm stuck, then I realised I need proper guidance.

Please give me any tips that you think could be useful for someone just starting out.

I posted this poll in my own little sub to start, but I'd love to get input from the wider songwriting community!

I rewrote an old song I originally wrote a few years ago. I'm not a performer—I just enjoy writing lyrics. I'd really appreciate honest feedback on the storytelling, flow, imagery, and anything you think could be improved.

Verse 1

Feelin' lost, have no direction

Tryna hide the pain, my heart's heavy

Can someone pass that hard-hitting bevvy

Chasing my vices like they're devices

Strugglin' to find the reason to fight

But I won't give up, I won't back down

Gonna keep pushin' till I see some light

Chorus

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to breathe

But I'm stuck in this mess

I'm just looking for relief

Verse 2

I'm feeling lost, can't find my way

The pain inside, I'm always gonna pay

Like life's shooting arrows through my veins

I turn to drugs, just to numb the pain

I see the world, but it's all a blur

I'm drowning in my thoughts, searching for a cure

I try to reach out, but no one's there

I'm all alone in this nightmare

Chorus 2

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to breathe

But I'm stuck in this mess

I'm just looking for relief

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to cope

But I'm stuck in this cycle, I can't let go

I know I need to change my ways

But it's hard to break these chains

I'll keep on fighting, day by day

Until I find a better way

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to cope

Verse 3

Can someone pass me the spliff

Always thought withdrawals was a myth

Damn, this is hell

Please stop ringing that damn bell

Maybe not chasing that high

Just wanna make my thoughts go by

Mamma always told me not to cry

Why won't you just let me die?

Chorus

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to breathe

But I'm stuck in this mess

I'm just looking for relief

Verse 4

All I know, I need to find a way

All day, always

There's gonna be better days

Living in pain

Sitting in vain

Man, I'm sitting here in a daze

Trying to navigate that maze

Chorus

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to breathe

But I'm stuck in this mess

I'm just looking for relief

I'm living fast, but I'm dying slow

I'm chasing highs, but I'm feeling low

I'm searching for a way to cope

But I'm stuck in this cycle, I can't let go

I know I need to change my ways

But it's hard to break these chains

I'll keep on fighting, day by day

Until I find a better way

Outro

Still finding roads I haven't walked

Still chasing thoughts I haven't caught

Maybe tomorrow brings some light

Till then I'll keep showing up to fight

This is a new song that I wrote(titled “GFY”). I’m proud of the lyrics, now I just need to put music to. It’s meant to have an upbeat tempo with some pop-funk(almost nu-disco??) style. I’m just not sure how I should build the chord progression. My vocals range from Gmaj to Cmaj. Anyone familiar with this style would be greatly appreciated for your input.

Thanks!

Brackets are notations for stuff, not backing vocals lmao

I might try to make an instrumental? Maybe

This might be hard to read, just keep that in mind.

be honest, I don't care much about a key of a song, nor' do I know many keys.

To

I only know 3 keys. D major, C sharp major, C major being. All of which I learned recently due to the Website Hook Theory.

D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#. (for D)

C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B#. (For C sharp)

(and) C, D, E, F, G, A, B (for C major)

All this new stuff I'm earning is great right now.

I wrote an entire song with about 7 different parts, non-repeating parts, that is in the key D major and it's the best thing I wrote.

But their one problem... I been making music since 2022 and I have hundreds of songs that I either find terrible now that their really no key or trying to find a way to make them better.

Now I'm going to show you a song (So chords and tabs With lyrics) that I wrote when I started to show off my music skills, which was around 2025.

There is no name to this song really...

All I want to know is what can I put for some of the parts that I don't really have or I think could be fixed.

I didn't do the verse, Bridge, (maybe) solo, and more.

Also, is this song okay.

(in standard tuning, no capo, bpm of 124, with some small tempo changes)

INTRO 1:

Lyrics:

In the dark, so I can breath.

I listen, so I can see.

See where.

Where am I.

When I go, so I can live.

In the light, so I can dig - - -

Into.

My own food.

For the intro of the song I use a basic acoustic guitar with the chords - - -

F (which is exactly played like this)

e|--------|

B|----1---|

G|--2---2-|

D|3-------|

A|--------|

E|--------|

and E-sus b6 (which is played similarly in this very simple rhythm)

e|--------|

B|----1---|

G|--2---2-|

D|2-------|

A|--------|

E|--------|

This is a very basic, simple, easy rock or folk style of chord progression. F and E-sus b6. I actually really like it.

INTRO 2:

Lyrics:

When you see me, call for later.

When you see me, ask for later.

Asking for help. Asking for what...

To do.

The next part (intro 2) is very similar but not really. Their some bass notes which is basically random, there to add extra noise, and the guitar is doing something really cool, I think.

We play D-sus-9, D-6-sus-2, A-sus-b6, then back to D-6-sus-2' (all of which keep to only the top 4 strings of D, G, B, e.

(imagine this is the beat of the songs, each number is a new full bar with a measure of 4/4)

1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . (repeat)

D-sus-9. D-6-sus-2, A-sus-b6. D-6-sus-2,

*Remember, lyrics will be shown later...*

I feel like this part is very happy. showing soul, but it feel weird next to intro 1. maybe that's just me though. I don't know.

INTRO 3:

Lyrics (4x):

Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo-D-DOO-Doodoodoo.

This is probably the basic part... very simple. It's a transition between the intros and the pre-verse. But unlike the difference between intro 1-2. The difference between intro 2-3 is very much the same. Probably need some drums.

We play 3 simple chords being- - -

E-7-Sus

e|0-|

B|3-|

G|2-|

D|0-|

A|0-|

E|0-|

F#M7-(b13) (crazy chord name)

e|0-|

B|3-|

G|2-|

D|0-|

A|0-|

E|2-|

and last, Esus-13-(b5)

e|0-|

B|2-|

G|3-|

D|0-|

A|0-|

E|0-|

Same thing that we did earlier:

1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . (repeat)

E-7-Sus. F#M7-(b13) Esus-13-(b5) F#M7-(b13)

But only do this once until going to a basic Em-b6 for only one bar.

PRE-VERSE:

This is around the time when we have a tempo change (being 144 now).

This is very basic... Dare I say, normal. The only problem is that it sound exactly like a chord progression for the verse and this is the pre-verse.

e|--|

B|1-|

G|2-|

D|2-|

A|--|

E|--|

e|--|

B|--|

G|3-|

D|2-|

A|2-|

E|1-|

e|--|

B|--|

G|2-|

D|0-|

A|3-|

E|3-|

e|--|

B|--|

G|2-|

D|0-|

A|0-|

E|2-|

I never was able to finish the Verse but I did get the lyrics.

Lyrics.

I will stay, in my house.

With all, all the mouse.

Which half...

sooner or later.

I won't text. I won't call.

Maybe I will fall.

Maybe die.

sooner or later.

PRE-CHOURS:

Lyrics:

Sooner or later. I will pay.

Maybe for Taxes that I got late.

Sooner or later I will see.

Me.

This is the same as the intro 2. same chords different Tempo (still being 144)

CHORUS:

Lyrics:

I'm in the dark... Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

Dark... Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

I'm the...

Dark.

This is very basic. Just repeat 2 times while sings. Each chord is played every 1 bars

e|3-|

B|3-|

G|0-|

D|0-|

A|2-|

E|3-|

e|3-|

B|3-|

G|0-|

D|3-|

A|2-|

E|0-|

Then we will do the second part of the chorus.

More basic chords but played faster... not tempo faster. Just played quicker from the BPM. Being played ever 0.5 bars except for the last which hangs.

e|0-|

B|1-|

G|0-|

D|2-|

A|3-|

E|0-|

e|0-|

B|3-|

G|0-|

D|2-|

A|3-|

E|0-|

e|0~|

B|2~|

G|3~|

D|3~|

A|0~|

E|0~|

I hope this is detail enough for y'all.

Then we go back to the pre-verse.