im 19, enjoy singing, want to write a song. I play the keyboard a little. Its something i have always wanted to do. It is ambition to write a afew songs and record them. Anyone interested or know anyone that could help would be much appreciated

honey

I hope i get a response lol

So what music inspires you? You say you play a little keyboard? Do you sing as well? What style? Can you play any other instruments?

i play any songs i know the ch ords to, i like to sing lots of things really but need to get my voice trained up again. Unfortunately i cant play anything else. When it comes to music i have afew different influences. I love rock/indie or dance/hardcore to listen to. For singing i love musicals especially phantom of the opera. Id love to try and write some lyrics and music with someone to a rock/indie tune.

Hi Honey...

Not sure if you have read my thread on Andrew Morley but he writes his own material and will be demonstrating some of it tonight...See thread for details.
Also, I have also been working along side a singer called Dan Aspinall who also write his own material, though some of it is political there songs are memorable after one hearing.
I can put you onto Dan if you want, just let me know, meanwhile Andrew Morley would be a good start to as his Father is a proffessional musician and he writes his own material, some I have on CD and as I said will be demonstrating some of it tonight.

Paul

Hi Guys,

If you are at all interested in seeing a great songwriter from Nashville, then check this out:

SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS WITH ASCAP’s NASHVILLE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR.
Rivers Rutherford, ASCAP Nashville’s Songwriter of the Year (2006) is playing a short tour in the UK in April and will be hosting two songwriter workshops during the week. Rivers wrote the 2002 ASCAP Song of the Year (Brooks & Dunn’s multi-week #1 hit “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You”) one of a string of hits recorded by multi-genre artists such as Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, and more. Known as a ‘triple threat’ for his writing, playing and singing, he has a 4th skill as a major label producer as well. As I'm new to posting here it will not let me put Rivers's email address here, but just google Rivers Rutherford.

Rivers will host Q&A style songwriters’ workshop on Thursday April 12th at The Southern, Manchester and at The Regal Room, Hammersmith, London on Saturday April 14th. Participants will also have the chance to play on one of the Writers’ Rounds which will open each show and each workshop fee includes a ticket for the gig that night.

Rivers will also play The Boardwalk, Sheffield on Tuesday April 10th.
For further details and to register for the workshops please contact : Lorna Flowers. Email : catosongs@hotmail.com

He really is worth seeing even if you don't like country. It will be an acoustic set which is always a treat.

Tickets are available for the Boardwalk web site. You can also get tickets from the following locations:

Jacks Records,Division St, Sheffield
Forever Changes, Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield
or from the venue on gig nights

Thanks, Graham

What on earth has this irrelevant spam about some rubbishy country and western singer got to do with this thread?

Hi Bazil,

Thanks for your comments. Honey originally posted that she wanted to write songs and I thought that she may be interested in seeing one of the biggest songwriters in the States. Nashville is known as 'Music City' and has the most songwriters per capita in the world. Writers like Rivers get millions of song plays over their life times and their writing skill is amazing (it has to be because the bar is so high there). Ask any great song writer like Guy Chambers, who is doing a great radio show on writing the perfect pop song on radio 2, Tuesday evenings at 9.30. You do not have to be into country music to appreciate a great songwriter playing an intimate acoustic set of his songs, the way they were written. If Honey went to the seminars she would learn so much about the craft from someone who she would probably have never had a chance to see/meet. She would also meet other local songwriters there and may find a colaborator, as many songwriters write in many different genras. LeAnn Rimes has made the crossover from country to pop several times, and one of her favorite bands is Metallica. If you go to his web site and listen to his music you will see that it is not what most people over here class as 'Country and Western'. I'm sure that she can make her own mind up. I'm a musician/songwriter and I did not want her to miss this great opportinity.

Thanks again, Graham

Hi Honey

How is your songwriting going?

If I should give some advice it would be:

1) Listen to great songs, constantly, and analyse them; what makes it great?
How many hooks does it have? is it a chord change? is it the lyric? is it the melody of the verse, is it the way the chorus comes in? does it even have a chorus? is it the bridge? what is the structure? which lines are repeated and which are only once? is it the harmonising voices? is it the groove? is it the dynamics of speed, tempo, texture, volume, rhythm and feeling?
Well, if its a great song it probably uses all these things.

2) Steal these things and put them into your songs.
Thats what the great songwriters have always done. Bob Dylan was first famous in New York for almost exclusively playing songs by his hero. When he started writing his own songs they were full of stolen lyrics, melodies, chords changes and feelings. But they were instantly great because he gave them his own twist. (you don't have to go away and listen to dylan, its just an example) Instead of putting all your passions into one song, try writing some throw-away songs in different styles, stealing what is best from the great songs of that style. For example: listen to Motown songs and try to write one, then listen to early beatles songs and try to write one. Don't worry about making great lyrics but consentrate on how the song fits together using the things I mentioned above. Do it just for yourself, so you can learn from the masters. Like everything else it takes practice, every kind of artist has to produce plenty of rubbish before the gems start shining through.

Then when you do write those songs 'personal' songs that you want to play to other people you already have a better understanding. And don't worry about people recognising what you've stolen, they love it! It will show that know the territory.

Sorry if this is a bit patronising, I just find the whole process of songwriting really interesting. Ask me any questions, anytime.
Good luck

James

James

I've been writing songs for about 20 odd years, but never deliberately. They usually pop into my head fully formed. The hard part is remembering them long enough to work out how to play them, and then trying to record them accurately, which is particularly difficult for someone with limited time and musical talent.

Thats a good point EbonyBranch.

When I get an idea for a melody I'm always testing myself to see if I can remember it after days or even weeks, without writing it down or recording it. If I can't remember it, it can't have been good enough! (Its like natrual selection; the melodies with the 'catchiness' gene stay in the brain, those without... just get lost.

At least thats good for writing pop songs.

James

If you want, I can put music to any lyrics you write.

jose

Thats a good point EbonyBranch.

When I get an idea for a melody I'm always testing myself to see if I can remember it after days or even weeks, without writing it down or recording it. If I can't remember it, it can't have been good enough! (Its like natrual selection; the melodies with the 'catchiness' gene stay in the brain, those without... just get lost.

At least thats good for writing pop songs.

James

No, that's not what I meant at all. I have limited time, barely adequate musical ability and a terrible memory. I've got songs in my head that I think are probably quite catchy, but which I haven't worked out hopw to play yet. Usually though, a s ong pops into my head while I'm doing something, I think "Yeah, that's a good one", but by the time I've managed to record it I've forgotten all the good bits!

Honey, you may find it useful to come to Burton Street Bar any Wednesday evening. We run what we call 'Songwriters Circle' - an Open Mic night for singer songwriters to perform their work and meet and network with others. You can perform some of your stuff or just come and meet people , listen to their stuff and see if any of them are interested in working with you. Its very informal , the venue is small and intimate and everyone chats to every one else and give great encouragement.

Venue is Burton Vafe/Bar, Old School Burton Street, Hillsborough S6 2HH. near the Barracjs, nearest tram is Bamforth Street. From 7 - 10pm FREE entry

im 19, enjoy singing, want to write a song. I play the keyboard a little. Its something i have always wanted to do. It is ambition to write a afew songs and record them. Anyone interested or know anyone that could help would be much appreciated

honey

hiya, pm me, i have plenty of songs/ideas and no voice, have worked with various people before and currently write songs that dont fit with my band at the time, so if you wanna work on some stuff maybe we can hook up. let me know anyways.

ive just set up a myspace with my 'solo' stuff.. www.myspace.com/soloplus its all dif styles but havent finished all the punk/acoustic and blues numbers im working on..so its more rock based that is up at mo.

I too am a novice singer songwriter, I have been writing pop ballads for about a month now while im building my home studio.
I play the Piano and harmonica and trying to learn acoustic guitar...!
I live in the peaks area too, maybe we could get together at BBs cafe at Peaks and share some ideas?
mail me

Mick


MJEyre@hotmail.com

Bob Dylan was first famous in New York for almost exclusively playing songs by his hero. When he started writing his own songs they were full of stolen lyrics, melodies, chords changes and feelings.

I remember reading a biography of Dylan. During those years he would often pass off his own songs as being by others. In the folkie scene of the time the big quest was to "collect" authentic folk songs, and Dylan would pass off his own compositions as "something Woody Guthrie showed me". It is true though that when he did meet Woody Guthrie, Woody told him not to worry about lifting pieces out of other songs. On a similar note, Billy Fury wrote most of his own songs but sometimes put them on the album under a pseudyname as in those days it was seen that if you wrote your own songs it was because your record company was too unprofessional to hire a "proper songwriter"!!

Hi Honey247,

I have been composing my own songs for some time now.

If you'd like, you can review and see if you'd like to cooperate :)

www.youtube.com/user/jingely

Yours Truly,

Jingely