Writing Songs - For Any Instructor, From riff idea to full song Options

[jer]

Writing Songs.

My weakness.

Its like I know the ability is in there somewhere. But I cant find the part of my brain that is hiding it and squeeze it out.

I'm talking about the music part of a song. Not lyrics.

It usually starts with a melody idea or riff for me. I'll try and capture myself humming it into my pda's digital recorder.

Then I try to translate that to guitar.

The furthest I get is that initial riff idea. I cant seem to come up with the next part. I have lots of riff ideas laying around but I cant seem to link them together.

Any ideas?

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[Oxac]

I've written some and I have a few tips.

Ok, so you have your first riff, sometimes the following riffs or the chordprogression comes naturally, but not very often. So there's a few things we have here to help us. Let's say you have a riff in a aeolian, do the exact same riff but in D-dorian, C Ionian etc. Just to get the hang of what positions you can use for your next riff. Play your riff inside out, backwards, chose a new scale like A harmonic minor, play it in E-minor. Just alter the riff theory wise to find new ideas.

Get the chord progression you have and analyze it, what cadences etc. If you're stuck somewhere, try EVERY cadence from that position, just to get a small Idea of what possibilities you have.

Go get a piano and learn what you play, then try to come up with a nice piano part for it, record it and try to play your guitar to your piano piece.

Try painting what you hear, then try to play what you've painted

Come up with beats, try drumming your original riff on your legs and then alter it rythmically while drumming on your legs.

Learn how to sing your riff and harmonize it with your guitar.



These things are things that works for me when I'm stuck with the best riff in the world, but dunno how to proceed.

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Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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This post has been edited by Oxac: Sep 10 2008, 03:11 PM