Lyric Writing Process, Need Some Help

Thatbastarddon said:
Most of the time there was a riff, or chord progression, that inspired a topic to ”free write” upon.
something like, “hmmm...this piece makes me feel ____....” then go write a bunch of thoughts out...then sort through them, and see what works.
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Yeah, this exactly. Sometimes I'll have something written out for some time but no music to put it to so I just stash it. Sometime down the line I find a use for it.
 
Cadorman said:
I use the music playing to relieve myself as well. I think it's going to get interesting.
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thats great..looking forward to it... was scared to death when i walked into studio 1st time, lyrics & chords to match..turned into becoming everyday part of life..at least get to make music if can't play out. Bass playing bails me out tho...when you go 20+ years on 4 strings..then xtra B & E pop up..still learning to use them
 
BFT Gibson said:
thats great..looking forward to it... was scared to death when i walked into studio 1st time, lyrics & chords to match..turned into becoming everyday part of life..at least get to make music if can't play out. Bass playing bails me out tho...when you go 20+ years on 4 strings..then xtra B & E pop up..still learning to use them
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Yeah, it isn't fair. Going from guitar to bass is pretty straightforward other than the spacing between frets. Not so easy the other way.
 
To address the lyrics thing: I don't write lyrics very often, but when I do, what sets me off is a feeling. Sometimes a feeling that I can't necessarily put into words easily. An example: I wrote a song called "I'll Sing", I think I posted a demo recording of it here a while back, where what set me off was the thought of how we at times need to let things go. I then tried to describe situations or small snippets of personal experiences where I or people I have known have had to let go of things (not physical things, though) in their life.

I'm not a great lyricist, and I don't really tell stories in my lyrics, but I find that writing things from personal experience is better for me. It is harder, because it is personal, but I think it is better. Let me stress "for me" here! I also prefer my lyrics when they have a certain element of unrest, weariness, trouble or pain if you will. They don't need to be sad or sappy, but there needs to be a certain nerve. That is what makes them real. Happy lyrics are cool, but the real good ones always have a bit more than that. And you need to leave something for the imagination.

Just my two cents, but I'm no poet.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Most of the time there was a riff, or chord progression, that inspired a topic to ”free write” upon.
something like, “hmmm...this piece makes me feel ____....” then go write a bunch of thoughts out...then sort through them, and see what works.
Click to expand...
That’s a way I have done it in the past, kept the riff going in my head and jotting things down present it to the one who was going to sing it, and it would get refit into the places it would work.
And sometimes we would change the progression as well, lots of great ideas here.
 
BFT Gibson said:
thats great..looking forward to it... was scared to death when i walked into studio 1st time, lyrics & chords to match..turned into becoming everyday part of life..at least get to make music if can't play out. Bass playing bails me out tho...when you go 20+ years on 4 strings..then xtra B & E pop up..still learning to use them
Click to expand...
Me too and they have been in front of me the whole time..
 
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