SONGWRITING PART 3/3

#13) Let's write a Metal song next to a Kinder care...
Location is a very important aspect to songwriting. When you're next to a lake, you probably get the feeling of relaxation. When you're at a concert, I doubt you will feel so relaxed. Where you are can impact your music. If you are lucky enough to have your own private place in your home to play music, you most likely have it decorated with posters or something that puts you in the mood. If you don't... try it! I had a guy tell me that he couldn't write a song unless he turned off all of his lights except for one... and it was blue. If you create an atmosphere, it will most likely affect your music. When you are in a store you act differently than at home. Even your kitchen will invoke a different type of feeling than your living room. No doubt about it.. Try to get a room that can match your musical personality and write there. Test out different places. I, personally, write my music in the dark. No blue light here.

#14) It sounds okay... I guess...
Get rid of it! To exercise your mind, you have to work it to its full capacity. Back to weight lifting, if you can curl 45-lbs, don't settle for 20 lbs one day. You won't get stronger. Half-hearted songs don't count in my opinion. Playing around is nice and all, but your ultimate goal should be to write a song like you've written before. It is how we expand as musicians. Writing songs with methods that we've done before is like lifting 20 lbs. Using new ideas and methods, that our mind would have only thought of because we've mastered the old- that's your 45 pounder! Keep it fresh! Don't fall into the habit of generic music!!!

#15) Ideas.. Ideas.. Ideas...
Sometime I write a song off a central idea, instead of emotion. For example, my idea might be: well what if I wrote a dance song with a heavy guitar? What if I wanted to write a song uses a distortion over drums? Ideas don't always evolve into songs, but they help you be creative! The important thing is that since they are ideas (kind of like a hypothesis) you shouldn't come to a conclusion till you have tried it. In other words, if you have an idea that running distortion over drums would sound cool over a love song, and when you try it- you may tell yourself... "no- distortion with drums sounds good on a hard rock song."

#16) I like it, but what do you think???
Let me start by saying that your friends and family members will most likely be very biased about your music. Ask them what they think if you want a self-esteem booster. I take compliments more to heart from strangers who like my music. The most important thing is that you like the music. Will others like it as well? Maybe, maybe not. If they offer suggestions, consider them... There is no right or wrong way to write a song. There are only songs that people can and can't relate to. And I'm sure that almost any song that was ever made could probably relate to at least 1 other person in this world.

#17) Catchy phrases for lyrics
If you're planning on writing lyrics, then I offer you this suggestion: Use words that people use everyday. Why? Because if those same words are used in just an everyday conversation, it will remind that listener of your song. For instance, if I said "I was outside last night and saw a twinkle twinkle little star", immediately that song pops into your mind. Of course no one would talk like that, so if you mold your song around an everyday phrase, then it will remind people of your song easier. Just think of Staind, "It's been awhile". Every time someone says that phrase it reminds me of that song.