Editor's Note: Please note this article contains mature content. If you are under the age of 13, I strongly suggest you have your parents or guardian read first.
In my last article, I explained that it's important to create and play your own songs in a band. Now, you're thinking, but I can't write a song! I've gotten inspiration for songs from tons of places. It can come from random thoughts during a sick day, books, movies, or even other songs. The best song I've ever written is about when I moved.
What would a band be without the hardcore band member that nobody ever notices, but writes all the songs and lyrics? Take one of my favorite bands, Fall Out Boy. Sure, you know the lead singer is Patrick Stump and the hot guy to the left of him that just happens to always be next to Patrick in the music videos in Pete Wentz. But who writes the songs? Actually, it is Pete Wentz. If it weren't for him, Fall Out Boy wouldn't be what it is today.
Take real life experiences and put them into song form. What is song form, you ask? That's what this article is about.
Most normal songs have three parts. The verse, chorus, and pre-chorus (or bridge). A song usually has three or four verses and a chorus that only changes minorly but is still repeated throughout the song. The bridge usually only comes once, before the last chorus(es). I'm going to use a song to show y'all the parts so it's more understandable.
I'm going to "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me and You)" for my example:
Verse 1
Last year's wishes
Are this year's apologies
Every last time I come home
I take my last chance
To burn a bridge or two
I only keep myself this sick in the head
Cause I know how the words get you
Pre-Chorus
We're the new face of failure
Prettier and younger but not any better off
Bullet proof loneliness
At best, at best
Chorus
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Verse 2
Collect the bad habits
That you couldn't bare to keep
Out of the woods but I love
A tree I used to lay beneath
Kissed teeth stained red
From a sour bottle baby girl
With eyes the size of baby worlds
Pre-Chorus
We're the new face of failure
Prettier and younger but not any better off
Bullet proof loneliness
At best, at best
Chorus
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Bridge
The best way
To make it through
With hearts and wrists intact
Is to realize
Two out of three ain't bad
Ain't bad
Chorus
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
(Honeymoon)
Setting in a honeymoon
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I wake up next to you
If I woke up next to you
Me and you
Setting in a honeymoon
If I wake up next to you
(Honeymoon)
You see how it works? Pretty easy. You can listen to this song, download it from itunes or Windows, and see how the bridge is minor and the rest of the song is major. Even if you don't care, it's still a cool song. I love it. Anyways, you only have to get inspiration. Do look for it either. It just comes to you. Somebody says something real deep, use it. Bad time in your life? Put your feeling in song and it will help you get over it. That's what I did when I moved from my friends.
Let everybody contribute to the song writing, at least when it comes to instrument parts. Writing a song isn't just lyrics. It's the sound. If you don't know how to play bass, get the bassist to write the bass part for the song. It will all come together eventually.
Well, that's all I can tell you about writing a song as of now. Inspiration, check. How to, check. Mentioned Fall Out Boy, check. If you have any questions, feel free to y-mail me and ask. Maybe I'll get to say I helped you become famous. Look out for part three, "The Gig".
And that's all I have to say about that!
