this is actually my biggest problem. when i write the lyrics I have the melody in my head. when i record it, it doesn't sound right because i'm tuneless when singing. I can think of a melody from the piano but can't incorporate it with the lyrics melody and vice versa. my trouble is with my left hand when playing the piano but I can instantly think of a melody or a riff on my right hand.
I know my piano notes and can play half of many hits songs but when it comes to the end I get stuck. do you think it's necessary to start piano again just to get to grips with the chords. the trouble I'm getting is my left hand and right hand putting it together and I'd have to write the notes on the piece of paper and the formula of remembering them, you know e for every g for green b for bus d for drives f for fast etc.
the other thing is when I think of some words I sometimes get a really good melody for a few seconds and it just goes away.
thanks My system is to get the words first, read them over and over to get the rhythm, and you'll find the tune comes naturally. I find it's virtually impossible the other way round! Good Luck! Sounds to me that you are trying to do two or maybe three things together and not really succeeding in any. Mastering your chosen instrument is not essential for songwriting, although it obviousely helps. There are indeed songwriters who do not play any instrument but merely record themselves singing a melody line and lyric and someone else adds the chords and arrangement, so don't get hung up on your playing ability. Secondly why do you want to write the melody and the lyric at the same time? All the great songwriters either write lyrics first and then melody or vice versa, or in the case of collaborators, one guy writes the words, sends them to the composer and he writes the music. Don't beat yourself up about this, I think you are maybe trying too hard, try getting some help from a friend or family member. One final point, if you write a melody and you can't remember it the following morning, it probably wasn't worth remembering. I think Paul McCartney said that and he wrote a fwe good ones! |
