Any Good Tips on Lyrics?

[SandJosieph 6]

I'm fairly good at coming up with backing music but my lyrical skills are quite lacking. Most of the time I find myself resorting to bizarre contractions or even sentences that are far from grammatically correct. I'm chalking most of that up to my limited vocabulary. Lines like "...and ev'rypony lost their head." and abstract thoughts such as "Sweet music preys on you my darling baby..." are quite common in my songs. I guess what I'm trying to ask is if there are some good tips and pointers to follow when coming up with lyrics?

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

i would say you should read more. i found this quite helpful when i was in a solo style band. reading Shakespeare and related works helped me with rhyming and timing.

[SandJosieph 6]

i would say you should read more. i found this quite helpful when i was in a solo style band. reading Shakespeare and related works helped me with rhyming and timing.

I actually do quite a bit of reading. Childhood rhymes are my biggest influence. One problem I get with timing, though, is that I very often write the melodies of my songs before I come up with the lyrics. The melody of "Daddy Discord" was composed years before I ever knew about My Little Pony and for whatever reason I tried to fit every note of the melody with a syllable of a word. Are there times when holding a syllable over multiple notes recommended?

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

Are there times when holding a syllable over multiple notes recommended?

I would have to say it would depend on what genre you are doing. If its hard rock then yes you should its sometimes easier. Acapella is another good example. what genre are you aiming at?

[Acoustic Cloud 2,202]

Practice writing poems! I did that all the time, now I whip out multiple songs in a school day just by thinking about it.  So that's where I say that you start, then from there expand it from stanzas to versus, chorus and possibly a bridge.

[Beat Shock 581]

THIS is a big issue for me. I always have trouble coming up with lyrics, unless if it's the chorus. I think up some crazy tunes in my head, but I'm never able to make them on my computer (Probably because I have Garageband instead of FL Studios).

 

I just think of lyrics while I'm in bed, having a paper and a pencil near by. If I force myself to think hard enough, it just comes out. It takes determination.

 

(I could post some of the lyrics for the song I'm writing about Rarity if you want)

[SandJosieph 6]

THIS is a big issue for me. I always have trouble coming up with lyrics, unless if it's the chorus. I think up some crazy tunes in my head, but I'm never able to make them on my computer (Probably because I have Garageband instead of FL Studios).

 

I just think of lyrics while I'm in bed, having a paper and a pencil near by. If I force myself to think hard enough, it just comes out. It takes determination.

 

(I could post some of the lyrics for the song I'm writing about Rarity if you want)

That would be quite interesting, actually. My program (Sonar Homestudio 4) allows me to map lyrics onto the staff view of my projects.

[Beat Shock 581]

That would be quite interesting, actually. My program (Sonar Homestudio 4) allows me to map lyrics onto the staff view of my projects.

What's interesting, the method I gave you, or the lyrics for the song I'm writing?

 

Oh, I also forgot to mention. It takes A LOT of determination. Try to think deeply into what your writing, unless it's just a verse. I say you make the song casual-cheerful at some points, and very emotional at others. That's what makes a great vocal song (I think?).

 

Well good luck anyway!

[SandJosieph 6]

What's interesting, the method I gave you, or the lyrics for the song I'm writing?

 

Oh, I also forgot to mention. It takes A LOT of determination. Try to think deeply into what your writing, unless it's just a verse. I say you make the song casual-cheerful at some points, and very emotional at others. That's what makes a great vocal song (I think?).

 

Well good luck anyway!

Yeah, it can get especially interesting when two lyrics are being sung at the same time. Something like that happened during the last part of my "Carnival Cat vs. Ponyville" song in the last part when the Cat was singing along with the ponies of the Ponyville. Her original line was "Now you're mine you ponies can't resist. You make my life oh so rich." Unfortunately, it conflicted with the lyrics being sung by ponies ("Get away you psychopathic witch, you make us ponies sick...") making it sound like they were all singing "Get away you psychopathic b*tch!". Which, while funny, wasn't right. That's why I had to change Cat's lyrics to "Now you're mine, sweet babe I'm not a witch. Life alone just makes me sick."

 

And I would like to hear your lyrics for that song of yours.

[Beat Shock 581]

Yeah, it can get especially interesting when two lyrics are being sung at the same time. Something like that happened during the last part of my "Carnival Cat vs. Ponyville" song in the last part when the Cat was singing along with the ponies of the Ponyville. Her original line was "Now you're mine you ponies can't resist. You make my life oh so rich." Unfortunately, it conflicted with the lyrics being sung by ponies ("Get away you psychopathic witch, you make us ponies sick...") making it sound like they were all singing "Get away you psychopathic b*tch!". Which, while funny, wasn't right. That's why I had to change Cat's lyrics to "Now you're mine, sweet babe I'm not a witch. Life alone just makes me sick."

 

And I would like to hear your lyrics for that song of yours.

Mine is a work in progress (need a good recording microphone and FL Studios). This song I'm making is an acoustic/piano/jazz/Micheal Jackson type song. Of course, you can't really imagine what it would sound like without hearing it...

 

Chorus:

 

 

Oh, Rarity!

 

You got me under your love spell

With your charm neither you or I could tell

The many times I fell for you

 

Oh, Rarity!

 

Some day I'll make you truly see

Just how much you really mean to me

I won't stop melting in your luscious eyes

The thought of you makes me realize

 

No words in the world can explain

How happy I am right here with you

It's a fantasy come true

 

Oh, please Rarity!

I cannot live without you

 

 

After I came up with that, I couldn't sleep at all through the night. I want to make the song SO bad, but whenever I start making a new song, I get a writing block, and the tune just dies... Oh how popular I would be if I had completed one of them...

[Dusty Soul 2,613]

This works for some people; write the music first then the lyrics, the music sort of gives a backdrop for the words that you would put in.  (note this works with SOME people, I have a hard time with it).  

[SandJosieph 6]

Mine is a work in progress (need a good recording microphone and FL Studios). This song I'm making is an acoustic/piano/jazz/Micheal Jackson type song. Of course, you can't really imagine what it would sound like without hearing it...

 

Chorus:

 

 

Oh, Rarity!

 

You got me under your love spell

With your charm neither you or I could tell

The many times I fell for you

 

Oh, Rarity!

 

Some day I'll make you truly see

Just how much you really mean to me

I won't stop melting in your luscious eyes

The thought of you makes me realize

 

No words in the world can explain

How happy I am right here with you

It's a fantasy come true

 

Oh, please Rarity!

I cannot live without you

 

 

After I came up with that, I couldn't sleep at all through the night. I want to make the song SO bad, but whenever I start making a new song, I get a writing block, and the tune just dies... Oh how popular I would be if I had completed one of them...

Which Michael Jackson song is that? It rhythm of the lyrics seem familiar. Granted my knowledge of Michael Jackson songs is fairly limited.

[Beat Shock 581]

Which Michael Jackson song is that? It rhythm of the lyrics seem familiar. Granted my knowledge of Michael Jackson songs is fairly limited.

It's not based off of a Micheal Jackson song, it's just similar to his style. Although sometimes, I think of "Smooth Criminal" when I sing it.

[SandJosieph 6]

Question: What exactly is "Slant Rhyme"? I heard someone describe the lyrics of one of my tunes as having such (Gloomy Town, to be exact).

[Joaftheloaf 9]

 

Question: What exactly is "Slant Rhyme"? I heard someone describe the lyrics of one of my tunes as having such (Gloomy Town, to be exact).

slant rhymes are two words that have similar sound to them but aren't exactly complete rhymes.  The words "soon" and "you" are slant rhymes. 

Edited January 12, 2013 by Joaftheloaf

[Fender 1,284]

I'll give you an sample of something I'm working on, it's a parody of "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring, I know it's not quite the same as actually writing one's own music and lyrics, but, you may be able to pull something off of it that could help you.

 

 

Give it to me ponies! Oh-yeah. Oh-yeah.
Give it to me ponies! Oh-yeah. Oh-yeah.
Give it to me ponies! Oh-yeah. Oh-yeah.
And all the ponies say I'm pretty tough
For a Pegasus.
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, cinco, seis.

You know it's kind of hard
Just to be admired any way.
Equestria doesn't know,
But I'll rise up here today.
I may be unprepared;
And they may not like my style.
Everything that they dislike
Well I'll make it worth their while.

So don't deny, a Pegasus
I know I really have all of the skills to fly.
I will never yield, or play left field.
For you no way, for you no way.
So if you defy, your favorite Pegasus.
You'll be disappointed when I make it to the line.
The world needs awesomeness.
(Hey! Hey!) I'm the best flyer.

 

 

Also, here is the original song so you can get an idea of what it should sound like.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1tUS6Ho-c

 

 

I hope this is in SOME way, helpful.

[SweetJeans88 408]

its poetry set to music, or vice-versa  

 

brush up on poetry and invest in a rhyming dictionary.  depending on cadence and where you put the stress on a word, you can get near rhymes to sound right.