Do you guys write your own music?

[Kahn]

Ive kept a journal for a couple of years where I jot down lyrics, riffs, and music as it pops in my head. It is always accesible, so even if one little thing pops up, I can always write it down. That really helps my creative process

[guitardmb]

Yes I write my own lyrics and music. You can check it out on my angelfire site on my signiture.

You are never too young to write songs. The guy who wrote Bohemeon Rapsody (sp?) was only 16 when he wrote it. Paul McCartney wrote his first song when he was a teenager. If you don't start now, even if the lyrics and music suck, then you will never have a future in it. The first ten or so songs I wrote blowed, but eventually I got the hang of it. Now, I am not the best, but I am much better than I used to be.

As for guitar experience. It is good to have. But many artists just play chords. So your music could be very simple and still be amazing. Though I do strongly recommend that you learn more than chords, and study a few artist's styles to develop your own.

umm... Freddie Mercury?!?! sheesh.

I'm confused about what thats supposed to mean.

Freddie Mercury wrote Bohemian Rapsody

the lead singer from Queen (the band that did the song)

I knew Queen did the song, just wasnt sure who from Queen wrote it.

[GSR]

Ive kept a journal for a couple of years where I jot down lyrics, riffs, and music as it pops in my head. It is always accesible, so even if one little thing pops up, I can always write it down. That really helps my creative process

that's a good idea.

[Teego Time]

nice teego do you have a melody/guitar for it? or even a recording?

It's a full blown song of mine, but no recording equipment for me.

[fede]

Ive kept a journal for a couple of years where I jot down lyrics, riffs, and music as it pops in my head. It is always accesible, so even if one little thing pops up, I can always write it down. That really helps my creative process

that's a good idea.

[Davy28]

I have about thirty or so songs to my name. Mostly a mixture of folk and blues in my own style. I love playing them for people, and usually get a good response from those close to me.

But I have neither the time nor the energy nor the ability (with my future in the Navy) to play gigs and promote those songs and get them officially recorded. Besides, most people who try to make a living off their music have to climb a long, shitty ladder before they get any kind of recognition. I have no desire to do that.

[nate]

I agree with Kahn. WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING! If you are like me and you get crazy ass lyrics that seem to pop up in your head at the most random times then keeping a pad handy is key. I have pharses that i'll think up in that wierd state of conscious right before you fall asleep. I keep a note pad handy to write them down. sometimes it sucks cuz you feel lazy but you have to write it down or you'll forget it in the morning (no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you won't ... i can vouch for this personally).
And like others have said it may suck at first but songwriting is not an exact science, everyone has different methods. Plus once you get more musical knowledge you can always come back to your bank or randomness and find a new style or melody that fits it better than what you had tried before. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!

[CBalvarez]

Ive kept a journal for a couple of years where I jot down lyrics, riffs, and music as it pops in my head. It is always accesible, so even if one little thing pops up, I can always write it down. That really helps my creative process

Thats what I've been doing over the years as well, I didn't start playing guitar until I was 13 or 14, but I've been writing lyrics since that age too. (I'm 21 now by the way)... I still like to learn some Cover stuff, because that's helped me so much along the way, especially learning Dave. Learn lots of different bands that you like though, you will learn alot more styles, which in turn will eventually make you more creative.

Just keep experimenting, thats what I love about music is I'll never stop learning new things. Lyrics are somthing that tend to come a little easier when you experience more and more of the real world, which will just give you more and more music to share with the real world! Don't ever quit!

Oh And Nate, that thing about right before you fall asleep, EXACTLY! and don't ever think you'll renmember to write it down later, WRITE IT DOWN RIGHT AWAY!!!

[proudestmonkey41]

is it possible to write your own chord progressions with no theory knowledge? ive never had a lesson.. and just about everything i have learned has been from this site.

[sunglassesatnight]

is it possible to write your own chord progressions with no theory knowledge? ive never had a lesson.. and just about everything i have learned has been from this site.

Sure. Theory is not there to confine you, it is possible to find just what sounds good.

However, whatever you play that sounds good will have a theoretical explanation. Learning theory helps you to write, but it's not required at all.

Try it out though. I learned a lot from the book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory. Good, and in plain English. There are more advanced books that you can later move on to.

[brian_ok]

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory.

[sunglassesatnight]

What can I say? I guess I just own everyone at everything all the time, and everyone else in the world has never done a thing right, not ever.

/geekmug

[Speenis]

What can I say? I guess I just own everyone at everything all the time, and everyone else in the world has never done a thing right, not ever.

/geekmug

I don't see what you have against him...

[sunglassesatnight]

I don't like how no one but him has ever been in the slightest way right about anything, and they never could be.

[wayward_blue]

I started coming up with songs before I can remember. Before I ever picked up the guitar I would come up with melodies in my head and just start writing lyrics. Just because your 17 doesn't mean your too young to write, use your imagination. I think everyone who says to keep something around at all times to write your idea's down are 100% right. I don't do it and I keep think to myself I should because I come up with great ideas all the time in my car, in the shower, before I fall asleep etc.. but I usually forget them before I have a chance to put the pen to paper. The good thing about writing your own songs is that its yours so if years from now you decide that you want to change the lyrics around, you can or if you want to change the chord progression. I have some of my originals posted on My Space (link is in my signature). I usually change up the songs on there once a month or I will post song Ideas that I'm working on.