Any guitar songwriting tips?

Question

I've been playing for a while and can write pretty good riffs but I can't put all my riffs together. to sound write. I know about chord keys and the penitonic scale/box. Any other tips to help? I am just looking for tips to HELP. I'm not going to base my whole theory on this just a few tips.

Answer 1

Write a riff. Figure out what key its in.

Write another riff. Figure out what key its in. Repeat.

Collect your riffs. Figure out what key you want your song needs to be in. Select your riffs and, transposing where necessary, start plugging them in to a structure of your song.

Most songs need an intro, a verse, a chorus, and sometimes bridges, interludes, solos, and outros. Sometimes the intro riff is similar to the chorus. Sometimes multiple riffs are layered one over the top of the other. Remember that not all riffs need to be in the same key. You can have riffs that follow a chord progression, with one key as the verse and another as the chorus.

For instance - you write a short, sweet riff in the key of E. You have a fatty chunky riff in the key of A. If you make the song in the key of A, then you could have the verses in A and the chorus in E... or you could transpose it down to D, depending on the flavor you want.

I'm not sure if I'm being as clear as I'd like to be. There is a point in time where playing in different "keys" like this for different riffs isn't a good thing, and there are times that it does. You will have to use your ears or take some time and study some music theory, I can't think of an easy or simple way to explain it.

Recording your work is a really good idea - that way you can go back to it and hear it with fresh ears. And you don't forget anything.

Saul

Answer 2

the good thing about the guitar is it doesnt have to have a specific beat so just write down what your thinking and then play with it...it might be a mess but sometimes a mess sounds like a masterpiece!

Answer 3

record yourself when your just playing around and use the recording as a tool to remember otherwise forgotten riffs.

when you play it back its easier to see whats lacking.

once you get a good pattern,record it and then you can concentrate on the lyrics instead of having to do both at the same time.keep at it,it gets easier.

rock out