Mastering Lyric Phrases

[distortionjunkie]

Hi. This is my 2nd post. My first one has not been approved yet. I think the moderators and administrators are backlogged?

Can anybody recommend some websites/webpages/blogs/misc that teach or give clues on how to write the catchy parts for lyrics? Please do not recommend Shortcuts To Hit Songwriting or The Craft and Business of Songwriting, as I already have these. I am looking for ideas online -- the folks who do not have the time to construct a tome or chapbook, but want to share their ideas. Or you could send me your ideas if you like, via email to nashvilleartist@gmail.com

And if there's a topic of this already begun, I would welcome that, too.

I'm on a mission to master this stuff.

Thank you for your time.

Nashville Artist

[mojobone]

I like The Craft Of Lyric Writing by Sheila Davis and If They Ask You, You Can Write A Song by Joel Kasha and Al Hirschorn; they're a bit dated, but chock full of solid info.

[distortionjunkie]

Thank you for your post, Mojobone. I appreciate that and will get them very soon. I just recently got a hold of Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison which explains the various forms of metaphors and helped me realize that aspect in my own writing. I had considered taking a metaphor out of my lyric for fear it sounded too "out there," but since reading Pat's educational chapter on metaphors I kept it in the song. Reading this chapter was a nice validation of my writing skills.

[Kolstad]

The best teacher is your own ears. Put on a couple songs that "catches" you, and start charting down how they are done. In particular, pay attention to the melodic intervals in those spots where the songs features a hook or are catchy to your ears. I think a ground rule for catchy memorable hooks are short linear intervals with just a few notes, or if it's a riff, close voicings.

If you are to follow that for lyrics, you need short phrases, maybe with some inner rhymes, words that sounds good staccato, maybe with a long legato note towards the end of the phrase. Quite tricky to write well. Maybe even harder to get any sense into

[guitarhacker]

I like Jason Blume's books. But, reading books only take you so far.

Writing lyrics every day is the way to learn how to write lyrics. At the rally, that was impressed on us in the lyric writing classes. If you wanna be a songwriter, you gotta write songs......every day. Not just when you get an inspired thought. Sometimes you gotta force yourself to write.

As you do anything over time, you become better... so read the books, but..... get some paper and a pen and write.

One of the folks there... with a whole bunch of hits said he writes every day and tries to complete a song every day. Another TAXI member who makes a living writing music told me it's like a job to him in that respect, he goes into the studio every day and writes..... not just when he feels like it.

And come to the rally..... set in on the classes on writing.

I don't think you'll find any secrets on line that are not in the books you already have.

[mojobone]

Robin Frederick's "Shortcuts To Hit Songwriting" is also a great resource, and a wonderful guide for analyzing songs and songcraft from various decades in music; it's very helpful in identifying the elements that make up a 'style'.

[helmutuhlmann]

I think it all comes down to creating a rhythm with your words and melodies. The combination of the two creates hooks imo. Match up the syllables with your melodies helps. Just my opinion!

[cardell]

I like The Craft Of Lyric Writing by Sheila Davis...

I also found this book to be very good.

Stuart

[Casey H]

In addition to the professional books which focus on the overall craft-- all the ones mentioned, you can brainstorm a lot of ideas with my favorite tool--- Google.

When you are writing about a subject or theme, type key words and/or phrases into Google search and read what comes up. You'd be amazed. There are always articles, forums, discussions, etc where people are talking about the very thing you are writing about. Since so many songs are about love relationships, dating forums provide a wealth of ideas. Also, lyrics are usually best when conversational, so what people say in real life is so important.

Casey

[Len911]

I've only bought a handful of books on lyrics and songwriting over the years, most seem to basically just over-analyze hit songs from the past, especially Beatle's songs. I have also suffered from information overload,lol, too much of one aspect of songwriting and trying to tie that info into how it interacts with the other elements of a song, lyric, melody, harmony and rhythm, all going on at the same time. I think Helmut and Casey have made some important statements regarding the rhythm and conversation of lyrics. There are some videos on youtube by Pat Pattison coaching a young lady songwriter about the importance of the rhythm in language in songwriting. He says at one point, "if you can't speak it, you can't sing it". They are a little hard to follow at times, I think the man's brain is a little ahead of his speech, but they are a wealth of information. Language patterns, phrasing and rhythms imo would be tantamount to producing a good hook. As much as I love an Italian singer-songwriter who writes some songs in English, and as refreshing as the phrasing and rhythms can often be, I don't think it would ever "work" in a traditional country ballad,lol. I don't think a degree in linguistics is needed to produce great lyrics, as most people write in their own dialect, but I think being conscious of these things can help produce a great hook, and great song lyrics on the whole for that matter. I suppose it's back to the, "if you can't speak it, you can't sing it" adage.
I've "misdialected" words on several occasions, and often wondered why "it didn't work", but after watching a few of Pat's videos, it becomes more obvious, I guess we do it to "fit" a word or phrase to a specific rhythm or melody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXVyy4BU9ac