Writing songs/selling to artists

[Anonymous]

Any chance anyone on here has ever written music (meaning lyrics) and shopped it around to artists? I know there are people on here who've said that they wrote a fictional book that was published and is selling. Anyone done anything similar in music? It's always been one of my "goals" but I have absolutely no connection to the music industry or Hollywood as I don't know a single person in those industries or in the creative arts for that matter -- I don't even read music or play an instrument, but I feel like someone could take a song I wrote and put it to music and sell it (or not). Any thoughts on how to even start on this? It's mostly for fun so it's not like I think I'm going to write a top 10 that's going to be on the radio next yr -- just think it would be cool to hear a band (any band) play something I wrote.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you start with some local bands and see if they can put your words to music and then make a demo tape for you to shop around. No one is going to take lyrics seriously until they are set to music.

[Anonymous]

Definitely a demo. That will help you find representation.

Songs are often created with a melody in mind. Do you have something in your head playing to go with the lyrics? If so, catch them on a recording on your iPhone. Humming is fine. For some reason, melodies hit me while driving - I use my iPhone to capture them quickly. You can literally turn the app on at a stoplight and hit record. It's that fast.

The songs I've written, I've at least written partially with melody, then other verses/bridge came to me at other times. The whole concept was there though.

Learning the basics of at least one instrument definitely helps though. Do you have time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely a demo. That will help you find representation.

Songs are often created with a melody in mind. Do you have something in your head playing to go with the lyrics? If so, catch them on a recording on your iPhone. Humming is fine. For some reason, melodies hit me while driving - I use my iPhone to capture them quickly. You can literally turn the app on at a stoplight and hit record. It's that fast.

The songs I've written, I've at least written partially with melody, then other verses/bridge came to me at other times. The whole concept was there though.

Learning the basics of at least one instrument definitely helps though. Do you have time?

So what's your process typically? Lyrics and melody -- simultaneously -- until there is a finished product? Do you have an agent that you turn to when you have a workable song -- I guess the question is how do you shop it around or get it "out there"?

I have time to pick up the guitar -- at least basics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely a demo. That will help you find representation.

Songs are often created with a melody in mind. Do you have something in your head playing to go with the lyrics? If so, catch them on a recording on your iPhone. Humming is fine. For some reason, melodies hit me while driving - I use my iPhone to capture them quickly. You can literally turn the app on at a stoplight and hit record. It's that fast.

The songs I've written, I've at least written partially with melody, then other verses/bridge came to me at other times. The whole concept was there though.

Learning the basics of at least one instrument definitely helps though. Do you have time?

So what's your process typically? Lyrics and melody -- simultaneously -- until there is a finished product? Do you have an agent that you turn to when you have a workable song -- I guess the question is how do you shop it around or get it "out there"?

I have time to pick up the guitar -- at least basics.

Let's start with the guitar part:

Learning to play will help a lot, because you will be able to create melodies - immensely helpful.

I play guitar - badly, probably, but hell, great songs have been written using three chords (Harlan Howard - "Three chords and the truth"). When you learn, start with G, D, and C (Cadd9 good and easy substitute), then add Em and Am. There are literally 100s of songs written with the first three chords, G, D, and C. Em and Am are useful for the bridge, where you often want to switch up the mood a bit. Another trick is simply to use the same three chords (G, D, and C) and change the order. That's an easy way to get started, and has a low frustration level. Whatever you do, do NOT buy a cheap guitar. A guitar with poor action is literally unplayable and very frustrating. A Taylor GS-mini is about $500 (less used on Ebay) and playable immediately. A used Taylor Big Baby is also fantastic (not the baby, the BIG baby. I mention Taylors because they come with lower action than Martins, and therefore, can be easier to learn on and play (action is how far the strings are off the fretboard - low action means less work for you).

Get yourself this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Your-Teach-Yourself-Guitar/dp/0786649364/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1425554439&sr=8-12&keywords=guitar+by+ear

Looks corny, but it's chock full of good information on theory, that's easy as hell to learn.

Now go to the acoustic guitar forum, most specifically the location below, the Show and Tell:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Re-post your question there. They are a fun bunch and will be glad to put their advice and experience out there.

Open mics are a great place to meet people who might be willing to showcase your song.

There are also websites where you can submit demos - read the fine print. Online submissions have made things more 'reachable', but there is more competition and you have to be careful of copyrights:

Here's a google search I've done, with results:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=online+song+submission&spell=1


As for me, I usually just start singing in the car, words and music coming together, but only roughly. Might start with a catchphrase or a line, then I pick up my guitar if it remains interesting. A lot of times, I have a partial song and it takes days to add verses. What's around you can be inspiring - a friend of mine told me how he stalks his old girlfriends on FB using his wife's account, and voila, a song emerged. Jewel wrote Who Will Save Your Soul on a trip to Mexico. She could only play four chords (Am, C, G, and D), and only in that order, so she busked on the streets, earning money for the next leg and making up verses as she went along based on what she saw. Write raw. Most people tend to write better when I am emotional - most people do. Finished product? You'll have something that appears finished but never really is, i.e. you will mix it up, change it, sing it differently, etc. Don't strive for finished, strive for complete, as in, a complete song.

Lastly, look into Pat Pattinson's free online course through Coursera. He teaches at Berklee in Boston. There are some interesting tips in his course:

https://www.coursera.org/course/songwriting

[Anonymous]

^^^ Errr, that's most people write better when THEY are emotional...

[Anonymous]

I loved this reality show about songwriting:

http://www.bravotv.com/platinum-hit

[Anonymous]

The Writer's Center in Bethesda has classes. I took a class with Cathy Fink not too long ago. She and Marcy Marxer are a Grammy-winning duo in the folk area and are well known in the community and nationally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Writer's Center in Bethesda has classes. I took a class with Cathy Fink not too long ago. She and Marcy Marxer are a Grammy-winning duo in the folk area and are well known in the community and nationally.

Good to know, thank you. I want to go up to the Catskills and take Steve Earle's course, but will probably have to wait until next summer as I have to help my daughter get ready to go to college.

[Anonymous]

Been messing around with a used uke I bought on Ebay - so much fun!!

Not sure I'm ready to write on it, but it sure is fun to noodle about on.