How to Write Songs: Three Steps to Writing Songs With a Band.
In a band? Need some songs? Here’s the answer to a two-fold question asked on Yahoo Answers: “How do you write a song with a band?” This is not the only way of course, but it’s probably easiest for this particular situation. This askers biggest problem was also that the drummer was inexperienced.
Get Your Framework – Song Form, Verse, Chorus, Bridge.
So starting with the drummer question, the drummer needs to know what the guitar/bass riff is before he/she can figure out what beat to use. So, if you want to collaborate with someone, you should get your lyrics down along with the guitar part first. If you can do the song with just guitar and voice, you’ve got the basic framework. Once you’ve got the guitar/vocal framework the bass player and drummer will have something to work with. So if your singer and guitar player are the same person they should be able to sing and play the guitar part by themselves. That should be a solid enough groove for the rest of the band to follow.
Get Your Groove On – Make a Drum Beat.
If your drummer is inexperienced, a good idea would be to find a song similar in style and have him copy that basic beat. There are basic rock beats that will work with a lot of songs, they are used over an over in many different songs so don’t worry about stealing. Your drummer should add his own fills, usually before the verse/chorus change and vice versa. He can also vary it between the verse and chorus, by switching between hi-hat or ride.
For example here is a basic plain vanilla beat:
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Here it is with some 16th notes on the and of 4 in the snare:
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And now with an extra note on the “and” of 2 in the bass dr. and a 16th on the “a” of 4 in the snare:
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This is by no means the only beat, it’s just an example of how you can take a basic beat you like and spice it up.
Get Down Low – The Bass Guitar Part.
At first have the bass player play quarter or eighth notes on the roots of the chords, (A for an Am, G for Gmajor, etc.) once it’s locking with the drummer he can spice it up. This isn’t the only way to do it, but it would probably be easier with a new drummer for the guitar, bass and singer to get the song solid enough to play by yourselves. You should all learn songs by bands you like and play them together, this will give you ideas you can use for your own music.
Get a Song Example
Here’s one I did by myself, but I used the same basic process. This was written by request, somebody called AKA wanted a rock song, and provided the details. Not very interesting details, but you play the cards you’re dealt. I guess this also pops the bubble that you have to be “inspired” and write “from the heart”.
Here’s the guitar part (ignore the vocal bleed over):
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Here’s the basic drum part – it uses almost the same beat as above, but faster (there’s 4 measures of rest in the beginning):
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And here they are together:
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Now all you need is a bass part and you get this:
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Here’s the whole thing put together:
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The form of this song is:| 4 bar intro | verse | chorus | verse | chorus | chorus |
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