More Questions and Answers

Q: Hi (…) I like writing song but I never know what to write about besides sex and drugs, what do you think I should do, is there some sort of secret to being a good songwriter? Help me Please.

A: Nothing wrong with sex and drugs… But if you want to write about something else, the trick is to get really in touch with your emotions. I know, it’s not supposed to be a guy thing, but it does work.

That’s the basic thing about songwriting. Given time, everyone can write a song. Not everyone can write a good one, though. The more in touch you are with your emotions, the better it gets.

Odds are you won’t write a “great” song right away, although it may happen, but the more you write, the better your songs will get. It’s basically time and effort.

As for the subjects, find out what makes you tick (other than sex and drugs, that is). If you happen to see something while at work/school, while at lunch, something on TV, a story a friend tells you that you find funny or different, use that as the subject for your song.

I give a lot of advice on that in my first column So you want to be a songwriter? if you haven’t already read it. You’ll also find a list of columns on the songwriting page.

Q: I loved your article thank you so much. I was wondering I write lots of lyrics but how do I write music. I play guitar(I am one of those that learned all the theory and have no clue what to do now). Every time I play the i-iv-v- progression it sounds the same. What do I do?

I really like U2 Oasis like pop-rock how do I write stuff like that and make it “unique”?

A: Thanks for writing and for the kind comment.

When it comes to songwriting, it’s a matter of leaving theory a little behind. Rather than following progressions you’ve learned, it’s more a question of going with your instincts and feelings.

Start with one chord, strumming it in a particular pattern, or picking it, or strumming and picking, whatever you feel like at the moment. Listen to it, to what it’s telling you. Then, from that, go to a second chord which will, to you, feel right. Then you build on top of that, add more.

You see, theory is a good thing, but writing means that you have to play according to what YOU feel. Theory is more general and less adaptive.

The theory part will serve in putting the piece on paper and adding other instruments, etc, but you pretty much have to put most of it behind when writing.

With theory, there are rights and wrongs, with writing, there are none. Nothing you write can be wrong (no pun intended). It just has to FEEL write for you.

Here are a couple of exchanges with one girl who had a very sexy name.

Q1: Hi I just read your article on writing songs, it was really good. The thing is, I don’t have problems writing songs, they just flow out and usually work, if not I just piece together bits of poetry I have written, mostly garbage, but whatever. Anyway, my problem is that I am shy, I mean, I have a pretty good voice and I know it, but I’m so shy that if I have to sing with or in front of people, I sing rather quietly. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions for me, like should I just forget about it, or go get singing lessons, or what! Thanks for listening to my rambling! Write me back if you have the time.

A1: Thanks for writing in.

I know where you’re coming from, I’m very much the same way.

As far as quitting goes: If this is not something you really want to do, if you think it’s a waste of time, then why do it?

If, however, it’s something you really want to do, then there are many ways to go around this.

First, singing lessons: I will never be able to say enough good about singing lessons. Once you’ve been in there a month, you see improvements immediately and you start noticing who the professionals are that never took lessons. Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues has been singing for over 30 years and still makes very basic mistakes. Stuff that you learn about in lesson #1.

After about 3 months, I’d gained half an octave!!!

So do take lessons, but not by just anyone. Try and find someone who will build the lessons around your own songs rather than around a rigid curriculum.

If your teacher is honest, he/she will tell you what you can and can’t do with your voice.

Singing in front of the teacher every week will also help build up your confidence. It will then be easier (but never quite easy) to sing in front of people.

All you really need is self confidence.

Myself, I find it a lot easier to sing in front of 400 people than to sing in front of 5 or 10 people. Go figure…

But singing in front of a large group creates an extraordinary atmosphere. Some people say it’s better than sex. I wouldn’t say that because it’s very different, but it’s something you can’t get anywhere else. It’s a drug in itself.

A few other tips you might be interested in:

If you wear glasses or contacts, don’t wear them when singing in front of people. If you don’t see them too clearly, you won’t be so self-conscious. Stevie Nicks has very important eyesight problems. She decided not to wear her glasses on stage in the days of Fleetwood Mac simply because of the look. She realized she couldn’t see anyone clearly and it took off some of the shyness.

I don’t know whether you have any stage experience. If not, when you’re on stage, the lights are pointing at you, so you can barely see the people in the crowd. You see heads and that’s all. That greatly helps.

Overall, I’d say try to be less self-conscious. It’s not easy and you may never be able to do it completely, that’s OK. But every little bit helps.

A lot of artists have little quirks. They will carry a special item with them on stage. Vanessa Mae has to step into a puddle of water before going on stage. This sounds like superstition, but in fact it’s just a way of diverting the attention from their shyness.

Most singers can never get rid of it completely, but they do a combination of things like that that help.

Myself, I try as much as possible not to sing in front of a small group. I don’t even mention to them that I’m a singer.

If you’re playing with a band, the first few times you might be shy, but as you build the relationship with these people, you should gain more confidence and it should go away. If you don’t play with a band, perhaps you should do so. It will also help build your confidence.

Look is much more important than a great voice. Celine Dion would be nowhere if she weighed 200 lbs. Not that the listeners are superficial, but the people willing to pay you to sing are. So get a personal look (not something that you see everywhere, remain yourself), but add some superficiality to it. I’m talking here about your look when you go on stage or meet with people in the business.

It’s unfortunate, but it’s the truth.

Don’t change your name: It will work for you as it sounds very sexy. (I’m not making a pass at you or trying to harass you, I’m just telling you a simple fact). It’s psychological, but it will work in your favor.

Q2: Hi A-J, Thanks a lot for writing me back! I appreciate it. I hope with time I will overcome my shyness. I think I will try out some singing lessons, it should help me a bit. Thanks again for writing me back. If you have any more tips for a girl that’s just starting out, please let me know!

Ciao!

A2: Glad you didn’t prefer the “I quit” route…

Well, something I forgot to mention about the singing lessons: Most teachers will recommend half hour courses for various reasons, take a full hour instead, once a week. You’ll be improving not twice as fast, but at least 3 times as fast.

Be ready for rough times ahead. An overnight success simply means that the public in general, has not heard of the person before. Overnight successes take 5, 10 years to happen. A long night…

There will be times when you will want to quit. Those will be the times that will put your determination to the test. If this is what you really want to do, you have to roll up your sleeves and work twice as hard. It’s not an easy road, but following your dreams is never easy, but the rewards make it worthwhile.

There are no shortcuts. But the shortest route is by meeting the right people at the right time. If you’re sitting in the Dentist’s waiting room and you happen to be sitting beside a talent hunter for Sony, talk to him. If you don’t have a demo you can send him the same day or within a week, don’t tell him you can send him one. Tell him you’re working on one and ask how to proceed once it’s done. Don’t burn your bridges by making promises you can’t keep: People have long memories in this business.

Musicians you’ll play with can be either assets or they can drag you down. Work with the right people. Same for agents, press, photographers, producers, publishers, etc. Work ONLY with people who like what you do and believe in YOU.

Anybody you work with who has the slightest doubts as to your abilities will not make the extra efforts to help you.

The opposite is also true: If you’re working with a bass player who’s been with for 5 years and a record company gets interested in you but want you to use another bass player: don’t. Don’t let go of those who are assets.

Don’t let go of someone who’s not in the biz, but has been supportive of you through the years.

If you have trouble writing a song and someone helps you by making an important contribution, offer him/her a co-writing credit. Put it in writing immediately, this person is much more susceptible to help you in the future instead of trying to sue you.

Alcohol and drugs are part of the game. Just be careful of forming a habit, these could ruin your chances at a career IF you abuse them. Take them or not is your choice-and your’s alone-but just be careful not to overdue them.

Listen to what others have to say, but don’t necessarily do everything they suggest: You are the artist, not them!

Take a break, a vacation every once in a while. It does good to stop for a few days and re-energize. Don’t stop for more than a few days, you run a high risk of never going back. It’s so much easier to stop.

Don’t be afraid to tell people this is what you want to do. Those who don’t take you seriously, you leave behind. Those who do, you keep close. But it’s good to have one or two doubters around. These people help to give you a bit of a reality check. And you tend to set more goals, just to show them. Contrarily to most people, I find this attitude can be most productive.

If you haven’t already, read my column on attitude (I won’t have to rewrite it all here: Inflating The Ego). It’s important to know just how important attitude is.

Don’t be afraid to approach people and ask them to listen to your material. If you’re like me, you won’t like to be around when they do, but once you have a demo, make a lot of copies and distribute them. You should make a rough demo as soon as you can (even if it’s just voice and guitar) and distribute that to friends, family, etc (don’t be afraid to ask columnist, professionals, etc to give it a listen) and get opinions- honest ones. Use their comments to make a second one. Then a third, etc. This is just good experience.

In October (as Guitar Noise will not be updated in September) I’ll be publishing an interview with British Progressive Rock band Pendragon. Doesn’t matter that you’ve never heard of them. Even if you did and don’t like their music, the interview is worth reading. Especially when they start talking of how difficult it has been for them. A very inspiring piece!

Last and not least: ALWAYS REMAIN TRUE TO YOURSELF.

Do the music you want to do and do it your way. If someone suggests you take out a guitar track and replace it with a violin track, that’s usually not a big deal. If someone says you should get rid of the guitars altogether and replace them with synthesizers and use beat boxes instead of drums, that’s another thing.

If you don’t like what you’re doing, you’ll never make it.

Well, that’s just off the top of my head. If you have anymore questions (today, tomorrow, next month, next year…) don’t hesitate to write me, it’s always a pleasure to lend a hand. If you’d like an opinion, same thing.

Oh, and one last thing, when you go up on stage to pick up your first Grammy or whatever award, say hi!