Songwriting?

robinhood · Post by **robinhood** » Wednesday Apr 30, 2014

Hey all, not sure how "alive" this site is anymore, it has been quite sometime since I have been on here due to being crazy busy, but school is almost ALL over for me..WOOHOO! With that being said, I would like to spend more time on my music, especially when it comes to writing...it seems a bit daunting being a bassplayer and not the typical guitar player writing, but any bass players have advice for me? I've been playing bass for almost 5ish years now and I can be better than where I am now skill level wise, but I hope to expand when I have more free time. I love almost any genre of music other than rap (can't really play that stuff on bass anyway) and I would have to say my top 3 bass player INFLUENCES (trust me I love a lot more!) would be Steve Harris, Tommy Shannon, and JPJ. I know that is a big stretch but I like to play about anything. Advice would be very well appreciated

-bethany

p.s. Root and the Fifths...check us out!

Sapo · Post by **Sapo** » Wednesday Apr 30, 2014

When I first got into songwriting I converted a bass to piccolo tuning. It gave me the guitar register in a familiar instrument. It worked great for me. Later I just started playing guitar but I still think the piccolo bass brings something unique to the table.

MistValkyrie · Post by **MistValkyrie** » Wednesday Apr 30, 2014

I don't actually do a lot of music writing, but having a background in piano (I play bass primarily) helps so much because you can work out guitar and bass lines together in a visually less confusing (for me personally) format without having to switch instruments. I always tell people that have kids who want to be multi-instrumentalists to start them on piano and they can bloom in whatever direction from there, it's insanely helpful.

Don Hughes · Post by **Don Hughes** » Wednesday Apr 30, 2014

Songwriting is a very personal thing. Write for yourself. Whatever it is you happen to write, be open to what it may become.

The few songs that I have written, sometimes what is originally in my head turns out completely different in the finished product. As long as YOU are happy with the song, then that's all that matters.

The hardest part is getting the idea in your head, but not having paper or a recorder or anything to get the idea on something... thank god the ipod touch has a mic built in so I can hum the idea into it till I get to my piano.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday May 01, 2014

I echo Sue's sentiments about using the piano as a composition instrument. The guitar is also a good writing tool as well. You don't have to be a monster on either one to write good songs. However, it really helps to have some sort of harmony instrument for writing.

When it comes to writing bass lines, I always ask myself, "WWSPMD?" That is, What Would Sir Paul McCartney Do? I've always liked his approach of a place for every note and every note in its place. I like bass lines that fit within the context of the song, and while Sheehan- and Wooten-like riffing is cool, at the end of the day, you want something that is going to propel the song forward in some sort of rhythmically and harmonically interesting way.

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Thursday May 01, 2014

A good way to get a grasp on songwriting is to break a song down to its most basic elements. Listen to some songs you like and learn the chord changes. Don't worry what any particular instrument is doing, just pay attention to the overall changes, just the root notes. Then work out the vocal melody on your instrument and see how it relates to the changes. The voice is just another instrument.

And you can write songs by going in the opposite direction... Start with a basic chord structure and write a melody over it. Everything else is filling in the spaces. Which is the really fun part, you can take it wherever you want from there.

Definitely look into some sort of app to record your ideas, a musical notepad. I can't recommend GarageBand highly enough for throwing together basic arrangements. It's cheap, it's easy, it's fun.

Pedro Mota · Post by **Pedro Mota** » Wednesday Jul 02, 2014

About Songwriting...

Song writing can be a tough job i found it to be easier IF i know what type of progressions i wanted

The progressions will be the skeleton of the music itself.

Regardless of the genre you want to play break you music down to the scales that sound like you want,Then just start filling them with your personal Touch.

Hope it helps have a good Day

Pedro