[Artifiseer]

For those of you who incorporate original lyrics in your tracks, what's your process like, in regards to the lyrics? I only ask because I am currently sitting on about 40 minutes of music that I had planned to put lyrics to, and it's proving quite difficult. I had pages upon pages of lyrics written, only to find that none of them really fit any of the tracks, so I think maybe a change of pace, or examining things from a different angle might be just what I need, I'm just at a loss as to what to try.

[mimicry]

A line or two just start looping in my head with the melody and I go from that. Writing something and then trying to fit it in a random song only works when the lyrics have a really simple rhythmic structure. I suggest you incorporate lyrics/vocals as early as you can in the writing process, not as an afterthought. Think of lyrics as a musical element as well, the rhythm, natural melody and the sound of the words you're using.

For inspiration, I keep a dream diary, do object writing exercises and try to sing a lot so I feel comfortable testing out my ideas.

[Numerical]

I write tons and tons of prose, or poetry or whatever it's called, just ideas, in Notepad or if I'm not home on paper, and then when I attach lyrics to a song I dont see if they fit, I'll fit them by editing words or changing it around, using different parts from different songs. Sometimes a better song will come out of it by being abstract and not thinking linearly.

[Artifiseer]

Makes sense, thanks guys. I had originally intended to write the lyrics during the writing of the track, so that I wouldn't be in this predicament, but since that didn't happen, I guess I'll just have to sit down and keep plugging away at it.

[Numerical]

Also good to keep a thesaurus handy, saved my ass plenty of times trying to think of new ways to say old things.

[mimicry]

Yeah, speaking about nice tools, check out VersePerfect, a free rhyming dictionary with some other handy features.

[manitou]

Originally Posted by Artifiseer

I had pages upon pages of lyrics written, only to find that none of them really fit any of the tracks,

Ah..ha!

I've had the same problem.
And my solution was to write the lyrics first.
It will then dictate what kind of music would be appropriate.
Slow and sad?...slow and perverted?
upbeat and happy?...upbeat and violent?

You will know.

For me, music is the backdrop...or a ''supporting actor''.
It's Batman's cape!

[manitou]

..And!

will you be capable to write catchy vocal melodies?

uh oh!

Well, I've had that problem!
I could write ''ear candy'' melodies with instruments..
but when it came time to add....the vox...wow that was bad.
I was somehow distracted by the other melodies going on.

So, now I write lyrics first.
Then I'll grab the guitar or piano and play very simple chords and rhythms.
Boom! catchy voices I hear!
and then, I'll build upon that...adding good guitar riffs/prog/keys and whatnot.

That's what works for me.

[PeterBeckhart]

I always loop the part of the track that I need to add vocals too and sing whatever comes to my head. Usually you'll come up with 1 or 2 lines that sound decent, then work around that. Words that flow together with the piece are honestly more important than complex words that don't quite flow well

[Crude_beats]

I normally start out with having the music done. If I dont feel the music I cant really motivate myself to sing and write lyrics to it.

I might start with improvising something over the music. Sometimes its more rhythm and less words. Like wah wah wooo za wa ze. type of stuff. Then I build on that. Or its actual phrases that come into mind while improvising. Or I had a phrase in mind that I try and fit to the music. Then I build on that write a whole lyrics. Then I improvise this over the music several times in different ways. Then I keep the parts I like and build on them.

melody usually just comes by itself. Or I might have a synth line in the project that I use for base as the melody, then I remove the synth.

[Hit Girl]

The points everyone has already made are absolutely true: lyrics as soon as you can in the writing process, rhyming dictionary if you want rhyme, others.

I find that if I'm not writing lyrics as I go for my own work, and I have to place lyrics in a finished track, I listen to it and hear the story the music is telling. That helps with lyric subject matter and/or feel.

Also, in that scenario, leave you mic on and just play through the track, recording every idea you hear and sing. Go back and find the ones you like, integrate them together for melody.

[carlgrace]

Originally Posted by Hit Girl

Also, in that scenario, leave you mic on and just play through the track, recording every idea you hear and sing. Go back and find the ones you like, integrate them together for melody.

This is a good idea. Especially when you're trying to fill in holes in a mostly written lyric.

I write lyrics constantly, so when I need lyrics for a song I usually have a lot of raw material to use, but it never EXACTLY fits. So, I put the verse on loop and sing the lyrics over and over experimenting with new phrases or tweaks or inflections. Then I update the lyric. This saves me a lot of time.

I also have a Google Doc with my lyrics that I add to whenever I can. When I'm at work I scribble some lyrics onto a piece of paper which then is typed into my Google Doc. I can't tell you how many times this has saved me. I used to come up with great lyrical ideas only to forget them. I do this much less now.