How To Write A Song - Part 3 - Writing Lyrics

In the previous part in the How To Write A Song-series we talked about turning inspiration into a song, letting your emotion guide you, being authentic and we got into song structures and what meaning each part has.

In this post we're going to dig into the lyrical parts of songwriting. Music, melodies and rhythms are great at conveying emotions but lacks a way to get thoughts and words across, so let's see what ways there are to write great lyrics.

How To Write A Song - Part 2 - Turning Inspiration Into a Song

In the previous part in this series we talked about the creative process, how to get inspired, authenticity and establishing a goal for the song.

Now we're moving on to more hands on songwriting. Once you have your goal and have been inspired to start writing there are numerous ways forward to making that song really great. I'm going to explore some of these with you in this post.

How To Write A Song - Part 1 - Your Goal

In the introduction to this series I talked a little bit about the overall aspects of songwriting, now I will delve into it in finer detail. First off is preparing and finding a start to the creative process.

Creative process?
Yes, because this is what it ultimately is about. Creation of a song. Creation of art. Creation of that inner something (thought or feeling) that wants to come out and manifest itself through music.


It can be hard to get inspired on demand (in that little time you had cut out to work on this new song) so always be ready with your notebook, guitar, recording device or whatever you use to plot down ideas. You don't want to miss out when inspiration strikes as you never know when it will strike again.

I remember many times where I've been in a place and time where I didn't have the tools to transfer my inspiration into a format that lasts when my memory doesn't. Don't do that same mistake. Sometimes it comes back and sometimes it doesn't. But why take a chance.

How To Write A Song - Series

I'd like to share my perspective on how to write a song. How to pull together life experiences, melodies, mixing of styles, emotions, impress by technique etc. into a song that will move listeners. I don't have any golden recipe or a scientific method but I feel I have a few thoughts to share with you that might help as a guide in your creative process. It's such an amazing thing that we can put our feelings and thoughts into music and I don't want to squander the magnificence of it too much, but I want to break it down to provide some tools that you can use in your own songwriting.

This will be a "How to write a song" series divided into parts. Stay tuned for part one which will be about setting your goals for the song, finding out who you're writing for, why you want to write the song and create a framework around the project making it way easier to move forward and be creative.

Either press "Follow" at the top of the screen, subscribe to the rss feed and/or join the facebook page to get an automatic update when the next part comes out.

Below I will be posting links to each part:
Part 1 - Your Goal
Part 2 - Turning Inspiration Into a Song

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

May Album Update

Steadily we tread forward on the path of completion of the album. We're focusing on getting Through Your Eyes into finished state before we put too much energy on the other tunes and we're pretty close in having a sound I really like.

While I had another full sound scape in my head when I wrote the song, this has turned out to be something more powerful than I thought I could make.

In this blog post you will get the benefit of hearing a preview of where we are at the moment as well as a few words on the process of the recording sessions.

February Album Update

The recording at the studio continues. Currently we're mainly focusing on the three songs New Year's Eve, Magic Carpet and Through Your Eyes. In the end we're looking at over an hour of music for this full length album.

 

January Album Update

And so the work with the debut album took another spurt as I switched to the Beyond The Beat studio at Woodbine Ave and Kingston Road. David MacKenzie is working with me as engineer and co-producer. The aim is now set higher and includes 11 full blown studio tracks. Close to an hour of original music.

Spotlight: Peirson Ross

From time to time I feel that I need to spread the word when I find great artists, and through this blog I will put the spotlight on them. I hope you enjoy it.

The first to hit the spotlight is the folk musician Peirson Ross from Toronto.

Peirson's music comes and grabs your attention through thoughtful lyrics, a soothing yet energetic voice and experimental musical settings. I first heard of him through a common friend on the disc golf scene and caught a show in the back room of Rivoli in Toronto. His presence made a big impact on me and he was a great inspiration for me to dig deeper into my own musical path.

Releasing 3 new studio tracks

Yes, it's true, they are out!

After months of producing, writing, recording and mixing they are finally a click away from your ears.

You can listen to them all on VideGeiger.com (if this link doesn't work, try VideWiberg.com in the meantime) for free. Both Brown Grass and Sinking Ship are free to download and the single Stones is available in the store and is being distributed on the major music sites online (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.), this usually takes a few weeks.

New Artist Name: Vide Geiger

Before I put my name on my record and digital distributions, on other's recordings, before the baby arrives and me and my lovely partner get a common name, I've decided to change my artist name to Vide Geiger.


Why now? I don't want to wait until after my music has been distributed and go through the pain of having to change the distributed name.

Album update 2 - In the studio

Arriving at the studio Dan's Pet Shop with two guitars, some gear and a busy schedule I entered this cozy dim lit studio welcomed by Wheels and a big snake (yes, fortunately in a terrarium). I felt right at home with all the instruments hanging on the walls, the rooms of recording equipment and a leather couch to rest a few hairy legs in.

Album update 1

The story of recording my first CD has been going on for a while, actually the planning started October last year (2009) and after that the preproduction started. I brought material (my songs) to Peirson Ross who co-produce with me, working on minor changes to the songs to make them ready for release, recorded the guitar and vocal tracks and added some harmonies. The songs I recorded were Brown Grass, Stones and Sinking Ship.