Does anyone have tips for songwriting?

Thanks. The only problem is, I find it really hard to write words before music. I usually come up with some chords and then put words to that.

I've got lots of bits of paper on my desk with a couple of lines, and others with chord progressions on, it's all a case of matching them up. Worry not, you'll get there.

Phill

As several have already said, there are a lot of different ways to skin a cat.  About 90% of my songs start with a "Hook" - the catchy phrase or primary subject of the song which becomes part of the chorus and which I also usually put in the title.  Once I've established the hook or focal point, all the verses and the story of the song supports the hook. I try to find words that rhyme with the primary accent word of the hook.  Its during this phase I usually work out the rhyming scheme, such as ABAB (end of A lines rhyme, end of B lines rhyme) or maybe AABB, ACBC, etc.  I usually shoot for a different rhyme scheme for the verses and chorus, but that's not set in stone.  By the time I get a couple verses written I begin to get a feel for the meter and rhythm of the song and try to ensure the prosody is correct.  I'll sometimes switch to all minor chords for a sad song, etc.  Sometimes I find a phrase in a verse I've written is stronger than my hook line and the new phrase becomes the hook and the old hook becomes part of a verse. Its more of a craft rather than an art.

I keep a "hook book" in which I jot down phrases I hear, things that I overhear people say, comments or headlines on the internet or local paper - anything or subject I think would make an interesting song later.  I usually drag out the book when I'm in a "writing mood" to see if there is anything that jumps out at me.  About 10% of the time after coming up with an interesting little chord progression or lick, I find a hook in my book that seems to fit the mood of the guitar riff and I start that way. - Its all good.  I should also mention that most of my songs would be considered country/Americana in which the story is the primary objective rather than rock-style songs in which the beat and rhythm are considered more important than the lyrics - I'm guessing most rock songs begin with the music instead of the lyrics.

I always worked a lot of crosswords, sudokus and other puzzles and have found that I may not finish a puzzle I started in the morning, but for some reason the answers come easy in the evening, and vice-versa.  I've experimented somewhat and wrote songs at different times of the day as my brain seems to work differently at different times.  I tend to favor the songs I've written in the morning but that may be because I'm basically a morning person. My favorite writing method is to be out on the road driving early in the morning with the radio turned off and my mind making up songs to keep my brain busy.

Having hung out with some NSAI songwriters for a couple years, I'm alsways amazed at the variety of methods used by different folks.

DE

No songs don't have to rhyme, It's called Free Verse. Many people use it. There's lots of good sharing of info here. Remember there is not a hard set rules.If you like it and it sounds good and your delivery is smooth the song will be good. I've used all of these methods at one time or another.I think most people end up with more than one method if they write numerous songs.
You can't force them , they work their way out on their own.
One thing I do is pick a title or story line. Think of a picture and write down all you see in that picture.Write down anything that comes to mind about that. It can be a word or a line. It doesn't have to thyme or make sense, just write the ideas. After you get a page or so with enough written down let it soak in your mind for awhile. Soon Verses will start to come to mind ,write those down and keep thinking about what you want to say. Think about your chorus if you want one, You don't really need a chorus (Free Verse).
Investigate other songs you like and pick them apart as to how you think they were written. Don't get stuck on someone elese's song content. Look at how the song is formed: Verses/chorus/bridge. Chord patterns or lack of chords and pauses in a song.
A rhyming dictionary can be helpful also.
Good luck and have fun with it. Oh yeah, it's okay if you don't finish it for months or years . We all have unfinished songs sitting around waiting to be completed.

  Joe

most pros , from what I see on documentrys have the music first then listen to it and fill in the words.  I however seem to be a word guy first so I get the feel of where the music needs to go.

If you watch you tube, go to the mettalica some kind ov monster doc. you can skip the first 3 or 4 parts and get the stuff where they are in the studio.  they lay down riffs and then sit around and write the words.  oh herei it is,, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXofbkCE … ure=relmfu    at 3:16

I'd like to add this. Keep writing songs no matter how good or bad you think they'll be. The more you write the better your songs will get. Not every one you write is going to be the best . Keep on writing and soon each one will feel better than the previous one. You will develop as a writer. It can be frustrating ,but very rewarding.

  Joe

It's interesting, some days I write a great song in 20 minutes, other times I spend a few days trying to song, which usually turns out to be worse. It's really important to have inspiration, when you have to spend time desperately trying to think of a subject, it won't work.