(slightly off-topic): Songwriting help

[Delirium]

(NOTE: i know this thread isnt really "tab discussion" but it's guitar related and most of you here would play guitar so yeah)

I've come to the point in my guitar ability that i am very comfortable with how i can play technically, so now, i've been wanting to write a song (no words, just instrumental). And im finding it really hard to express myself musically. Whenever i try to write something i can never come up with anything, it gets really frustrating

i can write little riffs/licks that are based around scales that sound pretty cool, but songs need a melody that continues all through it and that's where i really need help, i dont really know where to start... i know no music theory, so maybe that would help.

So is there any advice you guys can give me?

[Troy Dann]

im a self-taught guitarist but i learn piano and have got grade 5 theory behind me so.... heres my input

you should learn SOME theory... it does help with what progressions to do and what sounds good and stuff


secondly with the song writing, what i do is take a random chord, and work on it, see what fits with it, (this is where the theory comes in handy so you know what does fit) and so on

hope that helps

Dan

[Seasick]

There's some good songwriting lessons on the internet.

www.cyberfret.com/misc-wisdom/creativity-and-expression/part1/index.php

www.cyberfret.com/misc-wisdom/creativity-and-expression/part2/index.php

There's a few to get you started