Part 1: Choose a Style!
Now you might think that writing to a perticular sound is difficult, not really. For example if your writing oz rock, or slushy stuff its all powerchords of the three finger design, on the bottom four strings. Blues can be anywhere really, but is all constructed of two finger chord or powerchords, and is generally slower. Pop (If you like this crap) is all chords for rhythm. The other genres I'll write a lesson on in detail if you email my account or leave me a message asking me to.
Part 2: Writing The Rhythm Section!
Very very easy part for rock songs, depending on the speed that you choose. I'll give an example just randomly as I'm sitting here writing this...
U=Upstroke
D=Downstoke
D D D DDU D
|-----------|
|-----------|
|------9----|
|2-7-9-999-7|
|2-7-9-799-7|
|0-5-7--77-5|
Now we just built a little oz rock intro piece from 4 powerchords..not bad. so were do we go...?
Well first I'll tell you how to do the same as I just did. Tap a rhythm, like a drummer, on something and then find the powerchords by the process of trail and error. HINT; If your writing oz rock rhythm generally starts on the E chords, the top of an accord or if your playing a high song, it's the top of a D. Airbourne actually go up and down this starting block in their song Runnin' Wild, and AC/DC use a bit of it in Rock'n'Roll Train.
Now for the verse rhythm..
Look at what you've written so far, looks nothing like my example. (I hope otherwise this lesson if F****d.) Anway, the key to rhythm is that it only changes slighty. For example my intro becomes;
D D DUDU D
|----------|
|----------|
|----77----|
|2-7-7799-7|
|2-7-5599-7|
|0-5---77-5|
Just change what you've already writen to alter the speed or sound and you've got your verse. Doesn't matter about words yet, or any other instrimental sections, your halfway there....
Chorus should also be easy to write, just edit what you've just written for your verse a bit.
D DDUDUD D
|----------|
|----------|
|2-7--999-7|
|2-777777-7|
|0-577777-5|
|---55-----|
The editing should be easy but if it takes you a while don't worry, I was like that once. If you can't get a feel on what your playing, learn something from that genre and then come back...Works for me.
Part 3:What to write next?
You have a pretty much open field from which to choose which instriment to write next. I'll do Bass. First off all, if you actually own a Base skip this next part of the lesson until I finish the next paragraph on how to write Bass with out a Bass.
Ironically the only real difference between a Bass and an acoustic guitar is that a Bass doesn't have the two top strings. Eg:
|No
|No
|Yes but higher than bass
|Yes but higher than bass
|Yes but higher than bass
|Yes but higher than bass
So Basically to write Bass you have to launch your pick and thumb play. It dampens the sound a bit so its more Bass like. Play the bottom for strings like a Bass to match it up with rhythm, for example my Bass is...
|--------------|
|--------------|
|--------------|
|9999-5555-7772|
Make sure your Bass rhythm is nicely lcoking with your rhythm guitar otherwise its just an Epic fail. Hint; Bass isn't a fast instriment, as much as it is a repetitave one.
Still having problems? Well keep tryign and if your still struggling message me...
Anyway...
Part 4: Drums?!?
I really really hate writing Drums, cause I play lots of lead guitar that has no rhythm to it really. So my advice, read this section and give it a go, or find a drummer, cause they can hear a song and instantly come up with a beat, its amazing, truly.
If you own a drum kit go on it, play arounde and I guarentee that you should be able to write something. If not, like me, go online and use one of those crappy application drumkits and just scope the sound of it. Tehn if you don't know how to tab drums, (Like me again), just label every drum a letter and use that letter to tab until you find out how. The nice thing about drums is that they can change instantly in a recording studio or in a practice room. You pretty much do anything with them so don't worry if you haven't got anythign when you get yourself or your band to that point.
Part 5: Lead!
Now for something I know a lot about. When writing lead it helps if you knwo all the rules and mathematics a guitar. If not, learn classical gas, or jsut look at the tab and you'll understand what I'm on about, for instance my lead comes in during the chorus..
|17-15-12--12-15-17-15-12|
|--------15--------------|
|------------------------|
|------------------------|
|------------------------|
|------------------------|
It's a nice little bluesy piece as a play over, and this is the most important thing for lead writing...Make SURE it stands out!
Finally when you play it now it should be a decent track, and, for information on how to write a solo, please feel free to read my upcoming lessons.
The same goes for lyrics,
thank you for reading again,
Matt Travis
/ my profile 
