Stuggling for songwriting!!!

i_am_a_wishlist

Hey everyone. I've been playing guitar for almost a year and today I've decided to make a real effort to write my own song. But I'm finiding it quite difficult. I've never had much music theory so I don't really know much about which chords go together or anything about keys. Anyway I threw some chords together to make a riff but it just keeps sounding like something I've heard before. I can't quite figure it out but I don't wanna go ripping off other people's stuff. The intro is a quick D C Bb Ab riff using bare chords. It sounds ok and Ive just started throwing togther stuff for other parts of the song. Any song writing advide would be great.

Also lyrically I'm struggling. I've got lots to write about just can't put words to paper that sound like they have real emotion. It usually ends up being some cheesey thing that sounds like a pop song. I'm sorta going through relationship trouble at the moment so that could influence it. I read though Soldier of Love and that's exactly how I feel in my relationship. I love her but she doesn't feel the same and dunno if it's gonna last much longer. So should I get out the Thesaurus and look for some more complicated words?

Thanks for any help fellow Jammers. You guys rock.

Boom The Cat

its the music that makes it a cheesy pop song, so if you stick to something that doesnt represent pop at all, you wont get that effect.

as for the words, try and do a linking game..so if it was soldier of love, you do things that remind you of whatevers in the title

e.g

SOLDIER OF LOVE

soldier - war - fighting "I'm fighting for your love" etc.

go with that, it helps if you hit a writers block.

danielheyes

Once its all put together sometimes it doesnt sound as cheesy as when you look at the two singularly. Just make stuff up and if you have a four track or anything put it down and then start making changes. Thats how it works for me anyhoo!!!

Good luck man..........:)