Songwriting Tips - Lyrics and Rhyme Techniques - Mike Lombardo

[magicpeach2011]

I know you're channel is about music, but you're just so effin gorgeous I just like looking at you.

[TheLeftylegend14]

rhyme is not something you should worry over when writing lyrics. too many people don't worry about the content and use tunnel vision with every line rhyming that is not good.

[IsaiahForPeace]

There Is a lot behind Anthony's lyrics. Read scar tissue, you'll know.

RHCP

[Brandon23Dillabough]

Thanks for the Vid you are an awesome singer and you caroline song is very catchy :) I love the lyrics :) well thought out!

[Daimionidas]

Thanks for the video man, you helped out alot!

[MASTERninja23z]

damn I'm immature i laughed when you said assss

[clappsadle]

brilliant



[skadderbrain]

nice hat

[BloodShotNow]

after I saw this video i really didn't classify rap as music anymore. It's just rhyming words that mass media pushes. but thats just my opinion

/watch?v=iul4SBlHIf8

[Featureman]

Most of the songs I write come along when I am not trying to write a song. I will overhear a phrase (Don't Tase Me Bro' or You Touch My Junk) and I begin writing from there. Other times I will write a letter or e-mail to someone and I will like one of the phrases and I begin there. Good video. Have fun writing.

[tulovin]

commy cap lol

[awesomeman462]

would it be smart to start writing as a poem?

[thelameass]

MAKE A VIDEO IN SPANISH, CAUSE I KNOW YOU SPEAK SPANISH

[MicahAlfaro]

pat pattsion class ha

im still wondering if i should take the berklee route, we'll see

[performingarts101]

if u wouldnt mind me asking, how do u go about writing a song? do u start with writing the lyrics then chosing a key, chords and then writing the melody? what order would u reccomend when writing a song? what is easier? or does it make a difference?

thank you!

[MikeLombardoMusic]

@performingarts101 You should be able to do all of them. It depends on the story you want to tell. If I have a developed story I will start with lyrics. Sometimes I start with a lyrical or melodic hook, sometimes an interesting riff.

[BloodShotNow]

@performingarts101 my #1 rule in writing songs is LISTEN TO THE BEATLES then LISTEN TO THE BEATLES THEN LISTEN TO THE BEATLES some more. remember they invented metal, progressive, psychadelic & hard rock... o ya they also sold the most albums of all time. Then Doodle on your guitar and live to play music. Play guitar like an addict and you will write beautiful songs.

[D00drebeau]

Its kind of a double rhyme, so one more time. dunno why i lol'd so much.

[Radiolobe]

when you were leaving math class ??!!

heres what ive been meaning to ask!!!

did this song fall out of your ass

or roll on the grass or are you sniffing gas?

sorry dude but cmon!

[skittlez0013]

i swear i've seen you before....but idk.

[DominicanPrinc3]

you like my sensei i swear thank you so much and yes rhyming,songwriting can be taught thank you

[theyellowyoshi]

Great video. I've never really been interested in composing my own music, but from the perspective of someone who loves listening to and performing music these are some interesting techniques that I'll be sure to listen from now on. I really hope you make more of these.

[cutemanedee]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of songwriting with us.

[bloberino95]

Song writing cannot be taught. It must be developed on your own. It's like teaching someone how to breath, you just cant teach it. Its something that naturally comes to you.

[MikeLombardoMusic]

@bloberino95 If it couldn't be taught, there wouldn't be any classes, books, or instructional videos. While some people exhibit more of a natural ability, it is absolutely something that can be improved and developed with study, education, and practice. Formal study of rhyme techniques, linguistics, harmonic tendencies, modes, melodic motifs, and prosody techniques all lead to better songwriting. So, sorry, that's incorrect.

[Desperate4Attentionx]

@MikeLombardoMusic I definitely agree. It's a combination of raw talent and also knowledge.

[RockingJamboree]

@bloberino95 Even breathing can be taught. Breath control is essential to singers. There is no magic to songwriting. Yes, you can develop natural talents on your own through trial and error. But why reinvent the wheel? Formal study isn't the be all and end all of songwriting, but it's a start. But like most anything, experience is the best teacher. Writing and rewriting and writing some more and then more after that will get you the farthest.

[mateuszgwozdz]

@bloberino95 what from what Mike said is impossible in your opinion to learn?? making rhymes? :)

[Wicked13Lovely]

Wow thanks, this really helped me! :)

[ElijasaurusRex]

Personally, I don't really agree with you here. Rhyming lyrics is great, and comes from a fine ancient tradition of orally transmitting poetry, but it doesn't have to. And sometimes it's better if it doesn't.

But my biggest concern is that you are focusing too much on beauty, not enough on meaning. You can write beautiful music, I've seen that, but you say here to purposefully throw out meaning? Seriously? That's just not cool, man. Art is a balance between the two, don't disregard one.

[MikeLombardoMusic]

@ElijasaurusRex I don't know what you mean by 'throw out meaning. All my lyrics have meaning. I'm a character writer. Story drives everything. And sometimes nonrhymes are great to accomplish certain things, but one should understand how rhyme works to be able to use that effectively. If you watch other vidoes you will see that I posted a song with no rhyming in it at all. I didn't make this stuff up either, it's pretty much standard by-the-book lyric writing technique.

[8Tails]

Wow, I had no idea people put so much thought into writing lyrics.

I have learned.

[tuffllee100]

Really great tips Mike, I've been wanting to write a song but i suck at lyrics and chorus and stuff  :P

[Minireb123]

wow thanks this really helped! You should continue this series lol

[YourFavoritePastime]

i'm the 1,000th veiwer! xD

do i get a prizeee ;p

[MikeLombardoMusic]

Yes, a bevy of great songwriting knowledge.

[blackhawkssd]

Wise beyond your years, well done :). Lots of great info.

[onthePILFside]

Thanks this video was really helpful!

I like to write and I've tried to write songs...

they don't always turn out so good.

>:DD

[joshyboy152]

Hey Mike where can I go online to learn what you've learnt?

[MikeLombardoMusic]

Unfortunately, you can't. Most of it is trade school stuff (why spend a bazillion dollars and four years getting a degree in songwriting if you could just do it online?) but you might want to check out one of my professor's websites: patpattison (dot) com.

-M

[joshyboy152]

thanks, I think I might buy his book. have you read it anygood?

[MikeLombardoMusic]

I used to have it, then that chick that the Herpes song is about stole it from me. If you're unfamiliar with the basic formal 'rules' of lyric writing technique, it will be extremely helpful to you. They're techniques that I don't usually rely upon myself, but usually something I fall back on if I'm stuck. You should check it out, though.

[joshyboy152]

what herpes song?

[MrJkca]

thanks, helped alot,

[jackshenker]

The more I watch this the more I realize this video is songwriting gold :)

[tazer40]

great insight ...!

[RockingJamboree]

You cover a lot of ground in just 9 minutes. Well done!

[drumschlag]

Haha, you said "ass."

[CarylCake]

Oh, how I long to attend a songwriting class. I did a whole music degree, and there was nothing like this in it. :P Thanks for sharing your knowledge. :)

[jackshenker]

So THAT's why your songs are so catchy... haha. Awesome information dude, can't wait to watch the melody and chord progression videos.

Rock on. \m/

[joyzaphinemusic]

Wow, lots of good techniques! Your really are a very talented songwriter. You know what you're talking about! Thanks for sharing that...

Makes me appreciate even more all the intentionality that goes into your songs... and makes me want to go back and look at how I can improve the songs I've written :o)