Song Writing

[YouEnjoyMyReba]

So I've been on a nice little songwriting kick lately and have been really satisfied with what I've got.  The only problem I'm having is writing what I guess would be called bridges.  I know absolutely no music theory and am going totally on just what im hearing in my head.  I'm having no problem writing verses, choruses and jams, but am having trouble segueing each part into another.  Anybody have experience with this or could offer some tips that would help?

[fluffhead4020]

I suppose if you want to link a verse to a chorus, you could have a "build-up bridge". Where you could possibly go up chromatically or whatever. Or have a key change for a phrase, then return into the verse or chorus. It'd be kind of hard to verbally help you out without hearing what you already have written, but I hope this helps.

[Happyorange27]

If you are trying to get the chords or the verse and the chorus to match better, and be more seamless, check to see if the key is the same between them or different.  If they are different (Like verse in C and Chorus in A for example) then maybe change the key of one element to get a nice transition so that they are the same.  With that said, sometimes a completely different key is cool for a chorus, but you have to like it.

As far as a bridge, there is no shame in studying other songs you like to see what they do.  Sometimes it's just a coulple of other chords in the mode that move around for 8 or 16 bars.  If you are playing in the key of C, then these are your availbable chords: C Dm Em F G Am Bdim.   Again, these are only suggestions.  So here is a fake song I just made up in my head. 

Verse: F C Am G
Chorus: G Em C D (see i change key) but still not wacky
Bridge: Bm G Bm G Bm E (another change) 
or staying in C try
Bridge: C Am Dm G

I hope this helps you.  Songwriting is an art that takes practice.  It will get better with experience.

[Poster]

eat mescaline.

[Walker done done]

eat mescaline.

hey buddy 

[beebs]

Remember that it will sound a lot more fluid with a drummer that can provide a nice fill when switching musical ideas.

[fulltone1989]

ii V I progressions can hop you right into a different key whenever you want, or provide a nice sequence to a bridge or whatever you want. Feel free to PM me for an explanation, as I don't have a guitar in front of me (lame excuse I know but I'm very visual when it comes to that sort of thing_