Song-a-week
Every Thursday a new theme is posted. We all spend the next week writing a new song. By Thursday we have our song as done as we can get it and then we post it here for everyone to hear. Your song does not need to use the provided theme, write about about whatever you want. The provided theme is just to get you started.
Basics:
We all write a song every week, or as often as you can manage.
A theme will be given each week, and your song can be in that theme… or not.
The theme is broad enough that musicians of all styles and genres can participate.
The song should be mostly or totally original.
We’re first and foremost here to develop our own songwriting skills.
Post your song by the following Wednesday before bed in the official thread.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to post every week?
A: Nope. You can alternate in and out as you like, but of course we’d love to see you post a song every week.
Q: I don’t know anything about music and/or songwriting but I want to learn. Where do I start?
A: musictheory.net, baby! If you don’t know how to play an instrument, then actually pick one up sometime, and then many times, again and again, and again and again and again! There’s also plenty of ways to make music with minimal musical knowledge, check out Fruity Loops, or GarageBand.
Q: Any general songwriting tips? I’m having trouble wrapping my head around this.
A: Read this or this or this. I say don’t think, do. Try and play something you’ve never heard before, and be fearless. I struggle with that last part, but I struggle less when I write music with friends.
Q: What if someone steals my song? It’s not copyrighted or anything and I’ve heard of that happening before.
A: Unless the song was written a very long time ago, you have a copyright on your song. Since the 1970s copyright has existed from the moment the ideas are represented in physical form (written words, musical notation, audio and/or video recording.) The difficulty is in enforcing that copyright. This is as far as we can (should) throw our uninformed advice… we are not lawyers.
Q: Do we have to write for the weekly theme or can we write whatever we want?
A: You can write whatever you want. The themes are both a starting point and a common idea. It’s fun hearing everyone’s take on a theme.
Q: If I miss the deadline for the week, can I post my song in the next week and call it Themed (from last week)?
A: No. A song post is only Themed if it conforms to the theme for the week that it’s posted in. You have two options - one, post it in the previous week’s post, or two, post it as a Not Themed song. Songs that are posted as Themed with the previous week’s theme will be removed. Just post it not themed… k?
Q: Can I collaborate on writing songs? Can I collaborate on recording and performing songs?
A: Yes, and yes. Writing and recording songs is the goal, however that works for you.
Q: In what format should I post my songs?
A: Whatever’s most convenient for you. Soundcloud, Youtube, Bandcamp, download file, whatever. As long as we can listen to it! Most people use Soundcloud, or Bandcamp.
Q: Are remixes and covers ok?
A: We prefer original content. A remix of a song with minimal new material is not really what this sub is about. A song written with samples and mostly indistinguishable from the source song is ok.
Q: What do you mean by “song?” Does it have to have lyrics?
A: Answered here. There’s an immeasurable range of “songs” in the world. 3 minutes of white noise probably isn’t a song though, unless you’re Yoko.
Q: Should I upvote or downvote songs I like or dislike?
A: No. This place is not about collecting upvotes, and nobody should ever touch the downvote. We write songs, we listen to each other’s songs, we encourage, and we offer constructive feedback. That is all we do.
Q: But I reeeeely reeeely want to upvote???
A: Then write a comment!! Tell whoever wrote that song that you loved that song!
Q: I can’t complete songs! How do I stay motivated?
A: Set yourself realistic goals. Make shorter, simpler songs. Get something to completion, then do a little better next week. The only thing standing in your way is yourself.
Q: Can I promote myself, by linking bandcamp, soundcloud, etc etc in the weekly song threads when I post my songs?
A: Unless someone specifically asks for more music, no. If you’re new and drop a link to your soundcloud, of course we’ll let that slide. Copy/pasting a huge blurb about yourself including externals links will result in a mute or ban, because it’s tiresome to moderate your posts every week. This is only for repeat offenders.
Q: Can I promote myself in a new thread, and linking my bandcamp, soundcloud, facebook, and other sites I put my music, if my music was mostly written as songaweek songs and I’ve released an album or EP?
A: Yes! If you’ve made an album or an EP, and some of that album or EP was from songaweek songs you posted, then feel free to make a new thread so we can have a good ol listen.