Help with song construction

[zakkfan25]

I am having alot of trouble here.... so u know my level of playing.... I play alot of ozzy... I know about every song on the first two CD's (big Randy fan) but I am starting to play my own stuff and I... dunno how to say it but I can come up with ne thing lol... I mean really I can't get ne thing good really.... and my soloing that I come up with myself is not that great... its got rythme and stuff but its not what I know it should be being able to play what I do... what should I learn or read to help me with this... I don't know a hella lot of theory cause alot I done on myself thru practice... help would be great.. Thanks in advance.

[Rocket17]

There are many things you could do. One of the first things I learned was just come up with 2 or 3 chords & solo over them using a relative scale. If you really don't know too much theory, cyberfret should help you there. You've probably read this (huge Randy fan here as well), but Randy used to get a loop of the section he was going to solo over, & sat there & experimented with different relative scales & modes. You could just experiment with those over a chord progression & se what you come up with. Hope this helps.

[zakkfan25]

Thanx man that does help... but I mean its hard for me to come up with just the song itself.. lol like the verses and chorus... but solo part aswell... ya I will come up with chords and then come up with a solos that is based around those power chords.... but I need to come up with sum good things for the song first ya know... how do u come up with the song itself when u are starting a new song?

[talldeke]

Originally posted by zakkfan25
Thanx man that does help... but I mean its hard for me to come up with just the song itself.. lol like the verses and chorus... but solo part aswell... ya I will come up with chords and then come up with a solos that is based around those power chords.... but I need to come up with sum good things for the song first ya know... how do u come up with the song itself when u are starting a new song?

First of all, studying theory will help you learn how to complete a song. To get started on the song, you really need to open for inspiration. If possible carry a mini-tape recorder around you wherever you go. If a melody pops in your head, sing or humm it into the recorder. Then when you get back to the guitar play it back as many times as you need to be able to play it on the guitar. It is also a good idea to keep a notebook and pencil/pen handy to jot down lyric/song ideas. You can't imagine how many great tunes where forgoten before they were ever started.
Also examine the parts of songs that you really look. What was going on there? How do the notes compare to the key? Can that idea be permuted and turned into something you can use?