5 Tips for Writing Better Lyrics - with Fred Mascherino

[@JohnnyUtah488]

I'm continually amazed by lyricists that can tell a story and evoke so much emotion with only a few simple lines. They seem so natural and obvious after the fact, but I could never come up with it!

[@3rdStageTruth]

Your mention of a thesaurus is good. I’ve also found that googling “words that rhyme with...” such n such word also helps formulate ideas and facilitate connections that I otherwise wouldn’t have thought of. I remember doing that with “alone”. I found the word “bone”. From their I created an image in my mind to correlate the two: “and what we currently are Alone So much so that it’s become impossible to crack a smile Without breaking through to bone.” Then it comes organically from there, conjuring up images of what that would look like or how a broken bone heals, and what the pain of that break ultimately does to the body itself, it becomes a metaphor for something else, no longer literal: “Making no mention of the fact That it’s made stronger with every fracture Filled fissure Vilified, we figure (The metaphor) that love A practiced, dying art Was never meant To fall apart.” Wording sentences in unique or unorthodox ways also opens up more possibilities to get creative. Not everything sung or written has to be exactly as I would say it in casual conversation. It’s performance art. “When I close my eyes, I can still see it In all its glory; formerly, Trying to save face While Running footsteps down the hall Echo of laughter reminiscent of what we used to be Adored What we currently are Alone So much so it’s impossible to crack a smile Without breaking through To bone.” Etc etc. I like to have Fun with words.

[@JoseLopez89213]

I wrote a quick poem, using these tips. The concept is about my cat nyx and it's presented from her viewpoint of how sad I look. This is my first time using a thesaurus and certainly not my last time. Thank you Fred for these tips and I hope that you're doing great. You get home from work and disappear You're still here but mentally you're unaware There's a scent of desolation in the air These walls are covered in dedication Frustration sets in when you're depressed Constricting yourself to decline Your euphoria slowly slips away day by day Sliding from a life of looking from the outside

[@TheColorFred]

That's fantastic! Glad I could help a fellow artist. Keep creating!

[@taterboy311]

Great tips Fred! Love the way you pulled those queensryche lyrics out

[@TheColorFred]

Ha! One of my favorites! Thanks for watching

[@jarredbaca8112]

This channel is so undervalued!!! Thanks for this awesome knowledge from an expert! Worth so much!

[@travis-coltgray9536]

I’m a huge fan of your work! Keep the videos and music coming.

[@TheColorFred]

New one coming today! Thanks for watching

[@TheColorFred]

Hey guys, let me know what techniques work well for you? I’d like to share the knowledge!

[@PatrickHerring]

As just a music listener & appreciator, I always found one of your contemporaries Tom Delonge’s lyrics lasting and very unique. Do you have any insights of how he writes from the days The Color Fred toured with Angels & Airwaves?

[@TheColorFred]

@@PatrickHerring I have talked to Tom about the kind of guitar parts he likes to write but we never really discussed vocals and lyrics. I still see him sometimes so I'll try to ask! Thanks for watching.

[@coldknee]

Sometimes what works for me, is I write something heavily from the "me" perspective, and then I'll switch to a different perspective. To "me" this helps give more feeling since it's not so directed at me. And in the end you can feel it like you originally meant it.

[@coldknee]

I could write "I'm the kind of guy that'll never love themselves" or "He's my friend I know that'll never love themself" and if you've got the timing down it works.

[@TheColorFred]

@@coldknee Yes, actually, I do this alot as well. It makes you the storyteller instead of someone that only talks about himself. Great tip!

[@SeveredLegs]

This is solid information. Thanks Fred.

[@TheColorFred]

Thanks for watching!!

[@busstopbench]

Another great video from my man Fred! Thank you for another quality watch

[@TheColorFred]

The pleasure's all mine. Thanks!

[@USofguitar]

0:28 - Coming with a good concept 2:01 - Point of view 3:20 - Too many pronouns 4:50 - Using a Therausus 6:50 - Rhyming dictionnary

[@matthewkjar5623]

Hell yeah man my dude. Miss you

[@administratuvida6980]

Thanks for the information dude, LOVE tkbs songs

[@davidrokos3698]

Fred! These are awesome tips! I just came across your channel and have fallen down a total rabbit hole of watching all your vides - keep up the awesome work and thanks for the info!!

[@TheColorFred]

That makes my day man! I’ve been working hard on these and it’s so nice to be appreciated. Thanks!

[@trinitymark521]

Thank you for everything, Fred. 🙏

[@TheColorFred]

No, thank you! I am lucky

[@EricMerrow]

Fantastic video, Fred! I've always been a guitar player but never really ventured into writing lyrics too much. It's cool to see some strategies behind writing them and kind of demystifying it. Thanks man!

[@BandaCero]

Those are amazing tips. To write songs we tend to use What, Where, Who and hook. First, any of us create a hook to which the song revolves around and then we ask: What is happening? Where is happening? To whom is happening?

[@TheColorFred]

Yes, and you need to actually answer those questions. You can't just skip those answers because it's hard enough to write a story when it's a true story. If you're making something up, you gotta get to all those feelings about it etc...

[@NotesofGrace]

Some how I missed this video and I love it great tips and advice!! :)

[@Fazerr]

Love these Fred, keep it up!

[@TheColorFred]

Thanks so much for being here!!

[@connorjones312]

I wrote a song about lossing a job long ago and not being able to accept the truth of my fate. So I used a metaphor of someone who wants an Abortion but the other doesn't so they have to take responsibility. In the end the song is really about just letting things go in general but without the concept it wont help you appreciate the meaning nearly as much. Really puts it in perspective. Fred you definitely know what your talking about lol.

[@goodobaggins]

Awesome insight! I’d love to see a video about how to improve song writing I keep finding myself playing the same chord progressions over and over and similar strumming patterns. How can I break my habits and get my hands away from well worn paths on my guitar?

[@PatrickRaphaelPerez]

This is a helpful video! I'm loving all the content on this channel, Fred.

[@nickbehm716]

Thank you for this video and everything your doing. You helped me out alot with my writing from watching this. I really appreciate it!!!! Please never stop making these videos!!!! Stay safe!

[@TheColorFred]

Thanks so much for watching! I'm really happy that it helped.

[@schizojit]

Fred if i ever become famous I'm definitely giving you credit man

[@focusppl8426]

These are some great tips. I need some tips on how to put MUSIC to the lyrics. I love playing my acoustic guitar but that's where I get stuck. Now I'm no professional song writer nor guitar player but I like to have some fun. I can play cover songs pretty well but it's coming up with my own arrangements that's tough.....next video idea lol

[@TheColorFred]

Yes! There were so many different angles to go even with just lyrics. I have more to say on all this but that'll be the next chapter. I'll def keep your suggestion in mind. Thanks

[@StoneGregory7]

you should take a song with chords you can play and put your own lyrics to it. chances are you will be forced to make your own melody.

[@focusppl8426]

@@StoneGregory7 that's actually a good idea. Never really thought of it like that. I'll try that out

[@davidchez513]

Thanks a lot for these tips, they are really helpful. I want to believe that I'm not bad at writing lyrics, but I can say for sure that I am bad when it comes to convert or transfer those lyrics into melody. Have you thought about maybe sharing some tips for that?

[@TheColorFred]

Hey, thanks for the comment. I can probably help with that problem. I’ll try to hit that topic in the near future.

[@behindtheheart6512]

I do have a question, do all lyrics in songs have to rhyme? For example: makedamnsure: “ you got this new head filled up with smoke And i’ve got my veins all tangled close To the jukebox bars you frequent The safest place to hide” It doesn’t rhyme but it rolls of the tongue well. So that’s my question, does it have to rhyme to make a song roll of the tongue better?

[@colbyjames1945]

Smoke and close are actually a half rhyme.

[@colbyjames1945]

But youre right, they dont always have to rhyme

[@SWLDguitar1]

From a fellow South East Pennsylvanian. Thanks for these great videos! Question: Did you ever use a Philly accent word in a song such as "wooder" for water? Even if to just be silly.

[@TheColorFred]

hahaha! Not intentionally, but when other producers record me, they will ask me why I'm pronouncing words certain ways. I try to be aware of it nowadays but it still slips by. "You can take the singer out of Coatesville...."

[@kylehegedus5498]

Hey Fred!!!! How’s it going?

[@focusppl8426]

Also Fred (not sure if it's you that answers but I'll assume so) do you still give guitar lessons? I tried reaching out on Facebook

[@TheColorFred]

yes, absolutely... try my personal FB or TCF Instagram. We can get it set up. Thanks

[@focusppl8426]

@@TheColorFred I did send it to your personal Facebook on may 1st it says we aren't connected and pending like it sent but wasn't read. I'm sure you get a lot of messages if you need more info let me know I'm very interested!

[@streetbl]

@@TheColorFred Whoa! Mind blown! Do you do songwriting lesson perhaps? I usually don't struggle with writing lyrics to music, but I struggle with writing music to lyrics. I can come up with a melody & words in my head then really struggle with putting music/chords to them.

[@TheColorFred]

@@streetbl Yes, I do songwriting lessons, recording consultation/lessons, music theory lessons and guitar/bass.

[@TheColorFred]

@@focusppl8426 sorry, I obviously don't know how to use FB. I'll go find your message :)

[@kylehegedus5498]

Is it gonna be easier.....

[@TheColorFred]

Haha, Thanks for watching Kyle!

[@kylehegedus5498]

Anytime!!!!

[@Fishtank186k]

Is it gonna be more than I can take...

[@kylehegedus5498]

If I surrender, If I surrender

[@christophermolina9231]

Challenge accepted, I'm writing a song called "Eyeball".

[@TheColorFred]

🤣🤣🤣 I wanna hear it!