Author: John Pape

Songwriter, Composer, Musician, Blogger, Web Developer, Guitarist, Programmer. Owner of Mediatunes Inc. a multimedia organization. Member of ASCAP

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Taking a look back at 2013 here are the most popular articles on this website.

From Chord Progressions and Lyric Writing tips to Songwriting Challenges and other useful Ideas Tips, we publish a bunch of posts on the Learn How to Write Songs Blog.

These posts may be overflowing with tips, ideas, insights, and more. Your contribution can make this Blog a thriving community of information and discussion.

In case you missed them or forgot to bookmark them for reference and inspiration, here are the Top 10 Learn How to Write Songs Blog Posts of 2013 and don’t forget to leave a comment to join the discussion:

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When it comes to writing songs there are certain elements that make songs better. Using these elements will supercharge your creativity. Some of these elements may seem obvious but other will be new or you didn’t think about them. As you go though these twelve item examine your current song to see if you can apply these ideas to them. Never be afraid to re-write songs. As you re-write you get better and help polish your song.

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Here is a series of question you should ask yourself in regards to your songwriting. Answering these questions will provide you with clarity and direction for what you do. By having this clarity you will have further motivation to write songs that express who you are as an artist. As an artist is it your mission to share your ideas and beliefs through song. Having a clear direction of who you are will supercharge your ability to write great songs.

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For those of you who like to write songs where the lyrics rhyme, here’s a term you should be familiar with. ‘Rhyme scheme’ refers to where the rhyming words occur in a verse or a chorus. Rhyme schemes are simply the pattern of rhymes within a stanza. The rhyme pattern in each verse should match other following verses in the song, but this pattern does not have to be the same in the chorus or bridge and is usually best to be different than the verses. Songs do not have to rhyme, but the vast majority of successful songs do rhyme.

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Creative people can have trouble trying to stay organized. Here is a suggestion to help you compile your ideas. These are just some suggestions, you will need to come up with ones that best suit your situation. Getting started is the most important step. After that you want to make sure that you maintain focus on where you want to go. Hopefully these ideas will stimulate you in moving your songwriting career forward.

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Whether you are a teenager or are well into your golden years, it is never too late to explore your creative side, especially if you are interested in music. Songwriting is an excellent way to express your thoughts and feelings and to communicate them to your friends and family, even if you have no aspirations of musical fame or fortune. If you are interested in selling or performing your songs, however, you should be aware that it is a hard road and that very few songwriters

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When you love doing something there is motivation to become better at that activity. Songwriting is no exception. Most dedicated songwriters want to become better songwriters. When you approach songwriting with the attitude of getting more knowledge and skills the result will be quality songs.

There are several different elements in songwriting. There is lyric aspect and the musical aspect. The big chicken and egg controversy amongst songwriters is which way to start a song. There are those who start with lyrics and those that begin with music. I guess it depends on the individual on what element to start.

Becoming a great songwriter requires work, effort and the motivation to improve. The more you write song the more skill you will acquire. Approach the activity with the attitude of getting more knowledge and skill and you will be well on you way to write quality songs.

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At the heart of every song is the melody. The melody is a mix of tones and rhythmic patterns. In order to create a melody there needs to be a musical scale. The scale for the songwriter is like the pallet for the painter. The painter has on the pallet various paint colors that can be mixed to create new colors that are added to the canvas to render a picture.

Armed with the knowledge of the notes in a musical scale will help you write melodies for your songs. Obviously there is a lot more involved in writing a great song melody. Having an understanding of a musical scale is a vital thing every songwriter needs to know and understand

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If you have a desire to write great songs it is vital that you improve your ability to write songs. Learning how to write great songs in not really that difficult to do. Learn what other great songwriters are doing and emulate what they do. That way you are not re-inventing the wheel. Listen and learn from successful songwriters and study what works.

Keep in mind that there are no secret formulas for writing a song. It takes knowledge, motivation and skill. On top of that it can be fun! Through songwriting you can express your thoughts and ideas in a creative manner. I encourage you to get a hold of some Songwriting Resources to assist you on your songwriting journey.

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