Many of us started out as players or instrumentalists before we began writing songs. Our instruments inspired full songs from a simple guitar riff, melodic motif, or piano lick. From those short but foundational pieces we were able to build a verse and chorus and bridge, all stemming from a single seed.

Use both intuition and tools

Sometimes it’s intuition that tells us where to move to when we write the chorus section after a verse. Sometimes it’s a mixture of intuition and tools, knowing that a rise in pitch and shorter rhythms can create more energy for the chorus section, or that longer notes can contrast beautifully from the short notes we just left and reignite the listener’s attention. Wherever we move to, we can often feel a sense of consistency within the song – as if the ideas are linked rhythmically and melodically and harmonically to each other by some common thread. Many times that thread is a mixture of those elements, whether it be a pattern of pitches or rhythms, or harmonic progressions. It’s the repetition of these patterns that give our song a consistent identity, rather than a feeling of randomly assigned notes. (more…)

Comments closed

If you are confused on whether to start writing lyrics or music first, you are not alone. Many musicians are still struggling with this issue too. The thing is you can choose to write either of them or both at the same time. You can write your lyrics without any musicals or after composing the music. You have to select a strategy you feel suits you. You can also experiment with various approaches to know the challenges and advantages. (more…)

1 comment

When it comes to writing songs there are certain tasks that will help improve the working process.  This working process will help build a better work ethic.  Songwriting is a process and certain processes will guide the songwriting.  Here are song things to consider when writing your next amazing songs.

1. Have a specific concept or idea in mind

Always have a specific purpose in mind before you begin writing a song. You need to be clear and focus on what your song’s purpose is.  Is the song about an issue you have great passion?  Is it about a relationship?  Is it about a specific event? Know this before you begin. (more…)

2 comments

Tools make things easier. That is why lyric writing tools are so important in the song creation process. Imagine trying to drive a nail into a board with your fist.  Not only would it be painful, it would not do the job properly. Now imagine driving that same nail using a hammer.  It is so much easier to accomplish the task using the correct tool.  As a songwriter you need lyric writing tools.

Having the proper tools is vital to the songwriting process. Taking the nail example, imagine again driving the nail into the board.  Except this time use a screwdriver.  Obviously the screwdriver is ineffective in driving the nail.  The same thing is true with lyric writing tools.  It is important to use the right tool. (more…)

Comments closed

Song lyrics must communicate. Making some of the song lyric mistakes presented here will hinder the ability for a song to communicate. These mistakes will confuse the listener. When the listener is confused they will lose interest in a song. A loss of interest is fatal to a song’s ability to be successful. Here are five common song lyric mistakes to avoid when writing song lyrics.

1. Avoid Grammar Mistakes

Songwriting is the art of using words to communicate a story. Having song lyrics with proper grammar is important for communicating the story. It is not exempt from the basic rules of grammar. Grammar rules are important. Using grammar correctly will help present the song’s story the best way possible. Some mistakes that can happen include these items. The use of pronouns needs to be consistent in the lyric. Don’t move from “I” to “we” if the story is first person.

Another problem is verb tense. If your verse is in the present time don’t use past tense verbs. The next grammar mistake is using sentence fragments. Keep in mind that a sentence has a subject and verb. A prepositional phase is not a sentence, it’s a fragment. These are some of the common grammar mistake that a songwriter needs to avoid when writing lyrics. (more…)

1 comment

Songwriters write songs because they have something to say. A songwriter is also an artist. When a collection of songs are written, that collection becomes what is known as the artist voice.  When writing songs it is important to have your own unique voice.

Be Original

One important aspect of developing your own unique voice is to be original. There are many ways an artist can be original. To start out you can take an existing concept and think of it in a new way. Take a fresh perspective on this concept and develop it into something different. To do this you need to be inventive. Using things in novel ways will also help you be more original. This transition will build your creative chops. (more…)

1 comment