Songwriting can often be a tough and frustrating process. Here are some awesome tips to make it easier on you.
Inspiration: Writing a song is pretty difficult if you don’t have any idea what you’re writing about, so get some inspiration! For musical ideas, jam out on an instrument or sing out loud. For lyrics, it’s best to write about your own experiences. If you’re having trouble coming up with anything on your own, listen to your favorite artists and even new ones! Hearing music you love or even music you have never been exposed to might give you the jump-start you need to create your own beautiful sounds.
Narrow your goal: When you begin to write a song, you need to be certain about what kind of song you’re writing. Is it instrumental? Electronic? Just a composition on sheet music? Make sure you have this nailed down before you begin.
Theory: This isn’t completely necessary depending on what you are composing, but having a base of knowledge about music theory will surely help you in the songwriting process. For example, an understanding of theory might lead you to discover the perfect chord progression for your composition. After all, you can’t really break any rules with original material until you understand the rules in the first place.
Set your parameters: Okay, once you have some initial ideas and hopefully some theory knowledge, use those to nail down the specifics of the song. Set a key signature, a tempo, and if you’re far enough along, a song form with verses, choruses, and maybe even a bridge. Just get the ball rolling!
Collaborate: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Hit up your friends to ask for advice and feedback. The more pairs of ears listening to your composition, the better chance you have at producing something that both you and others will enjoy.
Constant feedback: While composing, make sure that you keep replaying what you’ve already done. When you listen to the music as you develop it, it helps you understand the process and what you are producing so much better.
Take time away: Finally, if you’re struggling, it’s okay to take a break. Sometimes I’ve had my best ideas come through when I’ve taken time off and then come back to the composition refreshed and ready to create.
Closing message: If you’re looking to learn more about the process of songwriting, Compoze has some other really interesting videos and articles where you can learn from famous artists about how they write songs. So check ‘em out, and if you have any other tips for songwriting that you think we missed, let us know!
