The Secret to Songwriting
If you’ve found yourself here, you’re likely seeking the kind of fulfillment that can only come from music. Not just playing it, but making it.
When your musical path leads to songwriting, especially as an adult (some kids start writing earlier, which can make things easier), it may feel like a long road from where you are today to being able to write pro songs. It may feel like a mystery how other artists do this consistently with every song idea they have.
No mystery there, however. It’s a creative process. It includes a mindset you need to adopt. It also includes skills you need and wider awareness to tap into for inspiration.
Every songwriter wants to feel that their work is going somewhere. They want the songs to get finished and shared with other musicians and listeners. Knowing that someone is listening to and enjoying your music, either recorded or live, gives you the energy back that you put in while songwriting.
As an indie artist, you must invest time and brain power to bring your vision to life. But, there are ways to “work smarter” as you hone your skills and release your music.
While a new song always has to start from scratch, you – as an artist – don’t have to. Getting to a place where your songwriting just flows is something any songwriter can achieve. You can get there by applying some, or all, elements of the creative process we will describe.
So, let’s get started.
Learn From the Best… and Worst
Getting to know yourself as a storyteller and songwriter is the key. But knowing yourself and your creative “persona” doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You need to develop a discerning and educated ear. Improving your taste comes from analyzing the songwriting of other artists. We’ve even done some homework for you by putting together some advice on how to write songs like The Beatles.
In songwriting, what you do is as important as what you don’t do. Learning from other songwriters what mistakes to avoid will help you go further. It will also help you go faster.
Writing = Rewriting
The good news is that the concept of “mistakes” isn’t as permanent as you may think. As a songwriter, developing your craft should include the practice of rewriting.
Having that moment of creativity when a song is born is so rewarding, fun, and exciting. Yet, it’s only the first step, the first draft. It’s the craft of rewriting that will make your song sound polished and powerful.
Mastering rewriting will help you release the feeling of preciousness about every note and word. It will allow you to refine the song to your taste and voice.
Compositional Elements: Where do you shine?
Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty: the elements of your song. We’re referring to melody, lyrics, and chord progression.
Each songwriter has its strengths and preferences when it comes to manifesting own creativity. Some of us hear melodies in the shower, in the car, in our dreams.
Others are born poets, with a mastery of their language, a storyteller at heart.
Others are instrumentalists. They can create exciting music just by sitting down to play.
If you identify with one or more of these types, perhaps the other elements feel like weak points or obstacles. If so, it’s helpful to look at them with curiosity; a willingness to learn and grow.
Let’s look at some tools to help you write the elements that may feel weaker to you:
Say you’re strong on lyrics. Writing a melody for your lyrics can be simple when you lean into the natural melody of the spoken word.
Elton John :”Melody is everything. If a song doesn’t have a strong melody, it won’t stand the test of time.”
How about writing lyrics for a melody, or creating a song from a chord progression alone? Exercises like improvising and wordplay can be shortcuts to an awesome story.
Bob Dylan: “All I can do is be me, whoever that is. It’s hard to speculate what the audience is thinking, but it always comes back to the lyrics.”
When you’re rewriting your song, find ways to make your chord progression interesting. It will set you apart.
Billie Eilish: “Working on chord progressions is essential because it’s where the mood and color of the song come from. It’s what gives the song its depth.”
All four of the links above will be helpful for any songwriter who wants to strengthen their skills writing all three song elements.
And the Best Album goes to…
Next, let’s zoom out and think about creating a body of work. Your sound, your musical voice, will come from all of your songs together. They are the building blocks of your sound. Make sure your album and/or live show has a healthy amount of variety in:
- Mood/emotion
- Subject matter/themes
- Key Signatures
- Tempos
Most great songwriters always have at least one love song in their catalog or on their album. Love songs have the potential to be a little cliche, so when you write yours, make sure it’s from the heart.
Paul McCartney: “Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs. And what’s wrong with that? I’d like to know. ‘Cause here I go again, I love you.”
As you look at different types of songs to write, there are fun ways to make your sound and stories stronger and more unique. A lot of us creatives have the tendency to take our work very seriously—but it could help your material to use humor in your writing. To get your message, audiences want to feel open and relaxed. Humor is a great way to disarm and charm them.
Ed Sheeran: “Humor in music is incredibly important. It shows that you don’t take yourself too seriously, and it makes the music more relatable.”
Another helpful tool: satire in songwriting. Many of us tend to write confessional, first-person lyrics, but who says that’s the only way to write a song? This link has great examples. They show subtle ways to share your message. They do this by reassigning who is the “I” in your lyrics.
The Creative Process Unveiled
Here are some other topics for songs that may spark some creativity and create variety in your body of work:
- Major historical event
- Social justice/Equality
- A story from a parent or grandparent’s life
- A story or feeling from your childhood
- A hypothetical “what if” song
- Spirituality
- Environment/Nature
- Your current relationship or past relationship
- A teacher, a mentor
- A conversation or moment with someone important to you
Any one of these ideas could fill a whole song, or perhaps just one verse or chorus. To live creatively, we should always be on the hunt for inspiration. Look at everything with curiosity. Seek the profound, serendipitous, funny, poetic moments.
Your artistic voice will develop naturally. It will happen when you keep that perspective in your daily life. We want to tap into a sense of ease and relaxation so we can receive our next idea. It’s helpful to incorporate a healthy amount of rest to tune your system to inspiration.
Leonardo da Vinci: “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.”
The Power of Collaboration
Writing or preparing to write generally requires solitude. But, there are many reasons to co-write songs too. Sometimes, writing with someone we respect opens up our creativity. Often, their voice makes the final result better.
Production = Composition? Very much so!
In music, producers often get songwriting credit. They get it even if they didn’t write the lyrics, melody, or chords. Why? Most great producers make an arrangement. And a gret arrangement makes the song recognizable and distinct.
As the songwriter, you are encouraged to think of and bring production ideas. For example, producing the song with global beats or adding an amazing background vocal arrangement.
You could also add writing and production elements that can work to your advantage if you’re looking to really make it catchy and sell your song.
Your Creative Discipline
The most important key to songwriting is: just write, and don’t quit. Living a creative life has enough rewards for all true artists. But, the joy grows when we collaborate with others and share our work with the world. Music, in nature, is not exclusive. You are invited to make it, and make it your own.
