10 Simple Rules of Songwriting:
Do Not Be A Perfectionist
Write as much as you possibly can. Have songs constantly going out. As stated in the title, do not be a perfectionist. The idea is to improve over time, not to sit down and instantly have the song flowing out of your mind onto your paper. Give yourself the time and freedom to experiment without pressure. This way you will develop the creative side of your brain instead of the over analytical part.
Get Feedback Often
Be fearless with your songs. It IS okay if you write a terrible song. What’s not okay is trying to convince everyone that it’s a wonderful song. That just makes you look bad. Allow people to give you their honest opinions. Take note, and start to learn what actually works.
Hot And Cold
I am talking about combining opposites such as spiccato and ligatto (short and long). When you have long held chords, try a shorter or snappier vocal line. Have a funky bass line? You might want to opt for a simpler, more solid guitar part. It’s simple stuff, but worth thinking about when writing or producing.
Learn To Unlearn
As you learn to write songs we naturally analyze what works and what does not work. We absorb new chord structures and develop an obsession for doing things the correct way. This is great for improving song writing, but somewhere along the way you may lose the ability to invent something new. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. If it sounds good to you then do it. Bring your own unique flare to the song.
The Disadvantage of Talent
It’s okay to fail because thats how you learn what works or more so what doesn’t work. You do not have to start out with a load of born talent. If this is something you love doing. Bring that passion and love to your song writing and then, just like anything else you can become one of the best talents in the industry. Believe in what you do. Own it or else no one else will.
See The Bigger Picture
Once you have the technical knowledge you need to write music, try to develop the part of your brain that can listen to and analyze the whole picture rather than simply focusing on tiny details. You should be able to hear what is needed to make your songs work. Does it need more emotion? More energy? Is the vocal melody boring? If you were only the listener and not the writer would this song catch your ear after the first listen? In focusing on the whole picture you are able to find the answers quicker by being honest and brutal with yourself.
Say It Differently
We all know that there are common lyrical themes in music. I would guess that the topic of love is the most widely used lyrical theme. Using tried-and-tested themes can be a good thing, but you should always try saying it differently. Bring your own unique flare to the situation of the song.
Simplicity Is Key
So many musicians agree that the best songs are the simplest, yet they cannot seem to write simple songs themselves? It’s like a musicians curse to assume that complicated means better. Get used to writing simpler songs that have more hooks and adhere to common (natural) arrangement structures.
Working With Others
Even if you don’t like working with others, try it! You will see that in most cases more creative brains put together (not too many) are usually better than one. Working with other artists forces you to move away fro your comfort zone and potentially write better songs. This also allows opportunity for in put from other artists.
Take Breaks
Have you ever worked on a song for hours upon hours and been completely disappointed with the end-result? It happens! Doing anything creative can lead you down a road of endless ideas that without breaks will cause you to walk down the most frustrating of roads that possibly leads to complete kayos. So give yourself a break, relax, and enjoy what you are creating.
Now, can’t wait to hear your song playing on the top ten! Own it!
