Learning how to write a good song is an important skill all musicians should learn how to do. I look at how to do this, how to get creative with the songwriting process, and more. Please share these guides if they’re useful.
You know a good song when you hear one. A good song can send a chill down your spine. It can immediately get your head bouncing. A good song can have you singing the words by the second chorus. A good song makes you want to spin the track again. As a songwriter, your ears…
Songwriting contests are a great way to extend the potential life of your song, give it a chance to be heard, and get feedback on the song. If you place in one of the top spots you’ll win cash, and often performance and industry opportunities as well. Winning or placing in a songwriting competition is…
Songwriting is a skill that can be improved. Like any other skill, there are techniques to learn, skills to develop, talents to hone. But unlike many other musical skills, songwriting suffers from a lack of obvious resources. Because songwriting is so personal, people tend to be unwilling to accept the idea of ‘practising’ songwriting or…
Have you ever sat down to write a song and had to face the dark abyss of writer’s block? It’s miserable and discouraging. Whether you write regularly or every once in a while, it is important to keep your writing muscles loose and ready to work. Writing prompts can help you push past writer’s block…
Why do certain songs make your hair stand on end? Why do certain songs bring tears to your eyes no matter when or where you hear them? Why do certain songs evoke such a strong feeling? The emotions you feel when you hear a song range from joy, sadness and nostalgia to hope, elation and…
When you start writing songs or creating music of any kind, you’ll spend a long time working on your process. Know it or not, every song you finish is building on a process. The key is to finish your songs. You may be wondering how long it should take you to finish a song –…
How exactly do you become a better songwriter? It’s easy to feel stumped when trying to answer that question. Your first few songs probably came to you in a fit of inspiration or through some intense feelings. They may be amazing or terrible. If they were amazing, it can be hard to live up to…
“Wouldn’t it be fun to be a professional songwriter?” If you love making music, I’m sure that thought has crossed your mind. And, I’ve had guitar students in the past that managed to work their way into the songwriting game, just by applying themselves to the task. It’s not about skill level – it’s about…
There’s something about a great country song, isn’t there? I mean, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love it love it to death. As with many other genres, topics often include love and heartbreak, fun and adventure, faith and spirituality and more. That’s right – contrary to popular parodies, country is not…
Writing songs is both an art and a big business. Artists around the world are making a go of it either playing and recording their own music or writing music for other artists. How do you become a songwriter? How do you make money as a songwriter? What makes a songwriter a professional? In this…
Have you ever thought about how songs are structured? What makes a chorus feel like a chorus? What makes a good verse? There is no right or wrong way. But if you pay attention, you will see that a lot of songs have similar structures. Knowing how songs are traditionally structured will help your songwriting…
How do you know if you’ve written a good song? It’s hard, right? Sometimes, you’ll love a song immediately after you’ve written it, and then hate it two weeks later. Did you just fall out of love with it, or was the song not very good? Beyond the song itself, the production on a song…
Have you ever written songs that just don’t seem to fit in with the rest of your songs? Perhaps you write pop songs, but ended up writing a song that bends a little more folk-y or country. Or maybe you wrote a blues song by accident. This happens sometimes. Personally, if I hear a song…
The creative process is different for every artist. But there is no right or wrong way to write. Typically, I will follow the same process every time. I often find myself inspired by a cool chord progression and will write from there. I also write a lot from titles. Coming up with good song titles…
Writing songs is hard. Identifying a creative process that works for you is hard. Sometimes, the words just don’t come out and you can’t think of anything to say. I think the challenges associated with writing and creating aren’t talked about enough. Everyone wants it to be easy, or maybe just look easy, but a…