There are many methods you can use to start to write songs such as playing some chords on guitar or piano, coming up with a melody or hook in your head when you least expect it, listening to a favorite song and writing something similar, etc.; the number of ways you can begin to write your own songs is almost endless!

But have you ever wondered how to really dig into your innermost thoughts, so profound in fact that you have no choice but to write something so deep the fish will be swimming around you and clapping their fins in approval?

The music world is full of shallow lyrics by big-name pop recording artists and many are hits for a short while, but haven’t you noticed in the last few years how forgettable most of the pop songs of today are?  It’s because while the melodies are usually very good, the lyrics are usually poorly-crafted, and the public knows it! So, we hear the songs and love them for being the song of the moment, but we could care less if we ever heard the song again thereafter!

But when a song with substance is released such as Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, the world takes notice!  It’s no coincidence that this song has turned out to be Coldplay’s most successful single to date.  Compare this song to others on the top 40 charts, and you’ll immediately hear and see the difference.

In order to write songs with feeling, follow this example of a common pop idea:

1. Write and map out an interesting, original idea or story for your song.  Ask yourself questions such as, “What opinion or feeling do I want to express in this song?” “Who are the characters in my song?”

2. Then, make a list of what you want each song section to be about starting with the first verse all the way to the last chorus, and write any words or phrases that come to your mind
that may describe each section.
For example,

1st Verse:
You don’t understand how complicated this situation is becoming.
Words/phrases:  confused, complicated, I’m sorry this happened  

Prechorus:
You and I are getting in too deep and I fear we’re getting close
to a point where there’s no turning back.
Words/phrases:  drowning, return, scared 

Chorus:
Stay away from me; although it hurts, this is how it has to be,
and there’s nothing you can do or say to change my mind.
words/phrases:  memory, the past, the truth, be real

Continue for every section of your song.

Then make a word list by accessing http://www.songwriteradvisor.com/rhymezone.html and expand your words and phrases for each section before committing to writing the lyrics.

You’ll find using this method will allow you to learn how to write songs with much more focus than if you simply come up with line after line as you go.  It could mean the difference between a “so-so” song and a great one! 

The following is a really helpful article originally published in the October “Tune Sleuth” Newsletter.

If you’re still having trouble learning how to write songs even with so much information on SongwriterAdvisor.com and SongwriterAdvisor.com Blog, it’s probably because you don’t have a clear learning path laid out before you.

Most website articles are usually meant to focus on a solution for one specific area, and much of the responsibility is unfairly left to the reader to piece together and make sense of the information.

For those of you who haven’t yet had success or aren’t happy with your songwriting progress thus far, don’t be discouraged!  Let’s take this one step at a time so we can get you on the right track.

Follow this plan:

1.  First, read our beginner songwriting blueprint at: http://www.squidoo.com/beginner-songwriting-tips and familiarize or re-familiarize yourself with the basic sections of a song.

2.  Now take it one step further and download your free copy of “Beginner Songwriting Made Easy,” as a reference for the following entries below.

3.  Most songwriters get stuck before they even attempt to write anything because they simply don’t know what to write about! So, at this point, think of a simple STORY LINE you want your song to be about and write a sentence outlining your whole song idea.  Make it really simple for now.

E.g.,  STORY LINE = Although I miss you, you hurt me and treated me bad, so it’s time for me to move on so I can be happy.

4.  Now, start with the very first line of the song on a blank sheet of paper.  Use a pencil!!!!  Let’s start with the STORY LINE example above and make the first line grab everyone’s attention by letting them know right away “You miss the other person.

—I don’t know how I’ve made it these last few days without you

Kind of long right?  So, let’s break the line into two and start writing the song by using a line by line structure:

—I don’t know how I’ve made it
—These last few days without you

At this point if no melody has appeared in your head there are several things you can do. You can try singing these first two lines to a beat, you can just start singing the first two lines randomly in your head, or if you’re really stuck, you can take a keyboard or guitar and start playing random notes (one by one) for each syllable. 

If you’re using the random note method, merely take two or three syllables at a time and match a keyboard note to them.  For example, for “I don’t know” I played the notes “G”, “A”, and
“B”.  Voila!  Now I’ll experiment and keep building the first line.

I’ll then start working on the second line and once I like what I hear, I’ll move onto a third and fourth line.

—I don’t know how I’ve made it
—These last few days without you
—But I’ve managed to survive
—The river flooding my eyes
—Now they’re dry, now they’re dry

Hey sounds like a solid start for a cool R&B/pop song!
 

Once you have the first four or five lines with lyrics and melody, you have created a structure for your song’s verses.  You can use the same melody for the second part of the first verse and, of course, during the second verse after the first chorus.

When you’re done with the first verse, move on to the chorus and continue the same methods while referring back to “Beginner Songwriting Made Easy.” 

While you’re completing this exercise, don’t be overly concerned about whether or not the melody in the chorus should contain higher notes, etc. 

Take it one step at a time!  Get one song done (in rough draft form), then begin polishing it with a rewrite by using this guide:  http://www.songwriteradvisor.com/song-rewrite.html

When you’re comfortable with a rewrite, use the checklist at:http://www.songwriteradvisor.com/songwriting-checklist.html
Good luck! 

Do you want to write songs that get no respect, you’ll have a hit once, and never write another one after it’s found out you have no depth in your songwriting, or do you want to learn to write songs that fans appreciate and respect, and build a lengthy, consistent, lucrative career?  This “all washed up” scenario has repeated itself over and over in the music industry!

Do you want to learn to write songs your hometown fans, family, and friends think are merely O.K., or do you want to learn to write songs that blow you away while you’re creating them, knowing instinctively based on your experience that people are gonna’ love the songs?

The way you prevent yourself from becoming just another person who calls themselves a songwriter is to learn the basics before you dive into the world of songwriting.  There are many websites all over the Internet that you can start with.  For starters, type “songwriting basics” into your Google browser and begin to read and prepare yourself through great information provided free on the net.

The Songwriter Advisor parent website also has a wonderful, free beginner songwriting course, and another free one can be found at Beginner Songwriting Tips to Get You Hooked.

Songwriters are either being considered for, or being signed to publishing deals with major and independent publishing companies virtually everyday.  That’s because music publishers are constantly looking for the next big Ne-YO or Dianne Warren to write hits for them.  The ones still making a great living in this music industry include songwriters and music producers.  You can experience success in this music industry as a songwriter and possibly set yourself up for life.

But to get to that level, you have to prepare yourself, and learn to write songs the right way!

Without getting too technical (I might confuse myself) I can tell you our minds filter all the stimulation we absorb through our five senses, and if you’re a songwriter, with proper training and knowledge, you can subconsciously harness all that power running through your mind’s filter and eventually allow song ideas to spring into your head! 

“How do I do that?” you ask.   The answer is less complicated than you probably think.  This is what you have to do, step-by-step:

1.  Learn all the songwriting basics necessary to write songs.  Check out this free beginner songwriting guide, this free step-by-step songwriting guide, or consider a more complete but lengthier songwriting guide such as Six Steps to Songwriting Success, Revised Edition (Due out 10-02-2008): The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songswritten by Jason Blume.

The point here is to learn all the necessary songwriting basics so you have strong knowledge of all the sections used in songwriting. These include; intro, verse, prechorus, chorus, bridge, instrumental, raps, and spoken word parts. You need to train yourself to automatically recognize the different sections that make up songs and how they are used. This takes studying songs and actually writing your own songs (although it’s helpful, you don’t even have to know how to play an instrument to learn songwriting basics).

2. Listen to your favorite songs and pick out the most interesting parts such as the song hook, parts of a verse, a certain rap line, etc.  Now, what you’re looking for is a short catchy line that stands out as being the most memorable part of the song.  As mentioned in Part 1, these are also song areas for you to study and analyze: 

1. a great original song title
2. a catchy melody (usually a short musical phrase)
3. an interesting lyric
4. an infectious rhythm
5. a pleasing harmony
6. any other song component

For example, in Leona Lewis’ smash hit single “Bleeding Love” the part that stands out most to me is, “I keep bleeding I keep, keep bleeding love.”  This is a very short phrase that keeps repeating as the song’s hook.  It contains interesting lyrics and a catchy melody, the most common example as it relates to this exercise.  A great original song title is also there to boot!  This short phrase could have definitely been an idea that just popped into a songwriter’s head!  This sort of thing happens all the time to hit songwriters and you can do it, too. 

3.  Once you know all the songwriting basics and you’re able to recognize different parts of songs, the next step is to really dive deep into writing your own original songs.  You may have already started to compose your tunes by now anyway, but I’m talking about continually and consistently trying to write songs.  You will eventually reach that “zone” where song ideas spring out like water from a faucet!  Many pro songwriters swear they become so consumed by songwriting in phases (usually a few weeks) several times a year because the ideas just don’t stop!    

The trick is to know all the songwriting basics, to know what to look for in songs, and to become really active in your songwriting by continually trying to compose songs. 

The more songs you write, the more experience and knowledge you gain, and before you know it, you will reach that “effortless zone” those pro songwriters seem to reach all the time.  For some songwriters, reaching “songwriting mode,” a condition created by yourself whereby you effortlessly come up with great song ideas, can take a few weeks to several months to a few years.  It depends on how hard you really want to work at your songwriting craft.     

 Be patient-with experience and practice, there’s no doubt you will eventually get to a point where great song ideas stream into your head.  Just don’t try to force the ideas into your head-this will create too much stress, and you’ll actually regress instead of progress.  I know-’cause I’ve been there!

It’s a mistake to try to tackle songwriting without any basic songwriting knowledge.  It’s kinda’ like blindly walking into a snowstorm hoping you’ll eventually survive and come out the other end, still alive.  Well, maybe not that drastic, but you do need to know what you’re doing and facing so you can have the best chance at continually improving.  You can accomplish this by studying the basics of your songwriting craft and eventually knowing how to gauge your work as well as other songwriters’ work for your improvement. 

It’s true, in pop music, virtually anyone can pull a hit out of a hat but I guarantee you the majority of those one-hit wonders with no training had a tough time placing a second song.  I don’t know anyone in this music industry who’s wanted to be here-today-gone-tomorrow!       

For those of you who’d like to but are unsure about whether or not you can become good songwriters, believe it! Songwriting is a little part natural talent and a whole lot of craft through uncomplicated training. It’s more about getting out there and just doing it than wondering why it is that you’ll never have the talent to blow people away like John Mayer.  How do you know if you haven’t tried?

The training I’m talking about is through websites and blogs like this one or the ones listed in this blog’s footer (see Network Links below). All you have to know is what to look for. There’s plenty of information on how to write songs out there so I’m going to give you the keywords to get started.

To start quickly learning, aside from “songwriting,” “write songs,”, “how to write songs,”, and “songwriting help,” these are the terms and songwriting principles you can type into your web browser:

1. song hook
2. song verse
3. song chorus
4. guitar chords
5. piano chords
6. song bridge
7. song forms
8. rhythm
9. harmony
10. melody
11. how to write lyrics
12. Prechorus
13. rhyming

For example: I took the first entry “song hook,” typed it into the google browser and the first entry was Hook (music) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  This entry pretty much explained the whole concept of what a “song hook” is.

Take each term and read as many website entries as possible and before long you’ll have a pretty good understanding of basic songwriting principles.  Little by little, you’ll see how the pieces of the puzzle start coming together.

Remember, these keywords are merely a starting point and should definitely get you going in the right direction.

Learning the craft of songwriting is very much about gathering information bits at a time, applying it immediately whether you sing or play an instrument, and figuring out where and how you can progressively make improvements. It is conceivable for a newbie songwriter to be creating pretty darn good songs within a year of songwriting training.  As far as writings for Beyonce, I don’t know, maybe that’s a longshot (not impossible).  Hey, does anyone have connections with Beyonce out there?!!!!

The songwriters who are at most risk of burning out are ones signed to music publishing deals when they’re trying to meet their contractual yearly deadline of however many acceptable songs they’re required to submit, songwriters who hold a job while incessantly trying to write songs in their inadequate spare time, and pretty much any songwriter who works really hard on their craft without taking sufficient break time. 

You don’t have to be paranoid that your brain is going to explode, but understand songwriting can exhaust you mentally just like any activity where you’re forced to concentrate intently on what you’re doing.  The constant channeling of brain energy while trying to find an idea or even a word for the next verse can wear a songwriter down over a period of time, kind of like someone who spends hours on end producing music, engineering a song mix, or even merely sitting at a computer working on their blogs and websites.

So how do we make sure we can “jumpstart” our songwriting minds effectively?  The answer is:  by filling our positive minds with positive, healthy energy, and by separating the negativity from our negative buttons located in the part of our brains where we store frustration and helplessness! 

Next time you feel a little “run down” try these songwriting tips to help you break out of your songwriting doldrums:

1.  You are the only one who can truly analyze and find why you think you’re stuck in a rut.  Is it because you’ve been working long hours at your day or night job, and cramming what little time you have left over on your songwriting?  Are you disappointed in a few song submissions being rejected by music publishing companies to the point where you’ve lost motivation?  There are enough different reasons for songwriters to lack motivation, certainly enough to fill another ten paragraphs or so–the point is, there’s no such thing as a songwriterologist–you know, a doctor who specializes in the field of songwriting ailments, so the first step is to be honest with yourself and figure out the root of your problem.  Once you have at least an inkling of an idea of what kind of roadblock you’re facing, read step 2.

2.  Make a conscious effort to stop all songwriting efforts for at least a week–this includes studying songs while you hear them on your car radio, reading songwriting-related books, engaging in any songwriting-related conversation with your peers, commenting on songwriting blogs, etc.  Don’t even pick up or play your music instrument!  Spend time trying to clear your mind as if you’re wiping out all the unnecessary information off of an overburdened hard drive on your computer!  If you’ve already taken this type of break, move on to step 3.

3.  After a week, even if there are other big stressors in your life,  you should feel at least a little relief from stress if not a lot, and only you can tell if it’s time to reconnect with your songwriting.  You will know when you’re ready to reconnect with your craft when you start feeling that burning desire to get back into your game.  Do not proceed until you feel you are ready.  Another week of rest is not going to kill you!  

4.  Now that your hormones are begging for you to connect with your songwriting, your guitar, or your keyboard,  resist the temptation!  Instead, go out and see some live music acts for at least a night or two and just take the music in!  Listen to music on the radio as well as your favorite CD’s, and you’ll find at this point, if you’re in a relaxed enough environment, you can actually absorb the sound in your heart and soul instead of your mind.  In other words, don’t spend your time critiquing the music–it’ll drain the newfound power out of your brain–merely enjoy it!    

5.  The whole process usually takes 10-14 days.  Now you’re finally ready to reconnect.  You’ll find that songwriting and playing an instrument doesn’t seem like a chore anymore, and you’ll be full of fresh ideas springing from the inner depths of your total being!   

The benefit to your health will become obvious, your songwriting will be revitalized, and you’ll be in complete control of recognizing the warning signs and exactly how to break free from this staleness when it happens (and it will happen) in the future.

Special thanks to Ellen Moraskie, Warner/Chappell vice president, who, among so many other things, taught me how to relax my mind and just take in this thing called life when songwriting became stale and ideas were hard to come by.  This article was inspired by, and dedicated to her.   R.I.P. Mrs. Moraskie,  with love and respect,  Orlando.    

One of the questions my readers frequently ask is, “How can I learn to write songs if I don’t play an instrument and have no musical experience?” I usually answer that question with questions. “Do you like music and haven’t you been listening to music all your life? Then of course you can.

But before you start emptying your pockets on songwriting courses and e-books, I’d like to show you the cheapest, easiest, and most effective way by far to get your songwriting on the right track so you can learn how to write songs like a pro!

If you like music, the only thing that’ll hold you back from reaching your goal of becoming a darn good songwriter is lack of information and desire, not necessarily in that order. You’re in luck! I’m going to give you the information but you have to provide the desire.

Like any other career or vocation, in songwriting, what you put in is what you get out! There is no easy shortcut but the good news is you can actually be running up in no time creating songs worthy enough to sing in front of your mirror with the blow dryer as your microphone. Just keep the vocal belting to a minimum until you read the following tips on how to write songs, even if you have no musical background other than listening:

1. Understand there are two main parts of actual songwriting: writing lyrics, and writing music.

2. The first thing you should do if you’re serious about songwriting, is buy The Craft of Lyric Writing by Sheila Davis. It is super-cheap through Amazon.com and hands down, the bible of lyric writing, and it is one of two books you’ll probably ever need for developing your “lyrics” chops.

While you’re studying this book, start experimenting by writing lyrics and inventing your own melodies no matter how silly you think they may appear to someone outside your comfort zone. To become a great lyricist, you need to know the basics first, and you need to start practicing consistently by applying what you’ve learned. Soon enough your ideas and lyrics will come straight from your heart! Boy, that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

3. Next, if you haven’t already, consider learning how to play either guitar or piano. Although there are a few highly successful songwriters in music history who never played an instrument, the majority of songwriters do. The good news is there are a handful of good software and e-courses available on the market to give you a shortcut to success in this area. Jamorama and Guitar Alliance are great for learning guitar and are the closest thing to having a real guitar teacher for a fraction of the cost, and Piano Wizard does the trick for learning piano/keyboards.

4. Realistically, after a month or so, if you’re serious about it, you will have probably written the lyrics to your very first song! Imagine the shock and delight on your Chihuahua’s face when you sing it! At this point you should have finished reading “The Craft Of Lyric Writing”, so take some time to look at your lyrics and run it through the principles you have learned in the book, and you may be able to determine some of what works and what doesn’t. By reading and re-reading this book from time to time, songwriting basics will eventually become second-nature to you, and you will be able to recognize strengths and flaws in your songwriting easily.

The building blocks for successful songwriting begin with learning the basics. If you’re an intermediate or advanced songwriter you probably have Sheila Davis’s book, so don’t hesitate to review all the basic songwriting principles every now and then-it can only help!

Now that you have the secret to lyrical success, in Part II, I’ll show you the only songwriting book to purchase (really cheap) to teach you the “musical” aspect of songwriting, and how to use it to your advantage. In the end, you will have spent less than $25.00 on the three most effective songwriting resources ever published by buying them “used and in good condition” from Amazon.com.” You’ll be on your way, in a big way!