“I wish I were one of those people who wrote songs quickly. But I’m not. So it takes me a great deal of time to find out what the song is.” -Leonard Cohen
Loving music is entirely natural for humans. We greatly enjoy singing along to our favourite tunes or playing the air guitar when we hear our famous solo. The fact of the matter is pure and simple: music moves us.
Along with playing instruments, the vocal renditions of a singer complete a song. The lyrics of popular songs, or our personal favourites, are powerful and cut deep. For the best songwriters, jotting down their thoughts with a pen and paper is a therapeutic experience that helps rid them of negative emotions and move on from past traumatic experiences about love and loss.
Get information about singing lessons London here.
Artists have honed their songwriting skills throughout their careers to make a more remarkable impact.
Not only is learning more about songwriting an excellent idea for aspiring singers, but it can also be a great outlet to reduce stress. Therefore, in today's article, we shall analyse some handy tips and tricks to become a better songwriter without further delay. Let's get writing!
Is Writing Songs Hard?
Like many creative tasks, writing songs is not without its unique challenges. Even the world's best songwriters have moments where they hit a wall and cannot go on anymore.
But why is writing lyrics so tricky? The following are a few reasons:
- First, there are many different elements to a song, such as lyrics, melody, and chords, to name a few, that need to work together cohesively.
- Songwriters need to create new songs that haven't yet been heard.
- Feelings of doubt and anxiety when writing can lead to procrastination.
No wonder it takes artists many years to release new albums!
Nonetheless, to make writing songs a bit more manageable, specific skills can be acquired. Such as? Take a look at the list below to discover the answer:
- Dedication: if you're dedicated to the writing process, you won't let any distractions get in the way between you and your music. Commitment helps people to write new songs and to achieve their music goals.
- Musicality: while it's true that songwriting and musical talent can be honed, it's worth mentioning that most talented songwriters who view writing lyrics as less challenging than others have musicality. Knowing which notes and vocals work together is half the battle.
- Patience: remembering that Rome wasn't built in a day will significantly help aspiring songwriters to take their time and recognise that songwriting is an ability that requires much patience. Without patience, it's impossible to get through writing songs successfully. So don't be too hard on yourself when you haven't registered as fast as you would've liked.
If the skills or qualities are acquired beforehand, learning songwriting won't be as tricky as anticipated.
What are the Ten Best Suggestions for Writing Song Lyrics?
“I have a structured songwriting process. I start with the music and try to come up with musical ideas, then the melody, then the hook, and the lyrics come last.” -John Legend
Since it's a highly personal experience, every singer or artist has their way of writing songs and creating music.
Nevertheless, it's worth highlighting that universal tips make songwriting attainable to all persons. Such as? Let's look at ten suggestions to write lyrics like a superstar!
Keep it Simple
At the start, your skills are minimal. Therefore, we recommend keeping things simple to avoid feeling overwhelmed from having complicated everything too much. Furthermore, by keeping things simple from the start, you can add to your lyrics and songs at other moments in time.
After you've got the song in its purest sense, you can keep the ball rolling by adding musical aspects such as drums, strings, and any other element.
Collaborate with Others
One of the best ways to become a better songwriter and dramatically improve as a beginner is collaborating with others. Writing with other musicians is the best way to combat writer's block since you will bounce ideas off of each other and break new ground.
As an aspiring songwriter, you can learn a lot from the techniques and types of lyrics written by experienced songwriters; therefore, you should ask to shadow them.
Write From Personal Experience
The most succesful songwriters composing lyrics today, such as the brilliant Taylor Swift, write their songs from past experiences that have affected them. Writing tunes and rhythms about past breakups, experiences, and difficult moments can spark creativity and create raw lyrics that people would want to listen to.
Starting vocal training can profoundly enhance your songwriting abilities, as it allows you to explore new vocal techniques, express emotions with authenticity, and develop a deeper understanding of melody, enabling you to craft lyrics and compositions that resonate with your audience on a truly profound level.
Record All Inspiration
While songwriting sessions usually resort to nothing spectacular, it's worth stating that there is nothing more frustrating than writing or playing something decent and then quickly forgetting it a few hours later. So, what's the solution? First, record all your jamming sessions and moments when you are writing since you never know when inspiration will hit.
"Recording" may include simply writing down your lyrics on paper or quickly recording yourself playing on your phone.
Ask Trusted Ones for Feedback
Though it might sting to get harsh criticism from trolls on the internet or people you don't know, it's essential to get some feedback about your lyrics to see if you're on the right path. But, how? Ask trusted friends, colleagues, and family members who know your lyrical style and have experience with music.
Constructive criticism can help you avoid writing lyrics that will never result in anything and focus on what works.
Step Away from the Instrument
While most feel comfortable writing lyrics in front of their piano or guitar, some experts suggest that getting away from the instrument and finding a quiet place to write songs might be just what you need.
Go for a walk, enjoy a nice picnic with your notepad, or write down rhythms and melodies in your head.
Experiment with Song Structure
The typical structure usually includes an intro, a verse, a pre-chorus, a chorus, a bridge, instrumental solos, and a coda or outro. However, as a beginner, it's remarkably suggested to challenge yourself to compose a song that defies a boring structure. You might want to work with the verse and the chorus.
Use All Types of Chords
In the beginning, most amateur songwriters commit the mistake of sticking to their comfort zone and only using chords they know when composing new songs. However, to truly experience success, it's essential to experiment with all types of chords such as major, minor, dominate, and diminished ones, to name a few.
Exciting sounds and compelling lyrics will grab the attention of others.
Write a Catchy Melody
If your goal is to write "earworms" that stay in people's heads for weeks, the most significant part of your songwriting process should be the melody. Please look at some famous pieces that have inspired you to write songs and pattern your lyrics after them.
Build Songs Around a Riff
Certain songs throughout history have shined because of their riffs. Therefore, whatever songwriting abilities you possess or past musical experience you have, try to use variations that are the best songwriting tool at your disposal.
Ten of the most effective tips to become a better songwriter and write truly impactful lyrics are there you have it!
But, what if you need additional support when writing songs? You might want to read the last subheading to determine how to hire a personal songwriting instructor.
Find singing lessons Bristol here on Superprof.
Where to Find a Private Tutor to Improve Songwriting Skills?
All ten tips for writing lyrics in today's article are guaranteed to work, and songwriters are assured of seeing results in their abilities. Nonetheless, there is one suggestion that wasn't mentioned. What's that? Hiring a private tutor.
The personalised attention and the fantastic advice from a personal songwriting coach greatly help aspiring songbirds find their unique writing voice and be proud of the songs they have come up with.
Whether you're taking classes in-person or online, lyrics' tutors tailor their instruction to match your needs and are ready for lessons at a time most convenient for you. Count me in!
However, with so many different tutoring communities offering their expert services, which one should you choose when writing lyrics in the UK? The answer is simple: Superprof!
With more than 17 million academic instructors that specialise in providing tuition in 1000+ topics of interest, Superprof is a trusted site when it comes to private tutoring and e-learning.
The following are a few reasons why you should consult with Superprof when learning how to write song lyrics:
- Affordable tuition,
- An easy-to-use lesson booking software,
- A fantastic tutor/student support staff that is ready to answer any of your questions,
- A variety of face-to-face and virtual tutors.
Also, it's worth bringing out the point that if you're a new student with Superprof, the first time is 100% free of charge; now that's enticing!
In conclusion, learning to perfect your song lyrics through helpful advice will set you on the right path to success.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
