Songwriting is an intriguing process and every songwriter has their own ways of writing a song. It can be a little overwhelming at times when you have to put a whole song through your head and write it down. Some songwriters also go through writer’s block when they have absolutely no idea where to begin with. While the creative process might be different for everyone, breaking down the steps can help to find a direction that offers a more organic progression. Here are a few tips to nourish your songwriting skills.
1. Listen to More Music & Find More Inspiration
Inspiration is the source of creativity. That is why there are pioneers and legends in the music industry who have helped many other artists nurture their craft and become the next superstars. Therefore, listening to more songs and finding inspiration is the first and most important step to ignite the process. There is a category for inspiration. So, not just your genre but listen to everything. You never know what might strike you.
2. Opt for a Theme of Concept
Every song has a certain mood or feelings to it that channel through the listeners. This essence in music can help to shape your songwriting process for the composition. For example, if you are planning to make an upbeat and invigorating track, optimistic and happy lyrics can go better while a dark or soft ambiance is better suited to sad lyrics. However, you can also do experiments by combining the styles. Make sure to stick to to concept that sets the standard for the end product.
3. Creating a Riff or Chord Progression
It is also important to spend time with different chord progressions and riffs to find the right mood for the track that compliments the theme. Take your guitar and try out different progressions and riffs at different tempos which can help to find the right one. You can project your lyrics based on the progression and get a preview of how will it sound. It is recommended to brush up your music theory knowledge before you start songwriting.
4. Craft the Rhythm Section
Once you have decided on the main chords or the riff, you can add some drum and bass along with guitar which allows creating a soundscape for your song. Usually, the majority of the bass lines follow the root of chords and progression while reflecting the mood and tempo of the track. This helps to create the backbone for the song.
5. Time to Add Some Melodies
Melodies are mainly played over the rhythm guitar which compliments the lead guitar and makes your song more groovy and captivating. Melodies can be created with sound and you can even create synth melodies or samples with digital influence. The idea is to sync with the rhythm and chord so that the whole foundation creates the perfect base for your lyrical approach.
6. Write the Lyrics!
This is perhaps the most intimidating step for many music artists. However, it can be done easily if you do not consider the whole project all together. Writing a 3-minute long track in a single go is not always possible. So, it is more helpful if you divide the whole project into smaller chunks. A common song structure mainly follows the sections like,
• Intro
• Verse
• Pre Chorus
• Chorus x2
• Bridge or Middle 8
• Double Chorus in the end
Not necessarily you will have to follow the same structure but the foundation more or less remains the same. It is recommended to keep a thesaurus by your side to have better words in your lyrics.
7. Figure Out Vocals
It can take much time to find the ideal vocals for your music and it includes vocal melodies, ad-libs, and backing vocals as well. Once you find the vocal melody that suits your songs, you can add backing vocals and harmonies which makes the song more impactful and hooky.
8. Final Evaluation
This is the final step where you need to figure out whether you are happy with the results. Is this the song that you have been trying to create? You need to listen to your songs neutrally and critically to find more room to work on. It is better if you can get all the corrections done by the production stage so that you can make the adjustments while recording it.
Concluding Thoughts
Like any other skills, songwriting skills are also developed through practice and a series of trial and error. Just like Alex Turner said, “If anyone asks me about songwriting, I guess I’d say that you just gotta do it;” and that is key. Embark on your songwriting journey and be consistent with your writing process to become successful.
