Songwriting Tips: A Common Problem That Songwriters Face
- Posted by Essays Blog in Essays Blog |
- September 18th, 2009 |
- Comments
Here is a common problem that one of my subscribers expressed to me recently…
“I’m 16 and the main problem is, I know what I deprivation to compose, but when I do compose it down I just believe it sounds lame”
Now she’s 16 years old, but I’m pretty careful that this problem transcends all ages.
The actuality is, nearly every abstraction *I* put down I also believe sounds lame also… at least at first. We all have to believe that in most cases you will never compose a ‘great song’ the first time around. It doesn’t happen that artifact.
I always jokingly tell those who are aspiring songwriters that “you aren’t in the business of writing songs, but more like… you’re in the business of editing them”.
By that I mean, you’re not necessarily ‘song writing’, but rather ‘song crafting’. That’s why they call it a craft, and that’s how you should be cerebration. It’s about constantly editing and re-arranging your song until you accompany it fit to be heard by other listeners. When you have a song down, don’t just let it act thither. Belief me, it ain’t finished.
Thither may be exceptions to the rule, but mostly - you will allay have activity to do.
Listen to the line… could it do with a change of melody? Does it tie in advantageously with the chorus or Pre-Chorus? Does the song make meaning lyrically? Block out of the song for a moment… would you dig the song if you were an outsider listening in? Does the song bore YOU? What could you do to change that?
Now, you don’t have to go mad here. Don’t nit-pick every little knock and cranny - that will only drive you crazy. Accept in the first instance of what you feel could do with re-working, so DO IT. Change it up… and make it better.
Critiquing your own song is probably one of the most difficult things to do in songwriting - but it CAN be done relatively easily. It involves you really having to booth apart from your song and looking at it a little objectively.
By listening to the song from other people ears can do wonders for your songwriting.
After you have done this, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag… BUT only for a limited audience.
What do I mean by that?..
…I mean, you should now play your song to a fellow musician, singer or songwriter. All III if you can. If it’s individual you respect, so even better. Here’s the appropriateness: Thither is no better artifact to drastically improve your songwriting so when you actually begin to listen to your song tho’ another songwriters/musician’s ears - of whom you respect. That’s the crowning.
In fact, I’ll have that one more time so you can engrave this phrase in your mind…
Thither is no better artifact to drastically improve your songwriting so when you actually begin to listen to your song tho’ another songwriters/musician’s ears - of whom you respect.
If you don’t have a friend who’s a songwriter or a musician that you admire and/or respect, so go get one. Honestly. Befriend one. Develop any kinda relationship with one. FIND one. It will be the greatest move you ever make in songwriting.
Eventually, you won’t have to keep asking for feedback from them because you will presently be able to listen to your song ‘through his/her ears’. That’s why the above paragraph is so crucial to your songwriting achiever.
I’m convinced that should you follow the advice in this article that your songwriting will reach to it’s highest degree. Not only that, but you’ll achieve a higher level of songwriting in a shorter area of time.
Finally, remember you will get better as you compose more and more. By definition, if you do something more than often, you will get better at it. So keep at it and for goodness sakes, ENJOY it