YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR USEFUL SONGWRITING STUFF
Read the 30-Minute Songwriting Session technique I showed you in the previous post to get familiar with this quick, effective approach to writing songs.
Set your timer for 30 minutes, and then follow these ideas for a series of writing workouts that will get your next song started and well on its way to being finished.
Everyone knows what we mean when we say “Practice makes perfect,” whether it’s whacking a golf ball over and over, repeating those dance steps until you can do them in your sleep, or playing the same riff on guitar till it’s smooth as silk. We know things will improve with enough repetition because we can see the results.
But how do you practice songwriting? You can practice piano or guitar to improve your playing, which is good, but it’s not songwriting. You can improve your singing with practice so you can hit notes with confidence, character, and emotion. And that’s really useful, but it’s not songwriting either.
You need to practice writing lyrics that move listeners. You need a workout that strengthens your melodies and provides more choices when writing. Where do you find the repeatable exercises that help you get better at those things?
Answer: By breaking it all down into manageable bits and focusing on areas where you’re having difficulty. So, let’s do it.
Setting goals can shift your songwriting into high gear and help you achieve your dreams. But it’s important to choose your goals carefully.
Pick goals that are achievable. Make sure they’re something you have control over. Avoid vague goals like “I’m going to write a hit song.” Instead, make them specific, break them down into small steps and create a timeline.
Don’t try to do too much – that’s a set up for failure. Instead, pick three or four things you really want to accomplish. Write them down then keep that list where you can see it.
Here are four goals that can get you started.
by Robin Frederick
Q: I have one big problem and I’m wondering if you can help. I have written over 160 songs. My words, melody, and my voice all seem to sound the same. What am I doing wrong?
A: If you have a “signature sound”—your songs have a recognizable style and sound—there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. To my ears, many of Jackson Browne’s songs sound very similar in terms of music and vocals, and he’s certainly successful. He relies on powerful lyrics to tell unique stories filled with emotion and character. Vocals and music are secondary, while the lyrics hold the listener’s attention.
So, the real question is, do listeners respond to your songs and your sound the way you want them to? If you feel you’re not reaching them, then it’s a matter of upping your skills in one or more areas to make your songs more original.
If you want to write songs but you can’t play piano or guitar, don’t let that stop you. There are plenty of online resources and useful tools for creating tracks to write to or accompany your existing melody and lyrics. Even if you’re a musician, it’s fun to use some of these songwriting tools to break out of old habits and get inspired.
Here are some online music creation web sites you can use to create accompaniment for your melody and lyrics or provide a music track to write to. I like to write to a guitar or drum groove to get a feel for the energy of the song I’m writing. It puts me in the mood. Or you can create a track to fit what you’ve already written.
Splice.com – If you’ve got a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a music app you can create current-sounding music tracks with Splice. For a low monthly fee you can download loops, beats, and samples and play with them in any music app, or use their online Beatmaker to create loops to sing to. Just record your voice while the Beatmaker plays.
Loopcloud.com – This website is somewhat similar to Splice. Loopcloud provides royalty-free lookps, samples, and beats. It also has a good array of plugins and effects to play with. Try out a few loops, get inspired, play creatively and see what you end up with. You can get a monthly subscription for under $10.t
You can buy pre-recorded song tracks from DrumsOnDemand.com. These are laid out in Verse/Chorus form and are available in a range of music styles. Most are fully produced with drums, bass, guitar, etc. There are some limitations on uses so read the FAQ sections.
