Are there songwriting tasks you find frustrating? Do you dread doing lyrics? Are melodies a miserable muddle? You’re not alone. Everyone has their songwriting trouble spots. I certainly have mine. So, I decided to take a poll on my Facebook page to find the biggest bugaboos. I got 180 responses which, I think, gives a fairly good idea of what songwriters are thinking.
The question was “What do you think is the hardest part of songwriting?” I started out with just four categories —Lyrics, Melody, Chords, and Song Structure—the usual suspects. I asked people to vote for the ones that were hardest for them and I invited them to add their own categories which they promptly did! They added challenges like getting started, writing contemporary songs, writing in a genre, and more. They’ll get no argument from me. These are all difficult aspects of songwriting and I’m always looking for ways to make them easier. So here are the results of my unofficial poll.
#1. LYRICS
Voters ranked lyrics as their number one trouble spot. While there are some music genres where lyrics can be a little lightweight, like Club Dance, most genres demand a solid lyric theme and development that engages the listener. Contemporary Country lyrics are particularly strong, and today’s Pop, Rock, and R&B hits are filled with fresh rhymes, insights, and emotion. So, what is it about the lyrics in songs by Adele, Scott McAnally, and Ryan Tedder that make listeners want to hear more?
I’ve been posting so many lyric tips lately, it’s hard to pick just one. Check out a few of the lyric posts here for ideas.
#2. MELODY
Writing melodies was also challenge for most people. When writing melody and chords at the same time, we tend to fall into habits. We start lines when the chord changes on Beat 1 or use the same transition from the verse to the chorus or fall into the same rhythm patterns over and over. I’ve got a few solutions and suggestions that will get you out of your rut and writing contemporary melodies in no time. Check out the posts on writing and rewriting your melody here.
#3. FINDING A UNIQUE IDEA
There aren’t a lot of new, never-before-heard song ideas. To give listeners something they haven’t heard before, try a unique approach or a new angle. Take a different attitude towards a situation (“You left me & I’m so glad!”) or an unusual point of view. Pick a question or concern we don’t often put into words: Blake Shelton’s “Who Are You When I’m not Looking?” is a great example. Look at your honest reactions to situations and people and you’re likely to find new ways of saying things. You can also get ideas from TV shows, books, and tabloid newspapers. Don’t write the obvious. Look for something surprising! You’ll find more tips and tools for helping you develop an original theme idea here.
#4. GETTING MORE EMOTION INTO YOUR SONGS
Rather than telling a story, many of today’s hit songs go deep into a single moment when the singer’s emotions reached a peak. Put yourself into that moment and imagine it as vividly as you can. How does it feel? What do you say or do to express the feeling? Describe it in physical terms. (Like walking thru fire. Riding a wave. Flying. Falling.) This type of emotionally focused lyric works very well for both radio and film & TV. You’ll find more ideas for adding emotion to your lyric in this post.
#5. DEVELOPING AND FINISHING THAT GREAT IDEA
Just like an artist sketches the idea for a painting in pencil before applying the final paint, try roughing out a sketch of your song. Get an idea of the flow, the path of the whole song before trying to write those perfect lines for your first verse. Here’s a post that will show you how to develop your lyric like a three-stage rocket, going from start to finish without getting sidetracked or stuck.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
The most important insight I took away from the poll is that everyone has trouble with at least one aspect of songwriting. Even successful songwriters know what it’s like to hit a wall. But pro songwriters have one advantage: they can work their way through the problem by relying on their command of song craft.
Songwriting is part inspiration and part hard, slogging work. The inspiration part is always fun. We all love that moment when a great line just pops out or the idea for a song is born in a flash of energy. But relying on inspiration alone to carry you through is not enough, especially if you’d like to market your songs to the music industry. When you decide to make a living (or even a little extra income) from songwriting, you need to be able to bust through those trouble spots. The song craft tips and tools on this website can help you do it. So what are you waiting for? You can do this!