john

I can identify with that! Welcome to Songstuff

This Is Not A Love Song - PIL

Hi and welcome to Songstuff Michael

Question: Have you learnt how to write songs? Or did you just expect to be able to do it because you could play an instrument or write some pretty words? It's a serious question. It's a very common misconception that somehow because you know what you like, or because you write poems or play an instrument that somehow intuitively you would be able to write songs. True, many writers can pen songs early in their musical career, but often it is because they have taken the same approach they took to learn an instrument to learn how to write songs. By that I mean they actually took the steps to observe the what's, where's and why's of songwriting. No one becomes a good songwriter by blind stumbling. they learn the basics, they experiment and they learn. Somewhere along that journey it clicks. Answer these questions (and you may well know the answers to some): Do you know different song forms / structures and how they work? Do you understand the functions of the different basic song blocks such as verse, chorus, refrain, bridge? Do you understand the different types of song hooks? Do you understand what makes a good hook? Do you understand the difference between theme, message and vehicle? Do you understand Rhyme Scheme and the options available? What about lyrical meter? Do you understand what makes a good title? How about how to write a lyric that makes listeners want to listen to the song? the same applies to melody. Do you understand the essentials of chord progressions or melody composition? I list these (and it is an incomplete list) not to dispirit, but to point out that there are things to learn. if someone studies songwriting and learns how to write a song (and all songwriters do on some level), why on earth do you beat yourself up thinking that it is a personal flaw or failing? if there is a failing it would be that perhaps you have an unrealistic expectation. True you studied music, but that does not a songwriter make. It needs to be learnt with a similar level of detail and willingness to practice and experiment that you applied to learning an instrument. Some writers arrive with a natural aptitude, even then they need to study. Most need to apply discipline to learning. In my experience, most classically trained musicians know little of composition. They tend to be spoon fed their music, but then their training is aimed at producing a musician, not a composer or lyrics writer. I should point out I too was classically trained, at least in some instruments that I play. Learning the basic concepts of lyrics writing doesn't take too long. It's the practice in honing the skill that takes time. Like any instrument, the more you practice, the more you experiment, the more you critique the work of others, the more you exercise those songwriting skills, the faster your skill will improve. If you are struggling with your own work, then critique the work of others. Learn exactly why a lyric or title or hook etc works. After all critique is about observation, analysis and solution finding all couched within discussion. It's a great way to improve your skills without necessarily writing your own. Ideally I would say do both. Keep an open mind. You won't just suddenly produce a masterpiece. What you do to begin with is... learn. Hopefully this will be of help. Keep writing and experimenting. Cheers John

Hi and welcome Dave

Hi Derrick, welcome to Songstuff