Songwriting Tips For Beginners

Songwriting is a skill that cannot be taught. It needs to come from within. Musicians or lyric composers usually write instinctively, by getting ideas from the music around them or by seeking inspiration for their melodies. However, one certainly needs some talent to begin with, but your song writing skills can be honed to perfection. The songwriting tips below can help you compose a number when you are stuck for ideas.

If you have already got a chord pattern for a part of a song but are stuck with the next part, a good idea would be to try and reverse the chord order of the earlier part and use it for the next part. To add some variety, you could also halve the notes for a chorus which will create the impression of an increased tempo.

If you always play a keyboard, use a guitar for a change and see if that makes a difference.  Alternately, if you always play a guitar, try playing around with a keyboard as piano sounds can sometimes give rise to interesting tunes. Another innovation would be to try using a mix of the keyboard and the guitar.

It is also a good idea to collect a list of potential song titles. Whenever you hear a nice word or an evocative verse, you can add it to your list and use it when you are trying to come up with new tunes.

Listen to as many of songs sung by other people, as you can. Focus on the works of classic songwriters as well as the latest in the market, and try to reflect on what makes these songs sound so good. Keep in mind, this is not stealing, it is studying music.

 Analyse your favorite songs and try to write a set of new lyrics for your favorite song or set the existing lyrics to a new tune. You could also try writing a theme song for a film that already does not have it. It is useful to always carry a notebook when with you when you are on the move, so that you can jot down any sudden ideas or momentary inspiration that occurs while you go about your daily business. Also, you could try free association of ideas for a subject, when you know the theme but are stuck trying to think of how to begin. Write down the words and feelings that come to your mind about that subject. You will see that ideas are coming through gradually.

Though some people may find it difficult to create lyrics which rhyme, rhyming is important although not every song has to rhyme. However, be careful of overdoing it as bad rhyming can be jarring to the listener. For help with rhyming, you could get a rhyming dictionary which will give you a list of synonyms for a word, and could be a useful tool for a songwriter. You could also get some books to help you compose a song.

Well, what are you waiting for? Having read these songwriting tips outlined above, the only thing remaining is for you to go out and unleash your creativity.