Anybody can write a song. The only thing is, some do not have the passion for it. Some just don't believe in themselves. Songwriting is about putting life and drama to what you have to say. King David of the Bible sang his prayers to God through the Psalms. He was able to fully express His love for God through music.
Well, okay some people may not be musically inclined or can't hit the right note most of the time. But the truth is, all these people need is just some good old fashioned practice. Yes, that's right practice makes perfect. If you can't get it right the first time, then probably you'll get it at the 100th time. Just like songwriting, you don't get it the first time and have a number 1 hit. It takes time, effort, and lots of love for music and your message. Here are some songwriting tips that should help you in your songwriting journey:
S - sing always
O - orchestrate inspiration
N - note take
G - gather inputs
Sing Always. Yes, sing in the shower, sing in the garden, sing while working. Sing, sing, sing. As you do this, try singing or humming a new tune. Do this habitually. Sing a new song everyday, regardless of its structure and logic. Just get the knack of always creating new melodies. What's even more important is to record your songs. You can use a portable cassette recorder or if your cell phone has a recording feature, go ahead and record your tunes. Anytime, you can go back to your tunes and plan it better until you are able to make the desired sequence, theme, and melody.
Orchestrate Inspiration. To orchestrate, according to the dictionary is "to arrange or manipulate, esp. by means of clever or thorough planning or maneuvering." Yes, we can orchestrate inspiration. The usual excuse of people not being able to write songs is that they are "not inpspired." I believe that inspiration doesn't just come. Inspiration is something we set up. Different people have different ways to be inspired. Some plan a trip. Some read a book. Some surround themselves with nature. Some pray. Some meet someone they love. What's important is, you set yourself up and anticipate inspiration. You don't wait to be inspired, because the thing is, it might never come at all, unless you do something.
Note Take. It's crucial to have a little notebook that you carry always. You'll never know when words suddenly pop up in your brain, in the most inappropriate of situations like being in school or at work. It happens to me all the time. Suddenly I sense a line of song lyrics. Or words that fit in the tune I created a month ago. Most of the time, if we just store it in our memory bank, we tend to forget and spend most of our songwriting time just recalling what it was. Writing lyrics doesn't have to be poetic right away. It can be written in free verse and if you want, you can improve the endings by changing it to a rhyming pattern. Just have a notebook with you all the time.
Gather Inputs. Some songwriters just like to keep songs only for themselves. Not because its a private thing, but because they are afraid to be criticized. But the truth is gathering inputs is the the only way you can improve. If we are willing to take some blows and be humble enough to heed advice, then we can only become better. Of course, there are some comments that are totally non constructive, this is because each of us have our own preferences in melody and message. What's important is to get inputs from somebody you respect and it would also be good if you talk to a fellow songwriter who doesn't hold back his opinions.
Well, that's it. Hope you learned something about songwriting. Now, get that pen and paper and put some lyrics into that humming melody inside your head.
