Sometimes this is the best place to start. One important note is that a chorus, often referred to as a hook, is the catchiest part of a song. Once you have an idea, try to craft your story across a traditional song form. Pursue whichever one generates the most inspiration. Spend five minutes free-writing on each of the circled titles. Then go back and circle a handful that stand out above the rest. Write them all down in your notebook until your brain is empty. Think of cool words, phrases, or ideas that might appear on a playlist or on the back of an album cover. These are not rules to live by-but if you're just starting out on your songwriting journey, these guidelines may help trigger some ideas.Įxercise: Write a list of song titles. The verses will tell the story, the chorus will summarize the story, and the bridge will often resolve the story. A typical song form will include two verses, three choruses, and a bridge. This means we’re telling a story in form. Lyrics must be able to fit into a song structure. We must understand that lyrics are not just poetry set to music. For myself, I've found it easier to start with harmony, then add melody, and then lyrics, but I have met many writers who have a different process with extremely successful results. However, because at this stage there are no chords or structure, the freedom can often be a detriment. Words are often the first piece we think of when attempting to write a song. Whether a song is about a worldwide event, a political stance, a personal struggle, or a bedtime routine for children, it is still a song. And there are songs for everyone and everything. They can put poetry to melody, creating harmony out of dissonance, and bringing hope, light, or understanding to the most complex issues. A songwriter can give a voice to the voiceless. Victor Hugo once said, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” A songwriter hears the cries of the world and responds with empathy. It is a way of looking at the world internally and externally and expressing that perspective with lyrics, chords, melody, and rhythm. Songwriting is something that anyone can take part in no matter where they are in their musical journey. This antidote perfectly describes why songwriting as a skill is not reserved for the aloof, artsy introspective type, no more than it is for the “talented” and “gifted” few. Yes, it's true: I rap to my children on most evenings. I decided I would just write the song myself! After a few hours locked in my studio, I emerged with a very fun 90s hip-hop style children’s song-a future classic, rightfully entitled “Pajama Time.” The song became an instant hit with my biggest fans, and it is now the top request every night. This is where being a musician really came in handy. After a few bedtimes of just reading the book, I thought to myself: “This must be a song.” I went online and searched for the children’s song called “Pajama Time.” To my surprise (and disappointment), I couldn't find any such song. It was written in a structure that felt more like a song than a typical kid's storybook. The first time we read this goodnight story, I noticed a certain rhythm to the phrases on each page. My kids love to read a book called Pajama Time. It’s a silly children’s book that my wife bought from a souvenir shop in the San Diego mountains.
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