In some ways, when it comes to writing songs, there is no right or wrong way of doing it, you just have to give it a go and see what happens. But to create a good song, one that will engage people, and one that they will remember, well that can take a certain amount of skill, technical ability, and imagination. Hopefully these tips will help you, as you take a journey into the exciting, and rewarding world of writing songs!

General Tips

• Self belief is one of the most important tools that any songwriter can have. Get out there, get inspired, and see what happens. You won’t learn and develop unless you have the confidence to try things out, experiment, and see what happens.
• Playing to your strengths is also important. There’s no point trying to write an arrangement on an instrument you’re not competent enough with, and while you want to be happy with what you are writing. It doesn’t always follow that you’re strengths will lead you in the direction of your favourite bands either.
• There are many different ways you can structure a song, but there are some common elements that a listener, especially one in the music industry will look out for. These include strong hooks, that is to say parts of the melody or lyrics that are easy to remember, an interesting intro, smooth ending, and in some cases a catchy chorus as well. Try to assemble your song so all the parts are as strong as they can be, and there’s a contrast where necessary between the verse and chorus.
• When you have struck gold with a memorable hook, be it part of the music or lyric, add it into your song more than once, but don’t get too repetitive, or it will bore the listener.
• Interviews with famous songwriters, musicians, and producers, can prove to be a fascinating source of inspiration. Find out how Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and many others wrote their biggest hits, and learn from this, then create your own identity!
• Recording songs in a studio can be expensive. So make sure you choose one that will suit your budget, but will also give you the quality of demo you are looking for. Request sound samples and testimonials, ask for recommendations, and ensure you are fully prepared before your session.
• If recording at home, be aware that songwriting software can take up quite a lot of memory space on your computer, especially if you’re super keen and you explore the world of sound effects plug-ins. Always make sure you have the right amount of memory/disc space with your programs, and expect the system to be a bit slower if you add a lot onto your PC. It may also be worth searching for some help guides or advice to use your chosen programs in the beginning, as they can take some getting used to.

Lyrics

• Realise that sometimes what may look good on paper, does not always translate into flowing lyrics in a song. Less can be more, in terms of numbers of and types of words and phrases.
• Don’t try too hard to get everything to rhyme, it can compromise the quality of the song, and if you use a rhyming dictionary, you will find many half rhymes and sound-alike words to use in your lyrics.
• If you’re stuck on how to start, dig out your favourite albums, search for the lyric sheets, and look at how the stars have structured, and written their songs.
• Never throw any lyrics away, no matter how bad you may think they are. If you’re suffering from writers block, come back to the ideas, or store them away. They may come in useful in the future.
• If you just write lyrics, seek advice and feedback from singers, songwriters, and musicians as to how your lyrics flow, and what sort of style song they could be used for. This will help keep the creativity flowing, and improve your techniques.
• Writing about what you know and feel can produce some highly engaging lyrics, but you don’t always have to write in the first person. Try looking at situations from different angles/other peoples experiences.

As mentioned at the top, songwriting can be a very rewarding experience, and when you hit upon a great idea, the buzz is something special. Prepare, research, experiment, explore, and who knows where songwriting will take you. You may just end up writing another chart hit. But whatever happens, be sure you’re comfortable with all the tools you are using, and have confidence in your abilities.