Tyler Rodgers

Ms. Farnsworth

English 102

1/12/10

How to become a songwriter

The first step to becoming a songwriter or even just to write a song is to find

something inside of you that makes you feel inspired. The most common place to pull

from is your own life experiences. For example, look inside your self and remember a

time when you felt like there was a strong emotional stage you were going through. This

tends to be the easiest place in our life’s to draw inspiration from. But a sad, deep, dark

place doesn’t always have to be the core of a song. Most of the time depending on your

audience, a more up beat tempo is what’s more favorable. For example, remember the

feeling you got when ever you finally got that Christmas gift that you had always been

dreaming for? Now apply that excitement to a song and try to make your audience feel

the same way. Get the idea? The most important thing about a song is the feeling that

comes from it.

Concept is another very important factor. So let’s say your concept is you first

kiss, (assuming it was a very good kiss) now close your eyes and try to remember just

how exciting and nervous you felt. Try to recall the place you at, the time of day, the

year, and even the texture of how soft those lips were. The point of this is you want the

song to as “real”, as possible. You want your audience to feel like they are that person

you were kissing. You want them to feel so captivated that they want to hear it again.
 Knowing how to play a musical instrument can also be very helpful. This can give

you the support you need to make up your own melody to the song. Guitar and piano are

the most common instruments songwriters write songs to. You don’t have to be the next

Billy Joel/ Jimmy Hendrix but at least know a few chords progressions that fit together

and sound good. Once you find you chord progression, begin writing your melody.

The melody is meant to complement the lyrics. A good technique is to play your

chord progression and just sing off random lines from the top of your head. Since your

singing about you first kiss, just ramble off things about the experience. Eventually you’ll

find a “catch” you like and may want to use that for the final song. Now you’re on your

way! Simply keep repeating this process until you have a chorus or a verse or even parts

of both.

Bring it together, now that you have all of the forms of the song complete its time

to bring everything together. Think of what grabs your ear the most. Is it the chorus? If so

you might want to start of with that. Really just do whatever feels natural and right for the

song. Also, always keep going back over the lyrics to make them the best they can be,

and really that’s it! Just remember in the words of Willy Nelson “It’s easy to write a song

but it’s hard to write a good song.” Your first songs unless you’re the next Beatles most

likely won’t be that great but keep on writing and like anything else your skills will

become better and better and who knows maybe in a few years you be livin’ the lifestyles

of the rich and famous!