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Songwriting
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 723
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 723 |
So busy with work for a few months (tax season).
Finding Your Creative Voice In Songwriting
1. Get away from trying to create what you think others want to hear. In the beginning, you are just needing to learn to write well, so write where your heart goes. Write what you know in your unique style. Write songs you want to sing and play and that make you happy.
2. Listen to your songwriting heroes, but then go your own way. Listen to other artist's for ideas and inspiration, but then do your thing.
3. Spend some alone and undistracted time (no emails or cell phones) just being with writing your song.
4. Don't be a perfectionist or a procrastinator. Just set down and write. Write lots of bad songs.
5. Get feedback and allow people to be honest. Don't be offended by people's judgments or comments but really listen and see if they have any merit or benefit to you.
6. Contrasts keep songs interesting. Long and short lines. Loud and soft parts. Staccato and legato. High and low. Key changes. Plan each song to be different in some way.
7. Don't "tell" a song. Write like you're writing the details of a video to be done or a movie script to be acted out. Lots of verbs, actions, adjectives, details, colors, imagery. Just telling about your feelings or something that happened can get boring.
8. Be open to trying new things. Don't get in a rut with your songs.
9. Disadvantage of natural talent. It'll only get your so far. Some famous person said it's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Practice and persistence is better than talent. Average people learn better from their failures.
10. See the Big Picture Always - Learn to analyze your songs and ask questions such as What is needed to make this song work? Does it need more emotion? More energy? Is the vocal melody boring? Critique your own songs first.
11. Learn to present your songs in a unique way. Say lyrics in an interesting and unique way.
12. Keep your songs simple and singable.
13. Work with others to expand your boundaries. Working with others or bouncing ideas around can create more energy, ideas and focus.
14. Do something every day, even just 15 minutes. Write a couple lines or a song title, or research something. Work productively and then take breaks. Especially when you're stuck, do something else and relax.
15. Know what you want from songwriting, have long-term and short-term plans. Most importantly, enjoy what you're doing. Write the songs you want to sing in the car or play at the open mic night. Compare yourself and your progress only to yourself a year ago or a month ago.
16. You need to sleep on some songs and give your subconscious time to work it out.
17. Always have a pad of paper close to write down song ideas when they strike you or record on your phone.
Last edited by Belladonna; 01/18/18 10:43 AM.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414 |
These are some great tips, Belladonna! I cognizantly do about half of these and even some of them I definitely do, but without really noticing or telling myself to do. Great list - thanks for sharing 
Cheers,
Deryk
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Songwriting
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 723
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 723 |
Thanks Deryk good to know already do a lot on the list instinctively. I'm a list person, so needed to remind myself of this and thought it might be interesting to others or inspire something new. My day job is getting busy and my time is sooo limited. I purchased the BIAB Ultra but haven't even had a change to use it. But decided I am going to keep writing at least 15 minutes a day, trying to keep my lyric chops functioning. I'll probably try to do the February FAWM, I did it last year. We'll see, but hopefully I'll have lots of material for after this coming May.
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