Entry #1
Hi! My name is Austin Manore and I really enjoy songwriting! Have you ever listened to an amazing song, with some of the best lyrics you've ever heard? The majority of us probably have, and if you haven't, you're really missing out. A great song with meaningful lyrics has the capacity to change you! When I listen to these songs it often sparks the question, "How can I write a song like that?" In the weeks ahead, I hope to take you on the "song-writing journey!" Let's discover together how songs happen!
To summarize, song writing is rarely easy. It takes time and effort. It takes breaks. It takes passion, and it draws on friendship. Applying these five tips is great starting point. So, print them out, mount them on the walls of your "song-writing closet," and get to work! Applying these tips could be the very thing that brings about that first grammy! See you down the road!
As I prepared for this journey, I found a treasure chest full of song-writing gold just a few clicks away *(feel free to heck out the links below for some samples). My first stop was at a great blog known as "Song Town." The author of this blog helps us to think through the process of songwriting. There are five different steps we can take to write these great lyrics.
Tip #1: "Start with a strong concept!" Bluntly, it's hard to write a song if you don't know what you're passionate about. Without passion and conviction, your song just won't feel real. So, we need to ask ourselves questions like, "Does this idea make me feel good?" For example, If I read a Bible verse and it really stands out to me, then it's an easy song-writing segue.
Tip #2: "Prioritize the hook!" Just like in writing essays, the hook is the heartbeat to the song. The hook is what the listener will remember after they've listened to the song. If we, as songwriters, can make an amazing hook, everything else will just fall into place.
Tip #3: "Focus on the emotion!" For many, wearing headphones and listening to music is a tool of relaxation. Music is free therapy! Many don't just listen to songs, they feel them! The way we can do this is to use life experiences and transform them into something to sing about. Taylor Swift, Jellyroll, and Phil Wickham are just a few examples of turning your deepest experiences into chart toppers. Your experiences are unique; but, they also rhyme with the experiences of others. So, sing about the things that draw out your deepest emotions.
Tip #4: "Collaborate." The professional songwriters that are most familiar to us frequently write songs with others to draw on shared experiences, learn new techniques, and come up with new song ideas. Great songwriters draw on the strengths of other songwriters. Many minds to develop a single idea--don't be afraid to share your thoughts and experiences with others.
Finally, Tip #5: "Edit relentlessly!" Most works of art weren't created overnight. So, we shouldn't think that a great song has to be written in one sitting. Take breaks, talk with others, think with your eyes closed, sleep on your ideas. Every time you step away could be the "break" that makes the song great!
To summarize, song writing is rarely easy. It takes time and effort. It takes breaks. It takes passion, and it draws on friendship. Applying these five tips is great starting point. So, print them out, mount them on the walls of your "song-writing closet," and get to work! Applying these tips could be the very thing that brings about that first grammy! See you down the road!
Austin, writing a song from scratch seems so difficult! There is so much that goes into it and to even sound pleasing. Good luck with your journey!
ReplyDeleteAustin, I loved hearing your take on music. I'd love to hear one of your songs sometime. It is interesting to think of how music is self expression and maybe I'd learn a lot about you by just hearing a song or 2
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