6 Songwriting Secrets to Get You Started

Think for a few moments of the last time you were truly moved by music. What was it that caught your attention?

Was it the technical ability of the musician, the impressive fretwork of the guitarist as his fingers ripped up and down the fretboard? Or was it the simplicity of a melody, the phrasing of the lyrics, or the emotions conveyed to you by the musician?

When asked this question most people would immediately give you a song as an example, and for me the ultimate achievement as a musician is to be able to compose and play a beautiful song that has this capacity to move and affect other people.

Technical ability plays a part in being able to do this, but its certainly not the most important factor, and any level of player can write a good song, so don't be put off!

To get started, I've written six tips that will help you to focus and get writing..

1. Choose a subject to write about that is close to your heart. The most effective things to write about are those that you feel passionately about. This doesn't automatically mean writing about love and the ladies (or gentlemen), but it does mean finding a topic that you care about, and trying to convey your thoughts and feelings about this to your listeners.Personal experiences are often a good place to start as you are writing about what you know and you are more likely to create a message or convey emotions that ring true. Keeping to simple, personal topics also means that others are more likely connect and relate to what you are saying. So the key ideas to remember are;
   • Care about your subject
   • Keep it personal
   • Write from the heart
2. Keep your melody simple. The melody of a song is what is usually called the 'tune', and in most songs this is carried by the voice and contains the lyrics. When starting to write simplicity is again the key.The aim of the songwriter should not be to cover as many notes as possible in the space of a single word, it should be to stir the emotions of the listener and carry the message of the song to the audience in a powerful and affecting way.

   Also try to make sure that the melody complements and doesn't work against your message and the emotions you are wanting to convey.

   No matter what your favoured style or genre of music is you should always remember that there is effectiveness in simplicity and that is often these songs which are the most successful. 'Wooden Heart' by Elvis, or AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' are good examples.

3. Keep your chord changes simple. Again the key when you start songwriting is to aim for simplicity. The initial aim of your songwriting should be to connect with your listeners on an emotional level, not to dazzle them with clever chord changes or your technical brilliance.Many of the most memorable and classic songs of our time are based on the simplest melodies and the easiest chord changes. Think about the Beatles' 'Love Me Do', or Hank Williams' 'Your Cheating Heart'. Not to everyone's taste, but undeniably memorable, simple and hugely popular songs.

   Choose chords and techniques which you are proficient at and comfortable with. this will help you to avoid becoming frustrated, and will allow you to concentrate on using the music to convey the message and emotions of the song. So the important things to remember when writing both a melody and chord changes are:

   • Simplicity
   • Proficiency at and comfort with the techniques and chords used
   • Compatibility of the melody to the message
4. Choose a place to write. Where we write can be key in providing us with the stimulation and comfort we need to get going, and to get our creative juices flowing.Environment is often central to creativity, but whilst writing in a quiet, relaxed setting such as the countryside might be perfect for one person, the opposite might be true for another and they will prefer to work in the hustle and bustle of a city centre location.

   Where we write and compose is therefore a highly personal decision, but to start with it can help if it is somewhere that matches or stimulates the emotions you are writing about, and where you are unlikely to be interrupted or distracted.

5. Pick up an instrument to inspire you. Often just picking up an instrument and playing around at getting some notes out of it can result in a little ditty that could become the beginnings of song.Its a bit like the musical equivalent of doodling, a process which can be surprisingly successful in establishing the basics of an effective idea! Once the the idea for a tune has taken root, the important thing is to let that idea develop in your imagination until you can picture what the finished song will 'look' like.

   The instrument is really just a prop in this process rather than an essential tool.

6. Share your song and seek constructive criticism

Your song may be an intensely personal thing and written for yourself, or something you that was written explicitly for the enjoyment of others, but either way once its finished it will be impossible to truly judge its success unless you ask what other people think about it.

Try not to worry about being criticised and remember that people learn best through trial, error, and honest feedback. Writing songs is usually about causing a reaction of some sort in other people, so in order to judge if you've achieved the reaction you want, you need to out the song 'out there'.

But also remember that it is always your song, and don't change anything about it just because someone else says you should. Weigh up the comments against your own instincts and come to decision that way.

So there we go! Six pieces of hopefully inspiring advice that should help get you started in your songwriting career. Put aside for a moment thoughts of achieving perfection, pick up your guitar and have fun.