Tip 1: FORGET ABOUT BEING ORIGINAL!
When I studied at University for my music degree, I was taught from the get-go that everything there is in music to do, has already been done.
Like the saying, “there’s nothing new under the sun” – though we get excited about people putting a new twist on an idea, there is a distinct lack of completely original ideas these days.
To originate new ideas in any art, not just music, you need to be a master! Being original is not the goal– if your aim is to write something completely original that no one has ever heard before, or a new genre no one has ever invented before, then you’ll never, even begin!
We need to take that pressure to be original away and instead IMITATE BEFORE WE INNOVATE! That means, before we create something completely new we need to copy those who’ve come before us.
We can be too scared of copyrights– we shouldn’t plagiarise for commercial projects, but if you’re writing just for your own personal development then, PLAGIARISE SOMEONE!
It doesn’t matter if you’ve accidentally used the same melody as ‘Hey Jude’ by the Beatles. Provided it’s not a commercial release, you can use it as a jumping off point to put your own twist on a song, rather than trying to write something mind-blowingly original from the outset!
Watch this topic on video with Ruth!
Tip 2: HARMONY – KNOW YOUR CHORDS!
The essence of songwriting is to have music that supports the melody. We call this harmony - it’s a bed of chords that create the environment for the melody to thrive.
We need to know about chords so that we can dress up that melody and give the song substance, situation and momentum!
If we know which chords can create which situations and create more or less momentum, then we can create a song with intention!
Tip 3: FRAMEWORK – KNOW YOUR CHORD PROGRESSIONS!
Just like we put foundations and then framework on a house to make it strong, we need a framework to our song!
We have a structure for the song overall (the form), then within each section of that structure, we have a framework of chords that work together to set the scene and push us through the song with momentum.
This is chord progressions! Chord progressions makeup the framework of your song and we need to know about them to use them.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHORD PROGRESSIONS, COME TO THIS MONTH’S LIVE COACHING SESSION!
You’ll learn about the common chord progressions in both major and minor keys, but also HOW to create your OWN chord progressions (and know that they will work!).
Click here to find out more and book your spot!
Tip 4: SET LIMITS!
We normally think of creativity as open, free, unlimited, do whatever you want - for songwriting, I actually recommend setting limits.
Imagine you have a blank piece of paper - and you need to create an incredible picture that says everything about your hearts passion, desire & life purpose…. what do you draw?
DRAWING A BLANK?
Not helpful, right? Because when we don’t have any direction it’s difficult to put pen to paper. Which is why when writing a song we need limits so that we can be creative within direction (you need to know the rules in order to break them!)
Things we can set limits with:
Pick a genre/style of music
Pick a topic you will write about/convey
Pick a key signature!
Pick a song structure (pop song structure, classical, or jazz?)
Even pick a handful of chords that you will stick to!
This helps us to avoid overwhelm and get started, which is the MOST important part of songwriting!
Tip 5: BE A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER!
The kindergarten teacher says that every idea is AMAZING! Every single thing you do is SO exciting and we are so curious about everything that happens in this mind-blowing world!
They’re over-the-top enthusiastic about curiosity, exploration and experimentation!
We want to give ourselves that treatment. Feel excited about the potential of an idea or direction and follow it. Don’t stop yourself with critical judgements but simply say ‘Where to next?’ and follow your nose! (or ear!).
Our tendency is to judge ourselves harshly. We’re our own worst critics because we see an idea before it’s even had the chance to blossom and we shoot it down immediately - suspend that inclination and instead train yourself to be intrigued!
Say something like, “Sure, maybe this doesn’t sound like the most amazing song in the world just yet, but where can I go with this?”
Stop, take a breath, get curious, keep going forward and keep writing the song. Once you have something on paper, you can always go back and tweak things.
This isn’t just pressure that beginner songwriters experience, even experienced musicians are cruel to themselves and apply huge expectations during the songwriting process. It’s not helpful and it doesn’t create conditions of creative freedom!
Yes, we can improve through examination, critique and development – but this shouldn’t be DURING the initial creative process, but after. Rewriting is key!
BONUS TIP: PRACTISE ACTIVE LISTENING!
Active listening is being conscious of what you are listening to and noticing the little things!
You’ll find that as soon as you start writing songs, you’ll start to notice little things you didn’t before in the music you listen to.
All of a sudden notice you notice when the melody gets super interesting, or the chorus feels like such an incredible lift, or they hit an interesting quiet part of the song –lots of little details will start to jump out at you because you are creating those details in your own songs.
Rather than just wait for it to happen automatically, we want to lean in to that active listening–listen out for the details and take a note of things that intrigue you! Perhaps you want to find out more about those details, or keep it as a jump-off point for your next songwriting session!
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