Lyrical Approaches to Songwriting

I’ve been putting off writing this post for awhile because it is the most intimidating to me. There are so many different approaches to songwriting–song forms, styles, etc–and there really is no wrong way to write a song because it depends on what works for each individual musician. With all the elements that make up songwriting, this can be a potentially daunting topic. I’m not a professional songwriter, but I am a vocalist and a performer, continuously trying to find new ways to connect with the audience. Although I’m no expert, if my songwriting approach can help at least a couple individuals get their ideas out easier, then I’m okay with that.

Tips for Lyric Writing

Here are a few quick suggestions to help get started in the process of lyric writing (something that I am fairly more comfortable with). Again, these are some of my strategies for getting my ideas out; you can pick and choose what you like from each to create your own original sound.

1. Always have a notebook/paper and pen handy.
Sometimes ideas hit you at the weirdest, most in-opportune times. Make sure you’re ready to jot it down before you forget that phrase or idea.

2. Have something that you can record with handy.
One of the great things about cell phones is the fact that almost every mobile phone comes with a recording device built into the phone; both video and audio. It’s always easier for me to write lyrics if I have a melody already in my head. When that random melodic idea hits you, you need something to record it so you won’t forget it.

3. Pick a theme or main idea for the song you’re writing.
Are you writing about love? Friendship? Loss? Enjoying life? Whatever it is, focus on that theme and think about what phrases, images, sayings come to mind when you think or talk about this idea. I tend to go the writer’s route on this one: make a bubble chart. These allow you to see what some of the key elements are of the theme you picked and what other things are associated with it, helping you to keep a central focus and develop more ideas.

4. Listen to some of your favorite singers and/or groups. Then listen to different and new artists.
They can help you get ideas for song form and approaches to writing lyrics. Are their verses literal or filled with imagery? Do they just have one verse that they repeat multiple times or do they choose the classic “verse/chorus/verse/chorus” route? It’s okay to emulate something that you hear when first starting out; just make sure to give credit where credit is due.

5. Listening to looped tracks on Garage Band, Sibelius, or even Youtube helps.
Seriously it does. I like to create melodies and lyrics that have come to me while listening to looped tracks and have even used some of these ideas in my own songwriting. This can also help with your improvisation skills because you learn how to create words and melodic phrases on the spot.

This post mainly focuses on the lyrical aspect of songwriting, but there is also the harmonic and melodic side of it. I will admit, I am seriously lacking when it comes to composing and arranging, so I will leave a link here to check out a great post at themusicorum.com, called “Song Writing 101: Part 1–Getting Started,” where David Castañeda writes about tools and hacks when it comes to composing and arranging. There are also other great resources that you can find in that post that will aide you in your compositions.

I hope that this post helped you get started in your creative process. However you choose to write, remember that there is no real right or wrong way to write songs, as long as it is something that is your own voice.