Making a song is like a project, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Where to start is the first important decision you’ll face.
Some artists start with a title, a lyric, or a topic, while others might play around with a chord progression, a melody, and a rhythmic feel or tempo. There really isn’t any right or wrong way to go about it. It comes down to what works best for you. You don’t have to always use the same approach either; you can try different approaches for different songs.
It’s important to write on a regular basis so you can develop your skills and a body of work. Understand that you will have to write many songs to end up with a few good ones. Most professional Songwriters have catalogues with hundreds of songs, and that doesn’t happen overnight. If you’ve decided you are a Songwriter, you’d best get to work writing songs.
It’s easy to say “just start.” But where? Try putting yourself in a personal space where the inspiration is likely to hit you. For example, if you like to be in nature, or by the seashore, or in a big city, you could have an idea for a song come to you seemingly out of nowhere. Be attuned to these moments, and be sure to carry a little songwriting notebook with you where you can jot down any ideas that come to you.
Many accomplished Songwriters say they do this. It could be some words, a phrase, a title, a melody, or chords. Just write it down so you can return to it later.
What makes good songwriting?
I think, truth, I think resonance of a lyric with a melody. Sometimes you just can’t believe how perfectly a lyric fits the melody. It makes you feel exactly what that lyric is saying. That to me is always like “wow, I can’t believe it.” Everything is just putting me in that spot that wants to feel. That’s why people fall in love with music, with different songs and different artists because it’s something that resonates with you and is on a frequency that your heart recognizes somehow.
How do you write your first song ever?
Whether you are writing for the first time or have written a few songs, it’s a good idea to investigate some of the common techniques used by Songwriters everywhere. There are excellent sources for this, ranging from books about music and articles, to blogs (like this one), YouTube videos, interviews with artists, and even liner notes on albums. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Do some homework to get yourself prepared. Of course, if you play an instrument or sing (voice is considered an instrument) you will have some advantage, and the more familiar you are with the style of music you want to write in, the better.
Familiarity can come from repeated and prolonged listening, attending concerts, and analyzing what you hear, especially the music you like the most. Do everything you can to assimilate as much as possible about good music and what goes into creating it. You could even hang around with some Songwriters to pick up the tricks of the trade.
Once you’ve prepared yourself, you should set aside some time to write. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Sometimes you hear about a famous song that was written in an hour, but this isn’t the reality for most Songwriters, and especially if you are just starting. The main point is to start, somewhere, and then put in the time and effort needed to get results. Follow the steps as they’ve been laid out for you by others. Get into a groove.
This will look different for everyone, and you should not fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Put aside the time, start, put in the work, rinse, and repeat. Take comfort in the knowledge that many others have walked the same path, and struggled with the creative process of writing songs. They succeeded, and so will you.
How can I make a song at home?
To write a song at home, you technically don’t need anything but your voice. You can come up with a melody a capella and then write lyrics to that melody. But ideally, you’ll also have an instrument at home so you can find the chord progression. The chords are important because they can affect the overall vibe of the song, which can change where you take the melody and even the lyrics.