10 Tips for Being a Better Songwriter

It does’t take much to turn a mediocre song into something to get excited about. We at Rapture Sound Studio of Syosset have compiled these 10 tips on songwriting to help guide musicians to make better music. Songwriting is more about inspiration and bringing out natural musical instincts than anything else. These 10 tips are sure to help develop your songwriting skills and get you out of a musical rut.

Practicing in one of our rehearsal rooms is a great way to help develop your skill and bring focus to your projects. We also provide a space for musicians to talk and share ideas and experiences when writing songs and playing music.

 

1. Unlearn What You’ve Learned

As songwriters, we tend to obsess about doing things the “right” way. However in doing this, you may get caught in a rut of not being able to invent something new. Don’t be afraid to break the rules…especially your own!

 

2. Work Well with Others

This isn’t always easy. But the reality is that more heads are better than one. Working with others helps you to move away from your comfort zone and get more input to make better songs.

 

3. Reverse It

If you have found a chord sequence you are pleased with but are not sure where to go with it, simply reverse it and see what you have. Also extending the length of play time of the chords might bring in a bit a variation.

 

4. Carry a Song Journal…Always

You never know when a good idea may strike. You may think you will remember it, but the odds are that you won’t even remember that you tried to remember something. Also, you will be more conscious during your day to day of your art and find inspiration in everyday places.

 

5. Seriously Consider a Key Change

We all have our comfort zones and it’s easy to just stay there. If you don’t change up the key you are playing or singing in, you run the risk of everything sounding the same.

 

6. Bring the ‘Middle Eight’ into your Structure

This is a distinct section of a song, but not strictly eight bars in length. The middle eight breaks up the conventional verse/chorus or verse/chorus/bridge progression.

 

7. Get a Room

Music will sound very different depending on where it is you are playing it. The tiles in the bathroom make a nice dramatic echo that is very good for inspiration. For a real and unhindered sound, consider a rehearsal room that is stack with state of the art equipment. Hearing your music in a pure form is great for tweaking and improving what you already have down.

 

8. Take a Break

If you have been working on something for hours and are still not getting anywhere, it may be time for a break. Some times doing something unrelated and giving your ears a break is enough to get you out of the rabbit hole of bad ideas.

 

9. Write for the Song, not for Other Musicians

Making a connection between you and the listener is about an organically good song, not by making something that’s deliberately complex. Let your talent shine through without showing off all your chops at once.

 

10. Keep it Fresh

When you do something that people really like, it’s ok to do it twice to reinforce it. But just like a joke, after you tell it a few times it’s just not funny. And it might even be annoying! Keep things fresh by changing up your patterns.