As a singer and songwriter, I often come across many singers who say that they can never seem to write a song or get enough creativity to create their own ideas, even though they sing a lot. I know how frustrating this is because I went through that journey myself since I learned how to sing before writing, as most people do.
The first thing I want to encourage my fellow singers to do is to get the word “can’t” out of their vocabulary! While it may seem impossible at the start of a journey, becoming a songwriter over years of practice can still be possible for you.
One common problem is that singers often expect to go from a level of 1 to 100 overnight in terms of skill when it comes to their writing, but let’s be realistic here! We’ve all got to start somewhere, and you don’t need to be overcritical of yourself when it comes to your musical journey.
Here are a few tips that I would suggest for all of my singers out there who are frustrated with their songwriting abilities.
Collaborate With Writers
The best way to learn and grow as a songwriter is to surround yourself with some of the best ones that you can get access to. Not only do you want to befriend writers, but you want to be there right when they are in the thick of their creative process.
Visit studio sessions, jam sessions, and similar get-togethers where you can watch and take part in some group songwriting exercises and get familiar with how people have different approaches to it all.
Add Individuality To Cover Songs
One of the best ways to get in touch with your own creative ideas without fully writing your own songs is to bring your own flavor to the cover songs that you do perform.
Bring your own ideas in terms of rhythm, melody, and emotion when it comes to songs you are already really familiar with, and you’ll begin to notice that you do have little hints of creativity here and there, thanks to all of the practice you’ve had in the past.
You also want to perfect the things you can be good at with your performances, like stage presence and that lovely voice that you already have. Some of the best performers of all time don’t have songwriting skills, and that’s okay!
Take A Songwriting Course
Local and online songwriter courses are available through big institutions like Berklee College of Music and the learning site Udemy which can help you bridge some of those creative gaps that you have when it comes to songwriting ability.
Songwriting is a tricky thing to learn since so much of it is subjective, and up to personal interest, so while it can be a challenge, there is also a lot of freedom involved in the process as well. Have fun with it!
If you’re really lucky and you know someone who could be your mentor in the genres of music that really relate to your style, consider asking them to give you some lessons or pointers in exchange for paying them for their time.
Try Writing Poetry
Breaking down the songwriting process may help you with it as a whole. Try to separate music from the lyrics and work on simple text goals in order to make the overall skill not seem like such a huge thing to take on.
Study some of the greats of the past in terms of poets and learn how the basics of rhyming schemes go to help you along the way in your songwriting journey. You may find that you excel with lyrics and have more problems with the musical side of things.
Study Music Theory
Professional and struggling songwriters alike can always benefit from learning music theory and ear training when it comes to their careers! I always suggest that people of all ages visit my favorite music theory resource called MusicThoery.Net when they want to learn about the fundamentals of music.
One thing that is critical for songwriters to study in the world of music theory is ear training, which helps musicians to hear how music works in all types of scales and musical modes.
This post was written by Yona Marie, who currently provides tips and tricks for musicians who are looking to better themselves over at her website. Check out her site for more tips on the music world!
