Episode 9. Everybody loves music, part 2!

This week we finish off our topic of song writing!


Click here for episode number 9!

Here are some song writing tips. Hope they help!

1. Practice. Like any other creative process such as playing guitar lyric-writing is a skill that can be learnt and improved upon.

2. Don't be disheartened if your lyrics aren't perfect on the first draft. Many professional writers will rewrite a song's lyrics dozens of times before they make it onto record.

3. Persevere. More often than not, songs aren't born, they're created and sculpted.

4. If you can't quite figure out how to say what you want within a particular line, jot down the gist of it and move on to another part of the song - you can come back to it later.

5. Try to have a clear idea of what the song is about. You should be able to sum up the essence of the song in one sentence.

6. Analyse other songs. Try to pick out the differences in lyrics between your favourite songs and your own, and apply any lyrical techniques you learn to your own work.

7. Make sure the song has a clear structure and progression. This is particularly important in narrative songs (songs that tell a story). Ask yourself "does this make sense?"

8. Choruses require a different approach to verses, especially if you're writing pop. They often need to be more 'plain' and easy to remember. A common trick is to write the 'setup' during the verse, and the emotional 'payoff' in the chorus.

9. Experiment with rhythm within a line. A line can have its own rhythmic bounce or flair and still fit in within the overall rhyming scheme.

10. Consider the rhyming scheme, if there is one. It's important to remember that how 'catchy' your song is in not just a product of the music and melody; it also comes from the lyrics, especially the rhythm and rhyming scheme.