Tips on becoming a solid songwriter.
When I began learning to play guitar, the thing that made you cool was being able to play covers note for note. Of course that was always a good exercise and would get you gigs as a teen (high school dances and parties). I see these years as the time where you are gaining your chops. Learning to play your instrument by mimicing your heros and maybe some lessons.
I have many friends who have become great players but everything they try to write sounds like a cover by their main influence. So as you get more serious about playing, how do you find yourself? How do you avoid being trapped in the cover world?
So lets hear some tips on what you do to be original.
Here are a few of mine: 1. Experiment with blending together styles that normally do not blend well. You might be the person who finds the key!
2. Never be afraid of writing a bad song. Sometimes it will take writing a lot of bad ones to learn to write music you are proud of. Remember that you are not a bad songwriter just because you haven't written someting you like yet.
3. Make sure you allow yourself to be influenced by anything and everything. The sounds of the city make great rhythms. A quote from a book or movie might trigger some great lyrics.
4. If it seems like a song is almost there, try changing key, tempo, or mood with different chord styles ( add a 7th, minor, etc.)
So. What are some of your tips?
|