February 3, 2022

About the Author: Stefan Joubert

Passionate manager of LSI. Discover your voice, regardless of age or talent. Contact now at enrol@londonsinginginstitute.co.uk to start your singing lessons in London or online!

Perhaps you’re new to singing, or maybe you’ve been taking adult singing lessons for a while. Whether you want to learn to sing because you’re already a keen songwriter or you’re a vocalist who wants to branch out and leave their own mark on the music world, improving your songwriting skills will always open new avenues as a musician. It’s a skill that takes constant nurture and improvement, and even the best songwriters out there are still learning! Here are 10 songwriting tips for better songs that will boost your creativity.

Melody is Key

Melody is the main element of your song that the audience will connect with, no matter the language they speak. So, focus on building your next song around a memorable, unique melody. Don’t forget to use a strong riff to carry the track! Your melodies can feature both in vocal and instrumental form and will be the key elements that listeners will latch on to.

woman singing in recording studio

Switch Up Your Chord Progression

Don’t just stick to the same chords over and over again! Try to add different voicings like 7ths, 9ths, use minor, major and diminished chords in your songs. You can also change your chord progression to highlight different sections and add more progression and movement to your next track. If you’re not sure where to start, the best way to do this is to analyse your favourite songs, learn their chord progressions. This will not only help to expand your musical theory knowledge but also provide endless inspiration on how you can write better songs.

Start Simple

Try not to overcomplicate things straight away! If you start with a simple melody or chord progression, there is nowhere to go but up. Keeping things simple and making space for your creative flow can lead to a song that develops and culminates in an exciting and unexpected way. Not to mention, you will have plenty of options to explore and directions to go in.

Create A Contrast Between Sections

Keep your listeners engaged by creating some contrast and unexpected changes throughout your song. For example, if your verse melody tends to stay in the same place, add larger intervals and scales to your choruses for a dramatic impact. You can also use other methods like switching up the key, cutting out the beat, adding interesting sounds, layers and changing your instrumentation. Again, pay attention to songs that have managed to surprise you! What are the elements you weren’t expecting? What creates that contrast? Developing your critical listening skills is one of the best songwriting tips for better songs.

man singing with lyric sheet

Use Repetition

While creating contrast, switching up your song structure and surprising the listener are great tips, don’t forget that repetition is what makes your song memorable and gives it structure too! That’s why we hear the main riff, melody or chorus repeated throughout the songs. It solidifies them in our brain and makes us come back to listen to them again and again.

Have Some Fun With Your Lyrics

It’s a good idea to approach lyrics with some structure, but also creative freedom. Yes, rhyme can be very effective, as well as matching the rhythm of your lyrics to the melody. But don’t be afraid to use creative and unconventional words and phrases in your songs. Think of metaphors, personal meanings, small details that help to create the scene. Aim to set your lyrics apart by providing additional depth and meaning that others can connect to and make their own.

Make Songwriting A Habit

Practice makes perfect and that is one of the most important tips for writing better songs! Many assume that songwriting is a natural talent. You either have it or you don’t. But this simply isn’t true, and, with time and consistent effort, everyone can become a capable songwriter. Some great habits to pick up is to write a song idea or a smaller section of a song each day. Another is to note down your thoughts, feelings, and environment each day and use them as inspiration for your next song. The point is, you don’t need much time each day to consistently improve your writing. This will also prevent writer’s block, as songwriting will become an actionable skill, rather than something you can only do when inspiration strikes.

two musicians singing together

Collaborate With Others

Honing new collaborations is so important as a songwriter! This way, you’ll get the perspective and skill set of someone else, which can be an amazing input for the final project. Not to mention, you will likely work with artists and producers in the future, and this is a great way to get comfortable writing and creating in front of someone else, which can be intimidating at the start.

Change Your Approach And Environment

If you’re stuck in a writer’s block, you’d be surprised how much changing your usual routine can bring you out of your shell! Maybe you normally start writing on a piano? Why not try making music in a computer software or start writing with a lyrical idea first. Perhaps you usually work from your home studio? Try hiring another workspace or even write somewhere outside – at the beach, park, anywhere that inspires you. Other great sources of inspiration can come from travelling, movies, listening to new music and gaining new experiences.

Test Your Music On A Live Audience

In today’s bedroom producer world, it’s easy to write songs that you may not have even thought of playing live. Yet, it’s so important that your audience can emotionally connect to your material! One of the best ways to approach this is to test them live, so write songs you can perform. You don’t necessarily have to book a gig – going live on social media is a great start. Or, if you’re uncomfortable with that, you could record your performance and gauge the reaction to it. Testing your songs on an audience can even help to improve your writing. You could share snippets of them to see the response. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and honest, as that is how people create an authentic connection with you!

female singer in music studio

Improve Your Songwriting With Adult Singing Lessons!

Learning new songs, music theory and developing your voice will really help to make you a competent songwriter. By learning music made by others, you can pick up songwriting techniques and you will be much more comfortable writing when you are confident in your voice. Contact us today to find out more about our adult singing lessons in London or online. Our coaches will provide the encouraging, non-judgmental environment for you to unleash your creativity and unique sound.

Tags: Singing Tips, Motivation, Singing advice, Songwriting tips

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Tags: Singing Tips, Motivation, Singing advice, Songwriting tips