Photo: Ali Pazani

Is songwriting a skill or a talent?

Moreover, songwriting is considered an innate talent that some people are able to tap into. It is seen as a highly personal process of how someone interprets an idea or situation and harmoniously turns it into lyrics and melody that other people can relate to.

tunedly.com - Can Songwriting Be Taught Or Do You Just Know How? - Tunedly

What key is perfect in Ed Sheeran?

Perfect Chords: The Key That's because Sheeran recorded Perfect in the key of Ab major. We all know that Ab major is not a friendly key to the...

Last updated Feb 22, 2022

What is the hardest piece of music?

Alexander Scriabin — Mysterium. This piece might be more accurately filed under “Impossible”. ... Giovanni Bottesini — Concerto for Double Bass No...

Last updated Jan 23, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

Figuring Out If Songwriting Can Be Taught

How did you get started in songwriting? Did you start out writing poetry as a hobby before transitioning to song lyrics? Did you play an instrument at first and then began coming up with lyrics to match a tune? Was writing your first song a result of trying to find ways to express your thoughts? Or did you decide to pen a song one day to impress a guy or girl at school? For most songwriters, getting started in the craft pretty much involved one or more variations of these pathways. This begs the question: can songwriting actually be taught? Do you need to enroll in a school program or course and obtain a certificate indicating your readiness to start creating songs? No famous songwriter has ever said they went to school or indicated taking any online courses prior to writing their first song. Moreover, songwriting is considered an innate talent that some people are able to tap into. It is seen as a highly personal process of how someone interprets an idea or situation and harmoniously turns it into lyrics and melody that other people can relate to. There are no hard or fast rules dictating how to write a song. And, although there are recommended techniques and best practices you can find in many books and tutorials, you can still write songs without conforming to any of them. With this type of flexibility and general accessibility, it does not appear that songwriting is a skill that can be taught. Yet, songwriting is something you can learn to do. Whether you are just starting out or became a songwriter long ago, there is a high chance you were not totally pleased with how your first songs came out. Once you realized you were serious about creating lyrics and music, whether as a career or hobby, you likely started thinking of ways to make your songs better. You have probably thought about:

How to come up with more impactful rhymes.

How long can you be awake safely?

Adults should stay awake no longer than 17 hours to meet the CDC's sleep recommendation. People tend to experience the adverse effects of sleep...

Last updated Apr 26, 2018

What is the hardest 4 year degree?

Introducing the 13 Hardest College Majors #8: Biochemistry or Biophysics. ... #7: Astronomy. ... #6: Physics. ... #5: Cell and Molecular Biology....

Last updated Oct 10, 2018

Promotion

How to create unforgettable hooks.

How to structure your songs so the lyrics flow better.

How to find songwriting ideas and overcome songwriter's block.

How to create smoother transitions.

And maybe even how to finish a song on a high note.

The bottom line is, if you were dissatisfied at any time with your songwriting prowess, you definitely would have attempted to improve your skills. Improvement means trying to learn something new. Of course, this still does not equate to being taught, but learning does require some form of teaching. With that said, while songwriting is not necessarily something that can be taught, it's a skill that can be improved through accumulated learning. Allow us to clear up any confusion.

Songwriting improvement comes from trial and error

By trying different styles and techniques, you will be able to learn what works and doesnâ€™t work for you. For example, if you are used to writing the lyrics first before composing the music, you could try the reverse to see if you get better results. If you tend to work on new songs in your bedroom, you could try another spot in your home or even find a place outdoors to see if you are able to give your creativity a boost. Or if you often work alone, you might try collaborating with other songwriters to see if that will help you to get new ideas or diversify your writing style. The more things you try, the more you will figure out your strengths and weaknesses and be able to further define your songwriting skills.

You learn by listening to other songs

Songwriters who are just getting started can learn through observation by giving ear to the works of other songwriters, especially songs you enjoy listening to. This is not just playing tracks for fun, but really paying deep attention to how the lyrics are constructed, the varying chord progressions, rhyme scheme complexity, melody sequencing, the scale and pitch, number of bars in each section, use of imagery, metaphors and other literary devices, overall song arrangement, etc. Over time, you can start incorporating some of what you pick up on, enhancing your own signature songwriting style in the process.

Learn by familiarizing yourself with songwriting best practices

What makes a jazz pianist good?

What makes a jazz pianist “sound good.” It's fluency and rhythmic flexibility. The ability to improvise in a fluent way, just as you and I can use...

Last updated Jan 2, 2019

Why is it called 5150 EVH?

The album was named after Eddie Van Halen's home studio, 5150, in turn named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed...

Last updated Dec 6, 2019

Promotion

As mentioned, there is no real wrong or right way to construct a song. There have been hints of a songwriting formula, particularly in pop music, but there is no evidence that songwriting success comes from sticking to a rigid pattern. However, there are some recommended songwriting best practices or fundamentals that are helpful for songwriters who hope to increase the commercial appeal of their songs. These include:

- Using a common songwriting structure such as ABAB or ABABCB

- Sticking to a song length of between 3 and 4 minutes (with 3 minutes, 30 seconds being ideal)

- Keeping song intros within 10 seconds

- Getting to the first hook/chorus in less than 60 seconds

- Keeping things simple

Improve your songwriting through practice

This should go without saying, but the best way anyone can learn songwriting is by continuously doing it. In most disciplines, it is believed you need 10,000 hours of practice in order to become an expert at it. This thought process applies to songwriting as well. The more you do it, the better you will get. Finding time to practice your songwriting can seem difficult, especially if you have a fulltime career in another field and/or have kids and other time-consuming responsibilities. But you can make time for songwriting practice by creating schedules and setting goals. So, can songwriting be taught or not? Most likely not in the traditional sense, but you can definitely learn to do it better. YOU ARE ON TUNEDLY, A MODERN MUSIC COLLABORATION PLATFORM FOR SONGWRITERS. JOIN OUR HUNDREDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS.

tunedly.com - Can Songwriting Be Taught Or Do You Just Know How? - Tunedly

What is the easiest instrument for a senior to learn to play?

1. The Piano. One of the simplest musical instruments that seniors can easily learn is the classical piano. An instrument that requires practice as...

Last updated Nov 16, 2019

What is the 12-bar blues chords?

A 12-bar blues progression is a set chord progression that repeats every 12 bars of music. You'll play the 1 chord for four measures, the 4 chord...

Last updated Sep 17, 2019

Promotion

What do humans use ivory for?

Commercial uses of ivory include the manufacture of piano and organ keys, billiard balls, handles, and minor objects of decorative value. In modern...

Last updated Jun 23, 2020

Promotion

What instrument should a child start with?

Think shakers, hand drums, bells, rattles, etc. These instruments are ideal; young ones can easily pick up these with their hands and start making...

Last updated Jun 1, 2019