SONGWRITERS CORNER
VOLUME ONE
I thought it would be a nice way of communicating with my fellow writers to have an on-going page to discuss songwriting tips and share some of the ideas that have benefited me over the years. Nowadays, almost everybody with a guitar or a piano is a songwriter and I think it is very cool that so many people enjoy this creative process. My goal though is to chat about commercial songwriting as opposed to just writing for friends and family. I'm not saying that can't be both, but there are some very important aspects of commercial writing that do not necessarily find their way into the more casual genre.
First off, I want to say that "commercial" songwriting just means writing songs that many people enjoy, want to buy when they are recorded and are sought by publishers and record companies in the music business. This is a highly competitive arena with an incredible number of very talented people, both nationally famous and relatively unknown. Some of the best songs you've never heard are in publisher's catalogues that have yet to be recorded by an artist. In order to write commercially, a writer must keep certain things in mind. Here are a few to start us off…
The song must be tight: A commercial song is fresh lyrically and melodically with no superfluous or extraneous elements. Edit your lyrics to make sure there are no unnecessary words and make sure that the concept is clear. Keep a focus on a memorable, unique melody, but avoid throwing in licks, changes and modulations that don't really add to the song. Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS) truly applies here. Generally, a song shouldn't run more than 3 minutes and 30 seconds, (3:30).
Clear, original concept: Always ask yourself what this song is about. Everything in the verses and/or chorus should be adding to the clarity of that concept. Very often, the song title is the concept or some repetitive line in the chorus. Whatever or wherever it is, stick to it!
A catchy hook: A hook is the aspect of the song that people tend to remember long after they hear it. It is that aspect which sticks in a listener's memory well after the song has been played. Sometimes it is a catchy melodic phrase and sometimes it is a really interesting lyrical line. Often, it is the title of the song repeated in different ways throughout the song, but positioned in such a way that you find yourself singing it over and over again. This is the quality that you can expect every publisher or record company to be looking for in EVERY song. These companies are looking for hits, not album fodder. Hits have Hooks!
Conversational language: Today's popular, commercial music is most often identifiable by its normal, conversational lyric style. Although lyrics are a form of poetry, they should not appear that way in a Shakespearean manner. Lyrics should sound the way people talk and they are very often in the first person; I, you, we or us. Think of that great England Dan and John Ford Coley song, written by Parker McGee, "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight". It is a conversation from the very first line. It is believable, relatable and succinct. Let that be a model to get you started.
That's it for now. Next time we'll look at some other tips and suggestions to improve your songs and increase you chances of having a hit.
SONGWRITERS CORNER
VOLUME TWO
DEALING WITH WRITER'S BLOCK
There seems to be a virus of some kind that writers of all genres find themselves dealing with from time to time. This is the cloudy inability to create. It is commonly referred to as writer's block and it can be very frustrating, to say the least. Although this malady can come and go on its own, there are some ways to confront it positively and accelerate your progress through it.
First off, we must keep in mind that creativity comes out of a unique place in our psychology. Even though it can be inspired by traumatic times, it most often is accomplished through a quiet, peaceful and reflective mind. So, the first thing to try to do is to relax and not be stressed by those moments of artistic dullness. Approach your guitar, piano or whatever you write upon in a friendly way. Play some old songs, some covers and just have fun. Remember why you started to embark on this musical experience in the first place. Sometimes, just the experience of playing and enjoying your music will open the doors to creativity again.
Second, develop an on-going list of possible song titles. Carry this list with you at all times and add to it whenever you hear an interesting line or entertain a unique song concept. When you are experiencing writer's block, these titles can often spur some thinking to get you over the hump. Most writers keep a list like this for assistance on rainy mental days.
Third, write anything! Set about to write the worst song you have ever written and complete it. This is not something you will ever share with anybody else; it's just a vehicle to get the synapses firing again in your brain. My buddy Pete Baker once wrote a song about a mouse in his house while he was working through a dry spell. He shared it with me only because he wanted me to know he was working through the advice, but it was actually a very interesting song born of an attitude of "I don't really give a shit". Writing that funny little ditty opened Pete up to create some nice new tunes and pushed him through the dark night of writer's block.
Fourth, try learning some new techniques on your guitar or piano that you've never taken the time to do. At one time in my life, I lived in an apartment complex that frowned on loud music, singing, etc. I felt really stifled because I couldn't do the things I usually would do to write and I had this overwhelming feeling of a loss of privacy. For me, writing is a particularly private matter, so I went into a severe block for a few months. To combat this situation, I went out and purchased a few books on classical guitar and began studying on my own with an old nylon string Epiphone I hadn't used in years. Interestingly, some of the harmonies and techniques I studied during that period come through my music and presentation to this very day, many years later. Most importantly, one of the songs I wrote during that period "Can't We Start Over Again", became a pick hit in all of the music trades and received national and international airplay. Could I have written it without the forced exile from contemporary writing techniques? I doubt it.
The bottom line of all of this is to relieve yourself of the stress of having to write. Relax; enjoy your life and the MOMENT. Don't push it. Some really lousy songs and lyrics get written when you push too hard against the flow. I utilize the Don Julio approach when I'm blocked. This translates into sharing time with my friends in music, listening to other artists and throwing a Don Julio tequila now and then. Does it help me write? Who knows… but I don't seem to mind the experience quite as much.
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