Do you like writing songs, but get stuck when inspiration dries up? Do you enjoy the songs you’ve made, but feel they could be better? Songwriting is both a craft and an art. That’s why I named the category The Craft of Songwriting, so I can help you learn how to write well-crafted songs.
The art happens when ideas seem to come out of nowhere, sometimes coming together like magic. The craft comes in when you look at what you have written and ask yourself, “Hmm… can I make this better?” Then, you use songwriting strategies to sculpt and shape the raw ideas in your song.
Also, how do you defeat writer’s block? It can be a pain when inspiration ditches you. What do you do then?
Let me tell you a story.
Back in 1988, I got my worst case of writer’s block ever. Up to this point, when I wanted to write a song, I just did it. But suddenly, the ideas just would not flow. Dealing with my writer’s block forced me to also work on my craft and actually made my writing a lot stronger.
Fast forward a decade, I became involved with the Boston Songwriter’s Workshop (BSW). I started sharing my starter ideas and writer’s tips in articles for the BSW Newsletter. When I became the director of the BSW, I organized and taught special events as well.
Now I am going to share these starter ideas and writer’s tips with you too in the blog category The Craft of Songwriting.
The Craft of Songwriting blog category obviously focuses on writing lyrics and music. However, the Rock Star series of posts from the Intonation Blog Category has information on playing in alternate tunings that guitarists will find helpful. Singers should check out the Singing in Tune Blog Category.
Cornerstone Category Post:
Songwriting Posts:
Guitar:
Ensemble:
Singing in Tune:
See the posts below for full descriptions.
– Geoffrey Keith
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
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Do you want to know the meaning of the word alliteration? In this post, we’ll discuss how it works, including examples of alliteration in poetry and songs. Keep reading “Alliteration Meaning: Examples of Alliteration in Poetry and Songs” to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“How do I write a song that actually sounds good?” Whether you’re a songwriter or a lyric writer, it’s a challenge to create a song that sounds good. However, the following songwriting tips and links will help you make a song that you’ll love. Keep reading to get the tips. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Do you want to learn how to make your own songs? Do you need help with your lyrics? There are many different song forms, and not all of them use a chorus. However, the verse/chorus form is one of the most popular. Songwriters and lyric writers both will find this post helpful. Keep reading to learn how to write a song with a catchy chorus. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Are you unsure about how similes work? Do all the similes you write seem trite? If you want your writing to move people, you need to make sure that you use original imagery that has power and presence. Read “12 Simile Examples That Aren’t Cliches (How to Write Them)” to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“Do you have tips on what to do when you get stuck?” We’ve all been there. You stare at a blank page and can’t come up with any ideas. To help you I’ve compiled a list of 17 songwriting ideas to get you unstuck. Each songwriting idea has a link that leads to an example showing how it works in a real song. Keep reading to get the 17 songwriting ideas. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“When I write, my descriptions seem lifeless. Is there any method to help with writing descriptions?” When it comes to creating vibrant descriptions in your writing (or songwriting), there’s a powerful method that can make a world of difference. You need to avoid static descriptions. You do this by using action words. Keep reading to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Do your eyes cross when you try to figure out Roman Numeral analysis? Roman numerals are broadly used to analyze chords in songs. However, you’ll use some Roman numerals to specifically describe harmonies in minor keys. Read more to find out the answer to, “What’s the deal with these i-VII-VI-V and iv-V-VII chords and stuff?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you want to write better songs using vivid imagery? Do you need to learn about figurative imagery? Figurative imagery expands your pallet of description beyond just literal imagery. Metaphors and similes are important literary tropes that help you to do just that. Read more to learn the answer to the question, “How do I write good songs using metaphors and similes?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Do the Roman numerals used to analyze music make your eyes cross? Do you want someone to explain how it works? Roman numeral analysis might seem a bit cryptic. However, it can be really useful once you understand it. Read more answer the question, “What exactly does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V mean?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Are you confused about the difference between the root and the tonic in music theory? Some musicians treat the terms root and tonic as if they were interchangeable. However, they have different, but equally important roles in music theory. Click to learn the difference between the tonic vs. root in music theory. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.