Do I Need Talent to Write Music and Compose Lyrics?

“Do I need talent to write music and compose lyrics for a song?” Really, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Just remember to enjoy the writing process.

I use process a lot to kickstart my songwriting:

1. I’ll noodle around on an instrument until I find a chord progression I like, yielding intro and/or hook material.
2. Next, I’ll sing over the chords. When I get a melody I like, I’ll record it.
3. I’ll brainstorm a bunch of song titles and keep them for later reference. The titles will be the subject of my lyrics.
4. Then, I identify which tunes I could use as catchy chorus melodies and match them with the song titles.
5. After this, I start thinking about what form I’d like to use. I ask myself: Does the hook sound like a chorus hook, or like something from an AAA or AABA form?
6. At this point, I’ll write the rest of the chorus. If I already have a hook melody, I’ll use that and write lyrics to it. If I don’t, I’ll write the lyrics and extract the melody from the text. I’ll sometimes use pictures to help me create the song’s imagery.
7. Next, I’ll start writing the verse. The chorus sums up the song, but the verse’s job will be to move the story forward. I’ll brainstorm imagery and story ideas and use the questions who, what, where, when, and why to help flesh out my story ideas.
8. If the song has a bridge, I’ll write it now. The bridge should create contrast in both the music and lyrics.
9. Finally, I’ll add any outros, instrumental interludes, or vocal breaks.