"Some Guidelines For Songwriting"
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Music Publishers |
Want to be a songwriter but don't know how to start? Here are some thoughts on how to create a good song...
Remember that writing music is a process, and keep the basics in mind: a song consists of 3 elements. First is the melody, the vocal line of the song. Second is harmony, the chords that support the song. Thirdly, the rhythm or the pattern of the song.
Take note, too many ideas will spoil the song. When listening to a song, you will often notice that the music is made of certain phrases that repeat themselves. They are called themes. A theme may be melodic, rhythmic, harmonic or combination of these. When you hear the themes, it registers to the brain and that makes it easier to remember.
A common mistake of songwriters is they make it boring, where the listener has no urge to want to hear the song again. Remember, if they like it, they want to hear your song again and again and again (which can translate into more record sales for you).
Sometimes a songwriter will experience "writer's block". When this happens, you might want to use a different approach, such as creating the melody first, or experimenting with some chord progression first then melody, or even thythm first, then melody, and chord progression last.
Remember, there is no correct way to write a song. Next, write using a different instrument. If you using a guitar (which most do) to compose, why not try it in keyboards for a change? Relax. Take a break. Hang out with your friends, watch a movie, or read a book. You might just get fresh ideas from them. Always ask the opinion of others. Show your work to your friends and loved ones. They may give you a good idea or two that you haven't thought about.
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Brian Cook is a freelance writer whose articles on music and songwriting have appeared on many websites.
You can find more of these at SongwritersGuide.com.
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