How to Organize Song Ideas?

Question by Maggie:


Hi,

My songwriting notebook is filled with words and phrases and random thoughts & ideas are scribbled in the margins. I want to organize all my ideas & keep the similar phrases together so that when I write lyrics I can easily pick out the lines that are best. (What I mean by similar are different phrases have the same word or idea in them).

When I think about organizing, I get overwhelmed because I have so many random ideas and I don't know where to start. How can I keep all my stuff organized?

Thanks!


Answer:

Hello M,

If I were you, I'd start thinking about some features that are similar about your ideas and group them based on that.

I can think of two main methods of categorization at this moment:

1. Based on mood
2. Based on themes

Because your thoughts & ideas are probably very diverse, in some cases it might be difficult to decide which category some of them belong to. If that's that case, you could include these ideas in two categories - maybe cross referencing, i.e. writing a note next to them that they can also be found in another category.

1. If you decide to group your ideas according to mood, you could pick from the following categories:


• Amused
• Angry / Annoyed
• Apathetic / Depressed
• Ashamed
• Bittersweet / Cynical
• Determined
• Disappointed
• Flirty / Hot
• Grateful / Satisfied / Thankful
• Happy / Cheerful
• Jealous
• Lonely
• Optimistic
• Pessimistic
• Touched


2. If you decide to group your ideas according to themes, you could pick from the following categories (most of them are about love since the majority of hit songs are about this topic):


• Craving love
• Being in love
• Flirting / hitting on someone
• Partying
• Being jealous of someone
• Cheating on someone
• Breaking up
• Love fading between two people
• Beginning of a relationship
• Feelings about the concept of love
• Religion
• Society
• Nature of life
• Feelings about yourself, self-confidence issues
• Family & friends & loved ones
• Places you love / hate
• Making your dreams come true


Of course, you should leave out or add categories according to your needs and ideas.

If your songwriting ideas are on paper, you might also want to consider digitalizing them. There are some great pieces of notebook software, e.g. Evernote that you can synchronize with your PC/Mac/laptop/iPod/iPad. All of this for free!

Songwriting Help

This songwriting help page was created to help you get on with your work.

▪ You're not sure how commercial your song is?
▪ Do you have a question about song structure?
▪ Aren't you sure which genre to write in?
▪ Do you doubt you have the skills needed for this profession?
▪ Are you looking for "the muse"?
▪ Do you have a problem with productivity?
▪ You're not sure why some songs are great and others are not?
▪ Do you have questions about the length of songs?
▪ Aren't you sure that you can be creative and original?
▪ Did you lose your enthusiasm?
▪ Are you curious how you can improve even more?
▪ Do you feel like you have no more great ideas left?

The songwriting process is very complex. Everybody reaches a point (or a lot of them) when they just feel like they can't go on. It's either because of lack of reliable information, uncertainty, fear or because they're in an unknown territory.

If you feel you need a little help with songwriting, don't hesitate to contact me!

Songwriters' Job Description and Necessary Skills?

Question by James:

Becoming a songwriter is my dream. But I'm not sure what a songwriter job involves exactly. What do songwriters do besides writing songs? What education or skills do you need to become a songwriter?


Answer:

About what songwriters do:

Songwriting is quite complex.

First of all, you have to write many songs :)

Besides writing songs, songwriters need to make demos. Because people who decide if they'd like to record your song will need to hear it in a form that is almost as good quality and finished as the ones you hear on the radio.

Songwriters should also learn how to market themselves and shop around with their songs to increase the chance that someone will record them. So they need to network a lot.

Songwriters often co-write, too, because usually songs written by more than one person end up being better.

They should also deal with the business side and some of them have their own publishing company, so there can be some paperwork involved.

Another task is to copyright your songs before you make them public. Again, paperwork. But you can do it online too.

Songwriters also need to keep up to date with the trends (depending on what genre they write in) because most people don't want to hear 80's sounding songs on the radio today :)


About education:

You don't need formal education but some songwriters have a degree in Music and related fields. But I guess most of them don't. Songwriting is not just about being familiar with theory but rather practicing and experimenting a lot.

There are some skills songwriters need (if they don't have them all, they collaborate with other songwriters who complement their skills):


• Songwriting skills (write catchy lyrics, write music, put music and words together, know a lot about song structure, chords, verses, choruses, hooks)
• Record music (usually in a home studio)
• Knowledge of how the music business and publishing works
• Legal knowledge about songwriting, copyright, collaboration, publishing, etc.
• Play at least one instrument (usually guitar or piano)
• Be able to sing (not essential but if you can, you can save money when making demos)
• Music theory
• Good hearing (yes, you CAN develop your ears)
• Analyze current hits to see what works

Co-Writing vs. Writing Songs On Your Own

Question by Ruben:

I've heard that if you want to become a professional songwriter, you should collaborate. I've read this on this website too. But I'm not a social person. I love writing songs but I'm not good at working in a team. Others' opinions only disrupt my thinking process and I get much less creative than alone.

Is it really impossible to make it on your own?


Answer:

Hi Ruben,

No, it isn't impossible at all. I think your chances are higher if you team up with different other songwriters but if you work better by yourself, do it.

It's true that most songs at the top of the charts were written by more than one songwriter. However, these are just statistics. There are always exceptions and who says this exception shouldn't be you.

There are people who work much faster, more efficiently and creatively by themselves. If you're one of them, write songs on your own. There are/were several successful people who also prefer working this way: Adele, Einstein, Chopin, Steven Spielberg, J.K. Rowling and so on.

So don't worry if co-writing is not for you, it definitely doesn't exclude the possibility that you'll become an amazing and successful songwriter!

If you have doubts about making it on your own, I recommend a very interesting book that I've read: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. It's about being introverted in a world where extroversion is preferred everywhere. You'll be proud of wanting to work alone after the first few chapters :)

Best Songwriters' Forum?

Question by Mike:

What are the best songwriter forums where I can network, have my songs reviewed, get encouragement, learn and possibly find collaborators / co-writers? Can you help me find a good one?


Answer:

Hello Mike,

There are three forums for songwriters I can highly recommend. You can find great people on all of them. If you participate in one or all of these forums, I'm sure you'll find all the mentoring, support and learning opportunities you want.


• The first one is the TAXI Forum. It's a forum maintained by the independent A&R company TAXI but it's not only for TAXI members. You'll find many budding and successful songwriters there. Among other things, you can discuss business matters, technology & production, get your songs reviewed by peers or find collaborators there.

• Another great forum is called Just Plain Folks Forum. Participants include some very enthusiastic musicians and songwriters. You'll find discussions about songwriting, music, the music industry, mentoring, success stories, networking, feedback, music video feedback, and some threads for other arts and hobbies like acting, cooking, gardening and more.

• The Muse's Muse Songwriting Message Board is another great and busy one. You can ask for song or lyric feedback, take part in regular contests, find co-writers, participate in creativity games and have discussions about recording, the music industry and much more.

What Do All Hit Songs Have In Common?

Question by DJ:

Is there some kind of a "recipe" for writing a hit song?


Answer from Eszter (HitJerker-Songwriting.com)

Hi DJ,

There isn't a "recipe" for writing a hit song. If there was one, everybody would be writing hit songs.

However, there are characteristics that most current hits share. And the more of these you include in your songs, the more likely you are to write a potential hit song.

Some features of most songs currently on the charts:

• Average length of intro: about 5-15 seconds
• Tempo: between 90-130 bpm
• Length: 3.5-4 minutes
• Subject: love
• Structure: Verse 1 - Pre-Chorus - Chorus - Verse 2 - Pre-Chorus - Chorus - Bridge - Chorus
• Singer: male

Of course, to write a hit song, you don't have to stick to these. And if you do, it doesn't guarantee success. This is just to give you a basic idea of what hit songs have in common these days.

Music Creating Software

Question by Sharon:

I know nothing about reading music or how to write music or anything like that.

I have a cappella lyrics that I can sing a cappella too, but I would like to have these lyrics to have background music so I can sing them with music behind me.

Is there such a software package out there that I can buy where I can sing into a microphone and record my voice singing the song and how I want it to sound, and then have the software listen to my song and actually pick up the melody or maybe the rhythm and put the notes in automatically so that maybe somebody with a guitar or piano can play the music background while I sing the song? I don't know how to explain it. But I cannot read music, I don't play an instrument so I am at a loss for how to put my lyrics to music.

Any help would be Greatly Appreciated. I would buy the software if it could do that as I know nothing about writing music or anything.

If you can help me I would appreciate it very very much.

Thank You,

Sharon Hurkmans


Answer:

Hi Sharon,

I understand what kind of software you mean but as far as I know it hasn't been invented :( The closest I know is called Band in a Box. This software creates background music to chords you enter. You can choose the instruments, style, tempo, etc. But to enter those chords you need a little music theory knowledge. You might at least want to learn how to make chords. Don't worry, it's really easy. And if you'd like to write songs, you'll need to learn music theory sooner or later anyway.

Another option is to find a songwriting partner(s). They could write music to your lyrics and/or you could write lyrics to their music. Most hit songs are collaborations so if you'd like to become a professional songwriter, finding co-writers is another thing that's advisable to do. 

What Does Writing Music A Cappella Mean?

Question by Holly:

Answer:

Hello Holly,

Sometimes songwriters start songs with a title or lyrics. Other times they write music first.

You can write music one of two main ways:

1. By using some kind of instrument and come up with some chords or melody by playing it.

2. By writing music a cappella.

Writing music a cappella means that you compose melodies in your head or by singing some melodies without the help of a musical instrument. There are a lot of songwriters who think this is absolutely the best way to write music. If you don't rely on an instrument, you might be more creative, free and flexible.

Great songwriters write in several ways and writing music a cappella is one of them. It's definitely worth trying!

How Do I Find Ideas For Songs?

Question by Pierce:

I've read about songwriters who have the ability to come up with songwriting ideas anywhere and everywhere. Is this a talent that your either have or you don't?


Answer:

Hello Pierce,

Finding songwriting ideas is a piece of cake. Just look around a little.

• Are there any books near you? Check their titles or even their contents and see if you can come up with a good song title.
• Or check your DVD collection and film titles.
• Go and see a movie and pay attention to phrases you might use.
• Check magazine titles and articles.
• Or a website, especially one about celebrities and their love life :)
• Or just open a dictionary and look for some interesting phrases.
• Or you can "accidentally" overhear strangers talking and saying something that could be a great title.

There are unlimited sources of songwriting ideas around us. Songwriters you read about have LEARNED the condition that they find ideas for hits everywhere. If you do it consciously for a couple of days or a week, and you think about songwriting a lot (because you love it), soon you'll see song ideas everywhere you go. Just remember to bring a notebook to put them down right away.

You might also visit the Songwriting Ideas page for instant inspiration :)

What Is the Right Way of Networking in The Music Business?

Question by Patrick:

I've just read your article "Is Networking Important In the Music Business?". I get that it's really important. And I wanna do it. But think I'd feel like I'm trying to take advantage of people if I started going out and networking intentionally.


Answer:

Hi Patrick,

I understand your concern. When people hear the word "networking" they usually think of trying to get close to important people and exploiting them in some way. Some people do that. But it's not the smartest way to go about it. In fact, you'll probably fail if you do networking that way.

Successful networkers have one thing in common. They all understand the main principle: "Make other people more successful, give more than you get and be generous". It doesn't mean that you have to do grand gestures to everybody all the time. Helping someone succeed can be a little thing such as sharing your expertise about proper mike placement in the studio or an efficient workout routine. And this way it's not "taking advantage of people" because you give AND get valuable things. It's good for you but good for them too!

If you follow the above mentioned principle, sooner or later, in some way, it will all come back to you tenfold. Maybe not today. But if you help a lot of people, after a while, when you are in need, you'll have plenty of people who'll be happy to return the favor. When the time comes, however, don't hesitate to pick up the phone and ask for help.

For more music industry specific networking advice I recommend Dan Kimpel's book Networking Strategies for the New Music Business.

How Do You Avoid Regretting Your Decisions?

Question by Bobby:

I've made some stupid quick decisions in connection with songwriting this year. I missed some great opportunities because of this. How can I prevent this from happening again in the future?


Answer:

You've probably heard the saying "I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done" (a Lucille Ball quote).

So I usually rather take opportunities because I don't want to miss anything. And I can think of several things I HAVE done and I regret doing. (Is it really a better feeling? I don't know.)

Your question was if there's something you can do to prevent this situation. I guess I've found a way. It's not revolutionary but it helps me make better, and more mature decisions.

What I usually do now is sleep on a decision. Sometimes I'm totally convinced of something being right in the heat of the moment. But next morning, when my head is clear(er), I often see things 100% differently. And so far, I've been making much better decisions in that state of mind.

I Want To Do Songwriting Full Time

Question by Michael:

I hate my day job. I'm a songwriter at heart. I shouldn't be sitting in an office all day doing a job that makes no sense. If only I could do songwriting full time… if only. Sometimes I think I should just give up my job and have a go at making a living from songwriting. With more free time, I think I'd be able to accomplish more and sooner in songwriting. Do you think I should quit my job?



Answer:

Having a day job can be a drag. Many hobby songwriters daydream a lot about being able to write songs full time. But would it really be THAT great?


Your present situation probably looks something like this:

▪ You work 8-9 hours a day.


▪ By the time you get home you're exhausted but you still find a couple of minutes for songwriting on most days and at weekends.


▪ Once you start writing, you just can't stop and you're surprised how much you've accomplished in such short time. You're wondering: where would I be now if I'd had all day for writing in the last couple of years?



Let's imagine that you have one year off work for some reason. What would happen in that case?

▪ You're euphoric because you have all the time in the world.


▪ You spend a couple of days with songwriting, resting every couple of hours by watching TV, or chatting on the internet and Facebook. You feel you're doing a little too much songwriting and draining your creativity. You think maybe you should go out and collect new experiences and re-energize yourself before you go on.


▪ And now that you have so much free time, there are some things besides songwriting you've always wanted to do or stuff you need to catch up with: go to the gym daily, meet old friends, make a cool website/blog, learn a language, practice playing the piano daily, visit all the galleries in the city…


▪ After a couple of weeks you notice that you end up having very little time for songwriting.


There is a saying by Lucille Ball: "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do." I've found it to be totally true. So don't give up your job because you won't do more songwriting. And you won't be able to concentrate on being creative if you worry about financial security all the time. 

Keep on songwriting, collaborating and slowly but surely you'll get to a point when you make so much from songwriting that can quit your job and tell your boss all the things you couldn't earlier… :)

Should I Give Up Songwriting?

Question by Van:


I love writing songs. My favorite part of every day is always when I sit down with my guitar and come up with some interesting chords then start humming along and soon finish the song. It's so fulfilling.

But I'm getting more and more discouraged these days. I've been trying to have my songs cut by artists for two years with zero success. Should I just give up now?


Answer:

Hello Van,

Most songwriters consider giving up at one point or another. Or maybe every day :) But please, don't do it!

You write songs because you love it. If you're like most songwriters, you'd do it even if nobody paid for it (which is the case sometimes anyway).

If you do something for your songwriting career every day, you'll get better at the craft, you'll have better connections and you'll get closer and closer to getting your songs cut. It's a fact of life. But nobody can predict when it will happen. It's different for all songwriters. It might be your 15th or 157th pitch that will bring you success. But if you're persistent, you'll get there!

It looks like becoming a songwriter is your dream. And you should never give up on your dreams!

Is Networking Important in the Music Business?

Question by Ashton:


Sometimes it feels like it's not the talented ones who make it. What do you think?


Answer:

Hello Ashton,

We've all heard the saying: "it's not WHAT you know but WHO you know". It's true in all businesses. And it's even more so in the music business.

You might be the greatest, brightest, most talented songwriter or musician but if you have no connections in the music business, your chances to make it are definitely lower.

The concept of business sounds cold and impersonal. But every business is made up of people. Every decision is made by people. And when people make a decision, they use their gut feelings much more than pure logic. That's why they probably won't care about your talents as much as their relationship with you. People do business and work with people they like. If they don't know you, they don't know if they like you.

If you take a look at any successful person's road to success, you'll definitely see how their network of connections helped them get to where they are today.

So I suggest that you should start networking with other songwriters and musicians. And it's not a hard or gruesome job to make new friends, is it? :) But networking is something you should do wisely. If you do the wrong thing, you might burn bridges. There is a book I like about this topic: Networking Strategies for the New Music Business by Dan Kimpel. I highly recommend that you read it first then start your journey...

What are the right piano chords to go with each other?

Question by Jamie:

Where do I go after an F minor chord, for example?


Answer:

Hello Jamie,

Chord theory, i.e. the answer to the question "What are the chords that go well together?" is really simple, fortunately. Although this is a question that has been bugging songwriters for a long time, there are a few rules that can guide you. To find out what they are, go to theChords That Sound Good Together page.

How can I find a songwriting partner?

Question by Mariah:

I want to write a song about life, love and being saved from my past. Kinda to inspire others and let them know that they are not alone.


Answer:

Hi Mariah,

It's really nice of you that you would like to inspire and help others!

If you would like to find a collaborator, fortunately, you have several options. But first you should decide what kind of co-writer you would like to find. What are your strengths? What are you weaknesses in songwriting? You should find someone who can complement your skills so you can write a great song together. For example, if you're good at composing melodies and singing, you could look for someone who is a great lyricist and can play the guitar or piano. You might also want to decide in advance how you are going to make a demo or where you'll pitch your song.


These are some of the methods collaborators use to find each other:

1. Try looking around on songwriting forums (scroll down for a list of the best message boards). There is usually a thread on these forums with a title that says something like "Co-writer wanted". There you'll find some people looking for co-writers usually with some specific characteristics, e.g. a talented lyricist who can play the guitar a little and likes R&B music. You can either choose to write a message to one of them or start a new thread describing the co-writer YOU are looking for.

2. If you have some musician friends, ask them if they know someone who might want to co-write with you.

3. Visit songwriters' seminars and lectures. You're sure to find some like-minded songwriters at these events.

These are the most common methods of finding songwriting partners. Good luck with your song!

How can I complete my lyrics?

Question by Christina:

Hello,

I am trying to write a song. I already have one line that could be perfect as part of the chorus or the hook. But now I have a writer's block. What should I do now? How can I continue and finish my lyrics? I feel stuck! Help me!

Thanks!



Answer:


Hi Christina,

I understand that you're frustrated. Well, I can't write the song for you but I can give you some advice on how to go about it.

Decide what single idea you would like the song to be about. Then to make the song comprehensible for a larger audience, ask the following questions: who? what? why? where? how?
You should answer all of these in your song.

The best thing you can start with is to make a sketch of your song. Decide what each section should be about and then start working on the details, here is a little help for that: Writing Song Lyrics

How often should I write songs?

Question by Drew:


I'm busy. I work almost 10 hours a day. Sometimes it seems impossible for me to find the time. Although songwriting is the most important thing in my life, the only time when I can be alone to work on my songs is at the weekend. And not the whole weekend (that would be a dream come true...) but only 1-2 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

So I'd need a little songwriting help! How could I schedule my time better so I can become more productive?

Thanks for the advice in advance!


Answer:

Hello Drew, 

First of all, thanks for choosing HitJerker-Songwriting.com to ask for songwriting help. 

About your question: 

There are few people who feel that they have all the time in the world. Doing songwriting 1 or 2 hours a week isn't much, I know. However, it's still better than doing nothing. Most songwriters procrastinate for as much as a year (or years) before sitting down to write. You're already ahead of 90% of the other songwriters! 

I know that you're frustrated because you'd like to write as much as you can. I suggest that you get up one hour earlier every morning or a couple of days a week so that you can work. Or if you feel that it is the evening when you're the most creative and productive, set aside an hour then. (In my experience, writing is easier to do when everybody else is asleep therefore there is no-one to disturb you.) It's difficult to get yourself to get up earlier but in a week or two you'll get used to it. You can also try to go to bed earlier. You might miss some TV shows but that's the price you have to pay for the songwriting career. 

Most songwriters think that if only they didn't have a day-job, they could work so much more on their songs! It usually isn't the case though. If you have too much free time, you'll find plenty of other things to do and rarely sit down to work. Believe me. By the way, having a day job has one more benefit. If all you have to do is write all day, what's gonna inspire you? What are you going to write about? 

Well, these are my thoughts, I hope it helps. Let me know if you have other questions or comments. 


PS. A quotation by Lucille Ball: "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more things you can do." So true!