How to Become a Song Writer

The job of a songwriter is to write lyrics to a song. Songwriters to not promote the song, they do not sell the song, they do not record the song, all they do is write the song. Songwriting is often compared to reading a book. The more you read the better reader you become. The same holds true for songwriting. The more songs you're right, the better you become at songwriting.

• To become a good songwriter, start out by listening to songs that you like. Then, find out who actually wrote the song. Just because Tim McGraw or Billy Joel sang a song, does not mean they wrote the song. Some performers write their own songs and some have songwriters write the lyrics for them. You want to study how a song is written. For example, be aware of how the verses are placed throughout the song.


• You will want to carry a small notebook or a handheld voice recorder everywhere you go. This way, if you have an idea for a lyric, you can write it down or record it. Sometimes a lyric will come to you by overhearing conversations, reading a headline in a newspaper or magazine or just by having a random thought.


• Creating a song really proves difficult for some songwriters. If you have some lyrics written down but are not sure how to create it into a melody, a good idea is to say the lines out loud, just like you would in a normal conversation. You want to make a note of the changes in pitch, rhythm and tone. If you are finding it difficult to come up with a melody, walk away, take a break and then come back to it.


• Some people who write songs will start with the melody first and then add the lyrics in afterwards whereas other songwriters will do the lyrics first and then create a melody to match the tone of the lyrics. Beginner songwriters often find it easier to write lyrics first and then create the melody.


• As a general rule, you want to write everyday even if it is just a line or two. If you wait for inspiration or an idea to come to you, you may be waiting quite a bit of time. At the same time, you don't want to rush things.


• It is important to note that writing lyrics on a piece of paper does not make a song. You will find that you will have to rewrite, rewrite and rewrite some more in order to perfect your song. You'll want to hone and polish your song to perfection. Don't give up until that song flows like a river.


• If your goal is to become a professional songwriter, you will need to network, network, and network. You will want to network with other songwriters. You'll want to join songwriters associations. You will want to get to know publishers and producers. A good idea is to spend a day at a studio. Hit up some clubs that feature local bands and offer to write songs for them.


• The most important thing for any songwriter to remember is to be patient. You may not publish a song this week, this month or even this year. But with persistence, patience and dedication, your next opportunity could be waiting just around the corner.