FOR ALL THE SONGWRITERS OUT THERE
Taken from the blog of one of the best songwriter that I know in the CFC community, Kirby Llaban. He composed the song “God is enough”, “Send me”, “I give my all” and many more…
visit his blog: (The links have expired so it's not valid anymore.)
http://www.godisenoughforme.com
http://ghamaypepito.tumblr.com
Songwriting Tip #7: It’s Okay To Have the Same Chord Pattern
Many songwriters are worried that their new song has the same Chord pattern as the previous one. In my experience, it doesn’t matter. Most of my songs are in the E-B-F#m-A chord pattern. But each song still sounds unique. What is more important is that we are able to make songs for the Lord.
If you are just a simple musician like me, who just knows the basic guitar and piano chords, you can ask an expert to improve the chords. I ask my friends Fredney and Mike to arrange the songs to make them sound better and distinctive. Suddenly I see “broken chords” and “sus” chords, because of their help.
If your goal is to let more people easily learn the songs you make, then simple chords are better. Also, having the same chord patterns make it easy for you to transition from one song to the next.
Songwriting Tip# 6: Have a Handy Recorder
It’s important to have a gadget where you can record your song in an instant. There are times that suddenly a melody comes across your mind or a beat or an idea for an intro. Sparks of inspiration can easily be forgotten when our focus is diverted. It helps if your cellphone has a voice recording feature, so you can hum your melody or sing out an inspired chorus directly to your phone. Another way is to video yourself, including the chords that you play.
You can stack your recorded ‘inspirations’ and get back to them anytime. The temptation though is that because you are confident that you have stored the initial parts, there is a lesser tendency to finish the song. Be sure to finish what you have started.
Songwriting Tip #5: Lyrics or Melody? It’s Up to God
Which comes first? The lyrics or the melody? This “chicken or egg” query is the most frequently asked question regarding songwriting. The answer to that: whichever the Lord reveals to you first. There are times that you strum a certain chord pattern and a melody comes out. There are also instances that we are inspired to write down and express a realization or an emotion.
In my experience, the advantage if the melody comes first is that the song is most likely to have a very catchy chorus and a complementing stanza melody. The challenge is to write down an inspiration that will capture the feel of the music.
When you write the lyrics first, a great advantage is that the song can have a very unique outcome of its melody since it’s based on the words and the emotions behind the poetry. It is less likely to be structured and the song is not “boxed in.” The big challenge is to shorten some of your written verses to fit in the desired number of syllables to match the song timing. You may have to change many of your original lyrics.
The best thing to do is to allow the Lord to lead you whether what you are holding now is a pen or a guitar. It’s His song anyway.
Songwriting Tip #4: Build Up the Message of Your Song
Do you have anything to say? What is it that you feel? The answers to these questions can be communicated by speech or better yet, by SONG! St. Augustine once said, “Singing is twice praying.” Music is such a potent tool to communicate and express our innermost thoughts and feelings.On the blank below, write down a key message that you want to deliver. It can be a word or a phrase. (ex. love for God, expressing a romantic feeling, etc.)_____________________________
List down five(5) topics related to your key message. (ex. love for God: forgiveness, peace, joy, etc.)
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
4.___________________________
5.___________________________
Next, write down how you feel about each topic. (ex. forgiveness: freedom)
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
4.___________________________
5.___________________________
With these information, you can now proceed to write a draft composition. What is vital is that you have a clear message and that you can visualize the emotions that will match to the tune you will be creating.
Songwriting Tip #3: Believe in Yourself
A basic requirement for song writing is CONFIDENCE. If you don’t believe in yourself, then most of the time others won’t. Stephen Covey suggests in his Seven Habits of Effective People, “Begin with the end in mind.” Believe 100% that you can be an excellent song writer. Stick with that goal, and you will see how fast your skills develop. State three(3) reasons why you can be an excellent song writer.
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
Songwriting Tip #2: Find Out Why You Want to Write Songs
Can you state three(3) reasons why writing songs is important? State your reasons.
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
The question above aims to let you realize that songwriting can affect lives. It may be a hobby or a skill you want to harness, but best of all it is something of worth and importance. Answering the “whys” will bring out your passion for songwriting. When time comes that you feel lost and tired in writing songs, the “whys” will bring you back on track.
Songwriting Tip #1: Have the Passion
A musician with great passion will later outdo a musician with great skill. How many times have we seen someone so gifted in an instrument but never dared to write or even finish a song he has started? I know I have dozens of them. Passion always creates possibilities. Passion drives us to learn more each day until we become excellent. Having a passion for songwriting will ignite endless possibilities to creating a musical masterpiece.
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