In Beginner Songwriting
search not for a great song,
but a GREAT HOOK!

Beginner songwriting is just that, only the beginning!

But you've decided to make it official... you're calling yourself a songwriter, or at least a beginner songwriter.

So, Congratulations! You are part of a huge and beautiful tribe.

We humans have been writing songs about life on planet earth since Adam got his first glimpse of Eve. Actually, he may have been the first guy to write, "Oooh Baby..."

Many of today's popular songs haven't changed the lyrics too much since then.

Whatever your experience in songwriting, or your favorite styles of music, or your motivation, I want to help you with you as a songwriter. To Improve and ultimately record your songs.

After all, if your original music just stays in your head, the rest of us miss out.

We are going to make it simple to move beyond Beginner Songwriting to the heart of the matter.

Let's begin with an exercise. You can do this without understanding too much about music theory. You can do this if you have very little songwriting experience.

It will help you as a songwriter. And you'll find it is a natural way of coming up with your own song ideas.

1. Imagine you could say one thing to the world and everybody, EVERYBODY will hear it.

This is your one chance to preach against poverty, racism, promote solar power, conservatism, all we need is love, world peace, etc....

You get to give us all a piece of advice or wisdom that can truly change the world. What will it be?

The arts have long been used to promote a point of view. You now have the opportunity to promote yours.

Remember, you must feel strongly about this topic. If you aren't passionate about it, how will you convince us?

Then, we will try to summarize your message in one simple sentence.

Trust me. This is a great place to start in beginner songwriting.

2. Sum it up in a concise, clever and memorable way.

Years ago, the Reagan administration came up with a slogan that captured the intent of many to stop illegal drug usage. It was, "Just Say No". Was it effective...? Probably not. Did it catch on and get plastered everywhere from T-shirts to billboards. Yes!

When you sum up your message in one simple phrase, you may be getting close to a WORKING TITLE. When you are Finished...Stop.

STOP RIGHT NOW. Get up, walk around, stretch, breathe, whatever... and just clear your songwriter's head.

Begin to SAY YOUR PHRASE different ways and find the best flow for your words. Start with built in accents and natural cadences.

The FLOW of your words can give you rhythmic ideas for HOW TO SING your words. These phrases should be easy to say. You are trying to find a VIBE or MOOD for your phrase.

Here are some song titles from several popular songs. Think of the vibe these words bring to mind when you say or sing them.

Notice how the songwriters use language. How the RHYTHM OF THE WORDS HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED to make them have a particular attitude.

Stevie Wonder's, "I Just Called... To Say... I Love You". Nice pause between words. Perfect for the mood of the song.

Janet Jackson's, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" Attitude leaps off the phrasing. No pauses. Rhythm of the words is sharp and driving.

Jimmy Buffet's, "Wasting... Away again, in Margarittaville". There is no place named Margaritaville, but the way he says it convinces you otherwise. It is lazy, relaxed and problem-free in Mar-gar-rit-ta-Ville.

I'll conclude this idea with two Christmas tunes. Trust me. As dumb as this may seem, it is basic stuff for beginner songwriting.

The first one sings just like you would say it:

"Jin-gle Bells, Jin-gle Bells, Jin-gle all the waaaaaay."

Say the words without singing. Notice how the composer did not change the rhythm much at all when he added pitch (melody), to the words.

The next tune stretches out the rhythm of the words:

"Siiiii-iii lent Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, Hoooo-ooo lyNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight"

You normally wouldn't hold out those syllables. But it somehow gives us a sense of the silence and holiness of that night. It obviously worked... because it still gets sung EVERY YEAR.

This is using only RHYTHM, the most basic element of music. Every beginner songwriter must have a basic understanding of using rhythm in composing a hook.

Say your message in a way that is catchy, clever and easy to remember... even before adding melody and harmony (chords).

Now you are getting the benefit of this exercise and learning a basic songwriter's tool!

It is very important to learn from successful songwriters. Popular music is a good place for beginner songwriters to start.

I know, there are many examples of popular songs that are questionable in quality. They may not be "hits," if it weren't for the marketing and promotion budgets that introduce them.

But, I would argue that if it is working in popular media formats, there is SOMETHING in the song that IS working. It may not be very big in the Melody department, but maybe the Rhythm jams.

Some songs are very limited rhythmically AND melodically, but the vocalist delivers a great mood or vibe...so,

Listen...Analyze... Learn...Then Do. (repeat)

After you've done this awhile, try this:
Listen...Analyze... Learn...Then Do.

Learn from the best songwriters. Even if you hate it and it teaches you what NOT TO DO.....by listening to other songwriters, you will learn something!!!!! This is invaluable in beginner songwriting!

Specifically, here is what I want you to do:

a). Write down the TITLE of the song.

b). Study the RHYTHM of those words and say them WITH and WITHOUT the melody.

c). Determine if the songwriter stuck close to the original rhythms and accents.

d). Think of different ways you could emphasize words, shorten and lengthen sounds in different places.

e). Does the songwriter use a rhythm that captures the mood of the song?

f). Do you begin to see that Rhythm & Vibe are inseparable?

This lesson was actually called, "Beginner Songwriting - Developing your Hook".

I have not used the word "hook" very often, because I wanted you to hear a lyric grab you with it's rhythm and mood.

I want you to actually feel getting HOOKED. Writing songs is all about this.

We all want to be hooked into singing the song. We love that place where everybody knows the words and joins in singing it together.

It's like the punch line in a joke... the payoff for listening to the story.

But, you also know that songs have to have more than good hooks.

Nobody wants to only hear the punchline... you gotta' tell us the joke, first.

Next, we help you spin your web in

Writing a Song: Asking the Right Questions.