How to write a song -
Follow your heart or your brain?
When songwriters discuss the basics of how to write a song, there seem to be two conclusions that come up regularly: write from your heart, and learn from the best.
This seems like a contradiction - do what comes naturally, but listen to others and "learn the rules".
I would encourage you to start where you are and just write your song. Don't worry about how to write your song, just write it.
Then, write another one. Write another one and just keep on writing.
A powerful thing happens without realizing it... you gain confidence and your songwriting gets better.
Follow your heart - it knows where to go
I wrote my first songs at the piano (while I was supposed to be practicing), and didn't know I couldn't... I just did it. Soon, I wanted to play them for other people.
When I got stuck... didn't know the next chord... couldn't hear a lyric... didn't like the melody, whatever the situation, there were always 2 choices.
Choice #1 Walk away.
That's right - put it away and come back to it later.
Choice #2 Force something to happen.
I chose this option - many times. (Usually a bad choice for beginning songwriters.)
What is the result of forcing it...? Usually,a mixed up song with too many ideas.
A song that should have been 2 different songs... maybe even 3.
Each section sounded great by itself, but together it was as if 2 or more writers wrote it... from different towns.
Yes, the verse or chorus sounded really cool by itself - but had no relation to the rest of the song.
I forced it. It was just my brain making it happen, not my heart.
The sections were not cohesive and I had "two songs for the price of one"... not good.
The good news is, I learned alot from my mistakes.
- My ear began to teach me.
- My ear began to mature beyond the excitement of "I've learned how to write a song."
- My ear started recognizing the weaknesses.
My ear was able to do this because I was also listening to the radio and hearing how they got from a verse to a chorus. They didn't stumble like I did.
They certainly didn't sound like a totally different song in each section. The stories flowed, the chord progressions were just right and the beats didn't have to change much.
The seemingly simple parts of pop & country songs that I didn't appreciate before, were the very things I struggled with.
Successful Songwriters Leave Clues
You can't recognize those clues if you haven't attempted it yourself.
Since I had followed my heart and written song after song, weaknesses and all... I had learned an enormous amount.
The more I worked, the more I wanted to learn. The more I learned, the more I was able to recognize clues.
Gradually, I made a concious choice. I wanted songwriting lessons from those people.
I wanted to learn how they did it... how to write a song that did everything right.
In other words... my heart led to my Brain.
I followed my instincts, wrote about my passions, but began to learn from those who have gone before... successfully.
You begin to know when you're "forcing" it, and when it's flowing.
Learning how to write a song isn't an overnight adventure.
My journey in songwriting will continue. And the humbling part of it... the more I learn, the less I know.
There are two choices when learning how to write a song... follow your heart or learn from others.
I think I'll do both.
As Yogi Berra.. the famous baseball player, manager and coach of the New York Yankees said, "When you get to the fork in the road... take it."
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