5 Things Every Songwriter Must Know To Be A Success

1. Sharpen your songwriting skills everyday. To be a successful songwriter, you must practice your songwriting skills regularly. Professional athletes do not reach the peak of their performance by accident. It takes long hard work. You may be naturally talented when it comes to songwriting but just like a professional athlete, talent alone will not make you a professional. Make a 30 minute songwriting time per day and use it to experiment with chords, write themes or jingles, maybe rearrange something you have recently heard or are familiar with. This is a simple and easy start to what will become a good habit to practice.

2. Listen to music every day. Concentrate on the lyrics and melodies in the songs you hear. while discovering tips and techniques in the written words of a song that you may not have been aware of.

3. Do not narrow your sphere of influence with just one style of music and songs. Some of the hottest songs played on the radio today are crossovers that have been re-mastered to appeal to a different audience. Country songs are rearranged and played on pop stations. Jazz melodies are frequently worked into Hip Hop recordings. This type of creativity comes from song writers and producers listening and being influenced by various types and styles of music. A successful song writer wants their song heard by as many people as possible. Do not limit your success by limiting your creative influences.

4. Learn the rules of the game. Just because you think you have the perfect melody or tune doesn’t mean the world, or other song writers and performers, will think the same thing. There are no set in stone rules to songwriting, however, there are practices you need to become familiar with. Rewrites and edits are a part of that game, be open to this. A closed mind does not make for a good songwriter. As often as possible, learn the basics of lyrics and poetry writing. Learning never stops and it’s a fact that as you learn more about the rules of the game, you become more skillful bending those rules. And never forget that writing catchy melodies and smart rhyming lyrics needs lots of practice.

5. An outgoing personality will benefit you. Make everybody know about your songwriting skills. Show it to friends and family first, then to songwriting communities and finally, seek professional critiques. As your abilities are honed, you will become more confident and, consequently, will be open to advice and recommendations. Remember, it’s the people whom you are writing for, their thoughts do matter.