Here’s a common problem that one of my subscribers recently expressed to me…
“I am 16 years old and the main problem is that I know what I want to write, but when I write it I think it sounds silly” He’s 16 now, but I’m pretty sure this problem transcends all ages.
The truth is that almost everything *I* write also I think sounds silly… at least at first. We all have to understand that in most cases you will never write a ‘great song’ the first time. It doesn’t happen that way.
I always jokingly tell aspiring songwriters that “you’re not in the songwriting business, but rather… you’re in the publishing business.”
By that I mean you’re not necessarily ‘writing songs’, but rather ‘creating songs’. That’s why they call it a trade, and that’s how you should be thinking. It’s all about constantly editing and rearranging your song until you think it’s suitable for other listeners to hear. When you have a song, don’t let it stop there. Trust me, it’s not finished.
There may be exceptions to the rule, but mostly, you’ll still have work to do.
Listen to the verse… could you use a change of melody? Does it fit well with the chorus or the pre-chorus? Does the song make sense lyrically? Get out of the song for a moment…would you like to listen to the song if you were a stranger listening? Does the song bore you? What could you do to change that?
Now, you don’t have to go crazy here. Don’t fixate on every little bump and crack, that will only drive you crazy. Take what you think you could do with the rework first, then DO IT. Change it… and make it better.
Criticizing your own song is probably one of the hardest things to do in songwriting, but it CAN be done relatively easily. It means that you really have to stand on the sidelines of your song and look at it a little bit objectively.
Hearing the song from other people’s ears can do wonders for your songwriting.
After you’ve done this, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag… BUT only for a limited audience.
What do I want to say with that?..
…I mean, now you should play your song to a fellow musician, singer or songwriter. All three if you can. If it’s someone you respect, all the better. Here’s the ticket: there’s no better way to drastically improve your songwriting than when you actually start hearing your song through the ears of another songwriter/musician, whom you respect. That’s the best.
In fact, I’ll tell you one more time so that you engrave this sentence in your mind…
There’s no better way to drastically improve your songwriting than when you actually start hearing your song through the ears of another songwriter/musician, whom you respect. If you don’t have a friend who is a songwriter or musician that you admire or respect, then find one. Honestly. Befriend one. Develop some kind of relationship with one. Find one. It will be the biggest move you’ve ever made in songwriting.
Eventually, you won’t have to keep asking them for feedback because soon you’ll be able to hear your song. ‘through his ears’. That is why the previous paragraph is so crucial to the success of your composition.
I am convinced that if you follow the advice in this article, your composition will reach its maximum level. Not only that, but you’ll achieve a higher level of songwriting in a shorter space of time.
Finally, remember that you will get better as you write more and more. By definition, if you do something more often, it will improve. So keep it up and for God’s sake ENJOY.