Q&A for How to Be a Good Songwriter

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What does it take to be a good songwriter?

Tanisha Hall
Vocal Coach
Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.

Tanisha Hall

Vocal Coach

Expert Answer

It's important to put your ideas down on paper whenever they strike you. Also, just listen to as much music as you can in the genre that you're writing songs. For example, if you want to be a great folk songwriter, listen to a ton of folk music! It also helps to step back on occasion and really remind yourself why you're pursuing this goal.

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Question

Is it a must to always use complex, nicer literary words in lyrics?

Community Answer

In songwriting, there are no rules; it's just what sounds the best. If the right word is simple, don't try to make it more complex.

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Question

How can I become a lyricist?

Community Answer

Write down lyrics as they pop into your head, looking to your surroundings and personal life for inspiration. Listen to great lyricists to learn from their styles, then practice putting your lyrics together into a story that can be sung.

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Question

How can I develop a songwriting career?

Community Answer

Try to get in touch with people in the music community. If producers like your work, they may agree to sign a contract. Try writing and singing online. If you get lots of views (in the thousands, at least), then you can make a good point that lots of people listen to you online, to help further infuence the producer to sign you.

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Question

Can I also be an actress as well as a songwriter? Or is it too hard?

Community Answer

It all depends on how much you work on each, which one you lean towards, and which one you've been doing longer. It also depends on whether or not you are used to doing two things that are so different. Give yourself the opportunity to explore both and see which one fits best. Sometimes, you might want to give one up to help develop the other, and sometimes you might find out you're much better and more successful at one than at the other. Or, you may find both equally work well for you. With the right mindset, both are always possible.

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Question

How can I tell if a song is too short?

Community Answer

The average pop song is 3:30, but a song can be any length. There is no written rule.

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Question

How can I write a song about playing softball?

Community Answer

Write your song about whatever aspects of softball you'd like, but use a lot of metaphors so that your song can serve as a song for many different types of situations beyond sports.

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Question

How can I learn to write what I want to write when my songs end up not being the genre I want them to be?

Community Answer

This happens to me a lot too! Just keep writing your songs, and when you are done, work on different tunes and tones to spice up your song. Also, try techniques commonly used in the genre you want. For instance, if you don't want country sounding songs, use remixes of electronic beats instead of guitars. Try your best and keep working at it. Songwriting is not easy!

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Question

What if I don't know how play an instrument?

Community Answer

You don't have to know how to play an instrument. If you have really good lyrics and you know that it will sound great with the notes you have written, then the song can be great. You could even ask a friend or family member who plays and instrument to play the song as you go along writing it.

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Question

How can I make sure my songs are good if I don't want to sing them myself?

Community Answer

Have a friend or family member sing the song for you. They could even give you suggestions to make the song better.

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Question

How can I be a great singer and songwriter?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions listed in the article above. Ensure that you are practicing a lot.

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Question

How do I sell my written songs?

Community Answer

If you want to be on Spotify, then go to places like DistroKid or TuneCore. If you want to sell CDs, then burn a blank CD with some song you recorded and go to a local music store and ask an employee if you could sell the CD there. Or, if you just want people to hear, go to a local music store and ask an employee if the owner would play it there. Try to do both because people could hear it and think that is a good song and want to buy it.

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Question

I want to write a song, but I am terrible at writing the lyrics. What do I do?

Caden Wayne Ajero

Community Answer

Don't give up. it takes a few days or a few hours to write a song. If you don't know how to write a song, then you can make any theme of the song like love songs or rap songs just think about words for any song theme like love words, rap words and vibe songs.

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Question

How do I not waste time writing a song that's not any good?

Community Answer

Ask for feedback! Even if you’re not finished with a song, sharing bits and pieces of it can help you to grasp an understanding of what’s to keep.

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