Becoming A Songwriter: Unlock the Secrets of Songwriting

1. Becoming A Songwriter: Unlock the Secrets of Songwriting Introduction: I'm Bennett and welcome to becoming a songwriter. This course is designed for songwriters at all levels. We're looking to elevate their craft and create lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners. Whether you're writing for yourself or others. The ability to craft compelling lyrics is the heart of every song. Throughout this course, we'll dive deep into the techniques that make lyrics powerful, emotional, and unforgettable. By the end of this course, you won't only have a solid understanding of how your lyrics can tell a story and connect with your audience, but also develop your own unique voice as a songwriter. But first, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a singer songwriter, independent artist, and music my songs have been featured on BBC Introducing. I've been added to multiple playlists. And through these experiences, I've learned how to craft my songs that connect with the audience. And now I'm here to share those insights with you, and here's what we'll learn throughout this course. You'll learn the essentials of crafting lyrics that work within a structure, creating emotional connections, and understanding rhythmic placement. We'll discover how to find inspiration in everyday life from personal experiences to current events and learn how to shape a strong central idea. We'll explore how vivid imagery and specific details make the lyrics more engaging and relatable, moving beyond cliches and abstract language. We'll understand how to structure your song for maximum emotional impact. Guiding your audience through a dynamic emotional journey, we'll learn how lyrics and melodies work together, and we'll master the art of editing and refining your lyrics, using feedback and tools to improve your work without losing the heart of your song, and we'll unlock your creative inspiration with prompt, daily writing habits and techniques for breaking through these mental barriers. So why this course? Songwriting is so much more than finding the right words. It's about capturing the essence of the human experience and emotions. In this course, we'll learn how to weave meaning, emotion, and heart into your lyrics. You'll be encouraged to experiment with new writing techniques, push past these creative blocks, and refine your skills with practical exercises. Each module has been crafted to challenge you and encourage growth. And by the end of this course, you'll have the tools to really take your lyrics level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced songwriter, this course will challenge you to push past these creative limits. So let's unlock your full songwriting potential. 2. Finding and Developing Your Song’s Idea: Hi, I'm Bennett and welcome to becoming a songwriter. In this lesson, we're diving into the most exciting parts of songwriting. Finding and developing the core idea of your song. Think of the idea as the heartbeat of your song. It's what gives it life and connects with your listeners, whether it's a story an emotion or just a single phrase that catches your ear. Your idea is where everything begins. So grab a notebook, a pen, and let's get started. So what makes a great song idea? Well, it's not about being overly complicated. Some of the best songs come from the simplest ideas that feel personal yet universal. Think about Adele's hello or John Mayer's gravity. These songs stem from deeply relatable feelings, longing, love, self reflection. Here are the three qualities of a strong song idea. Number one is relatable. Audience should be able to see themselves in your lyrics. Number two is unique perspective. You should be able to see a fresh angle from a familiar topic, and number three is emotional impact, whether it's joy, nostalgia or heartbreak, you should be aiming to evoke strong feelings. So how about we pause here for a moment, and let's think about the songs that resonate with us. Think about the songs you love or the lyrics that resonate with you. Is it the story, the emotion, or just a single phrase that sticks with you? Know what makes a great idea, Let's explores how to generate them. Inspiration is everywhere if you know where to look. Here's some techniques to get those creative wheels turning. Number one is personal experiences. You can write about something you've lived through a breakup, a joyful moment, a tough decision. Ask yourself, what's that memory that's constantly replaying in my head? Number two, is storytelling. You can create a character and tell their story. Imagine what they're feeling, their struggles, their triumph. And number three is current events or observations. So look around you. Is there a conversation? Is there a news story? Or maybe there's something going on outside your window right now. And number four is random prompt. Use a random word generator or I'll flip through a book, and you can pick a word or a phrase and build a song around that. So let's try it. Pause this video and spend about 5 minutes brainstorming different ideas. But try not to overthink it. It could be something simple as a rainy day or missing home. Okay, let's just spend a quick 5 minutes on that. Okay, great. Now you've got a list of ideas. The next step is choosing one and fleshing it out. So here's a quick checklist to help you decide. Which idea feels the most exciting? Can you imagine a story or an emotion attached to it? Does it feel personal, even if it's fictional? Now, once you've picked your idea, let's start asking questions to develop it further. So who's involved? Is it about you, someone else, or a fictional character? What's happened? What's the main event or what's the feeling you're trying to describe? And why does it matter? What's the emotional core of the story? So take an idea from your list. Let's pause this course for a second and write a short paragraph about it. And let's try and focus on answering the questions we just asked. So don't worry about rhymes and melodies just yet. We're just exploring. So let's touch on hooks. Every great song has a hook. The hook is that catchy line or phrase that sticks in your head. It's also often the essence of your song idea. For example, Taylor Swift's shake it off, or Bill Withers ain't no sunshine. But your hook doesn't have to be perfect right away. Start with something simple that captures the feeling of your song, and we can refine it later. You've done amazing work today. You've just laid the groundwork of your next song. Remember, every great song starts with an idea, but the magic comes from how you develop and express it. In the next lesson, we'll explore the power of specificity and how to bring your ideas to life with vivid imagery. Until then, keep brainstorming and let your creativity flow, and I'll see you next time. 3. The Power of Specificity: Hi, I'm Bennett and welcome back to becoming a songwriter. In this lesson, we're tackling the most important tools in your songwriting toolkit. Specificity. It's a really hard word to say, but it's very important. Specificity is what transforms a good song into a great one. It's what makes your lyrics really stand out and connect even deeper to your listeners. By the end of this module, you'll understand how to replace these generic lines with vivid imagery and how to use all five senses to paint a picture in your listener's mind. So let's get started. So let's start off with a question. Have you ever listened to a song and thought, Wow, that's exactly how I feel. Chances are, the songwriter used specific and vivid details to make this emotion come alive. For example, let's compare these two lines. Miss you so much, and your mug still sits on the counter cold and untouched. Now, the first line cuts straight to the chase. The second line doesn't just tell you the emotion. It shows you. And that's honestly the secret to writing lyrics that resonate. Now let's talk about cliches. Cliches are the absolute enemy of originality. These are often phrases that we've heard over 1,000 times and they've completely lost their emotional core. So here's some common cliches and how we can refresh them. So the first cliche is broken heart. To freshen this up, we could say like glass shattered in the kitchen sink. The second cliche could be feeling blue. We could freshen this up by saying the sky's heavy with the weight of twilight. Let's do a quick exercise. Let's take a cliche that we've heard and let's rewrite it with specific imagery. Think about colors and textures and actions to bring it to life. In songwriting, the golden rule is show. Don't tell. Telling states an emotion outright. Showing uses imagery and action to imply it. So let's look at a quick example. Telling is I was so lonely. Showing is I ate dinner by the TV. The silence louder than the news anchor's voice. By showing you invite the listener to the scene. It's more powerful because it lets them feel the emotion rather than being told what the emotion is. So let's pause this module for a second, and let's think of a line from one of your songs or one of your favorite songs that tells an emotion. How could you rewrite it to show the same feeling? One way to make your lyrics more specific is using all five senses, sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Let's break this down. So for sight, what do you see in the scene? Colors, shapes, light, for sound. What do you hear? Music, chatter, silence. For smell, are there any distinct scents? Coffee, rain, perfume. For taste, is there a flavor, bitter coffee, sweet cake, and for touch, how does it feel? Is it warm, rough, cold? Here's a quick example. A generic line is, I remember that night. A more specific line is the air smelled of pin and the sand was cold beneath my feet. Okay, so now it's your turn. Let's practice taking a generic lyric and making it specific and descriptive. Here's how. Let's start off with a simple line like, I'm lost without you. And let's think about what the feeling looks, sounds, or feels like in real life, and then rewrite it using sensory details. For example, the map lies crumpled on the passenger seat, the road ahead swallowed by fog. So let's choose one generic lyric from your writing or a popular song, and let's rewrite it with vivid and specific imagery. And don't forget to share your before and after in the class project section. So you've done amazing work today. You've just unlocked the power of specificity. That's still a really hard word to say. By replacing cliches, showing instead of telling and using sensory details, you can bring your lyrics to life that captivates your listeners. In the next lesson, we'll explore how to create emotional arcs in your song. But until then, keep writing and keep experimenting. I'll see you next time. 4. Creating Emotional Arcs: Hi, I'm Bennett and welcome back to becoming a songwriter. In this lesson, we'll focus on how to shape your song's emotional journey. Every great song takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster from tension to release to quiet reflections to soaring heights. And this is what we call an emotional arc. By the end of this module, you'll understand how to structure your verses, pre chorus and choruses, and you'll learn how to use dynamic contrast to keep the listener engaged. And we'll also touch on incorporating metaphors and symbolism to add depth to your lyrics. Dive in. So a song structure plays a huge role in its emotional arc because each section has a purpose. So verses are where you set the scene and tell the story. Think of the verses as the foundation of your song's emotional journey. For example, in Adele's someone like you, the verses reflect on past memories and loss, and the pre choruses are used to build tension. It's the bridge between the verse and the emotional payoff of the chorus. For example, in Katy Perry's firework, the pre chorus adds anticipation. And the chorus is the emotional peak of your song. This is where you deliver the big message or feeling. For example, in Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, the chorus absolutely soars with heartbreak and do a quick exercise. Take the song idea you've been working on and outline where you put the verses, the pre chorus, and the chorus, and what emotion will each section convey. Now, let's talk about dynamic contrast. Dynamic contrasts are the push and pull between tension and release, and they are essential to creating a compelling emotional art. Without contrast, your song risks feeling flat. Let's explore ways to achieve this. One way is quiet verses and big choruses. You could use softer instrumentation and a lower vocal intensity during the verses, and then it could build into a loud, powerful chorus. Imagine Dragons radioactive is a great example. Two is pacing. You could slow down during the introspective moments and then speed up for urgency or excitement. And number three is lyrics and melody. You could use repetitive and rising melodies to build tension during the pre chorus and then resolve it in the chorus. So here's a quick exercise you can do. Try writing a pre chorus for your song idea that builds tension, and try focus on increasing intensity through lyrics and melodies. Now, let's talk about metaphors and symbolism. Metaphorse and symbolism can add emotional depth and also help listeners connect to your song on a much deeper level. Instead of just stating emotions directly, let the imagery do the heavy lifting. So here's an example. So, a metaphor is comparing one thing to another to highlight a shared quality. For example, Love as a Battlefield by Pat Benatar. And symbolism is using an object, color or image to represent an abstract idea. For example, a red balloon might symbolize fleeting happiness or freedom. So let's pause this module for a second, and let's do a quick exercise. So let's think of a central emotion of your song and think of a metaphor or a symbol to express it. For instance, if your song is about heartbreak, you might refer it to a sinking ship or a fading photograph. I'm really excited to hear what you come up with. So now let's tie everything together. The chorus is where your song's emotional core shines. Now, here are some tips for crafting a powerful chorus. Number one is summarizing your emotion. You need to capture the heart of your song in one or two lines. Number two is using dynamic language. I would choose words that are vivid and evocative, and number three is make it memorable. This would be using repetition or a strong melody to create the hook. Okay, so here's your task. Try and write a chorus for your song idea. I would focus on summarizing the emotional journey, using dynamic contrast for impact or incorporating a symbol or a metaphor, if possible. Don't forget to share your progress in the class project below. You've done absolutely amazing work today. You've learned how to create emotional arcs in your song by structuring verses, pre choruses, and choruses, effectively, using dynamic contrasts and incorporating metaphors and symbolism. These tools will really help you craft a song that connect deeply with your audience. In our next lesson, we'll dive into writing lyrics that really sing. Until then, keep experimenting and writing, and I'll see you next time. 5. Writing Lyrics that Sing: Hi, I'm Bennett and welcome back to becoming a songwriter. In this lesson, we'll be touching on how to write lyrics that really sing. One of the most exciting aspects of songwriting is marrying your lyrics with your melody in a way that flows naturally and feels effortless to sing. But how do you make sure that your words fit the music? Let me tell you, by the end of this module, you'll understand how to align syllable stress, rhythm, and melody for a natural flow, and you'll learn how to craft lyrics that are both expressive and singable. So let's start off with the basics syllable stress and rhythm. In every line of your lyrics, certain syllables will naturally carry more weight. When these stressed syllables are aligned with the natural beat of your melody, your song ends up flowing effortssly. Pay attention to how your words feel when they're spoken. If it doesn't flow naturally, it probably won't sing well either. If the melody emphasizes the wrong syllables, it might sound awkward. So let's compare them. For example, let's take a line walking down the road. A natural way of saying this is, I'm walking down the road. An awkward way of saying this is, I'm walking down the road. So here's a quick exercise you can do. Write a short lyric and read out loud. You could try and tap your hand on the table and find a natural rhythm, and then you can try singing it to a simple beat. Does it feel natural? Does it feel awkward? And most importantly, does the stress feel right? So now let's see how words and melody work together. Your melody should guide the flow of your lyrics, and in addition, your lyrics should complement the melody. Here's a few ways you can achieve that. You can match phrasing with musical phrases. You can end lines where the melody naturally resolves and avoid cramming way too many words in a short musical phrase. You can use repetition strategically. Repeating phrases or words can reinforce the melody and make it memorable. For example, let it be by the Beatles, and we can also listen for cadence. Cadence is the natural rise and fall of melody and speech. Pay attention to where your melody rises and falls and pauses. So here's a question for you. Did you know that certain sounds are easier to sing than others? Vowel sounds, in particular, are the backbone of singable lyrics. Open vowels like R and O are easier to sustain, and they also sound more natural than melodies. And I would be mindful of using hard consonants like K or P at the end of phrases because they can often cut off the flow of your melody if they're overused. For example, let's compare these two phrases. A phrase with harsh consonant is, I can't keep this cup, and a singable phrase with smooth vowels is, I feel this love inside. So here's an exercise. A line from your song and identify the vowels and consonant sounds. Sing it out loud and adjust any awkward sounds to make it flow better. Now it's time to put everything together, and here's how. Choose a simple melody or create one by humming a tune. Take a lyric you've written and sing it to the melody, adjust the phrasing, stress, and sounds to make it sing naturally, and keep refining until it feels effortless. And don't forget to share your progress in the class project section. You've done great work today. You've learned how to craft lyrics that really sing by aligning syllable stress and rhythm, and you've also focused on singability using vowels and consonants. In the next lesson, we'll learn how to edit your song like a true professional. Until then, keep experimenting and singing your ideas out loud. I'll see you next time. 6. Editing Like a Professional: Hi, I'm Bennett, and welcome back to becoming a songwriter. In this lesson, we'll be diving into a crucial aspect of songwriting. Editing. Editing your lyrics is just as important as writing them in the first place. In fact, the best songs go through numerous revisions before they get to the final one. Today, we'll explore how to critique, refine, and perfect your lyrics, just like a professional editor. Let's get started. Before you can refine your lyrics, we need to identify where they need improvement. This can be quite tricky by yourself, but don't worry. This is a skill we can develop over time. By asking yourself these questions. Do my lyrics flow naturally or do they sound forced? Is there any repetition that doesn't add any meaning or impact? Are there any parts in the song that feel vague or don't really connect emotionally with the listener? Are the rhymes effective or do they seem too cliche and predictable? Just look for the areas where the lyrics might be too generic or don't fully capture the emotion or the story you're trying to tell. The key here is to distance yourself from your writing. Remember to be critical, but also be kind. You've identified the areas that need improvement, it's time to rewrite. The goal is to elevate your lyrics without losing the original message. So here's a few techniques on how we can do that. We can simply simplify, sometimes less is more. A little quote I like to follow is keep it simple, stupid. Look for ways to eliminate unnecessary words that clutter the message. We can also strengthen imagery. Instead of telling the listener how you feel, show them instead. Lyrics are feeling monotonous, try replacing the rhythm or giving it a different rhythm pattern and we can experiment with word choice. Try and find more unique and precise words to replace the generic ones. But remember, editing isn't about cutting words. It's about improving the meaning and the emotional impact of your lyrics. So let's move on to feedback. Feedback is truly one of the most powerful tools a songwriter can have. So don't be afraid to share your lyrics with others, whether it's fellow songwriters, friends, family, or online communities. However, I wish someone told me this, but it's very important to know when to stop. Editing can become endless, and at some point, you need to accept the song is done. So here's when you can consider stopping. When you feel your lyrics, convey your message clearly and emotionally, when you've edited and re edited and still feel really proud of what you've created, when the feedback from others helps improve your lyrics, but doesn't change the essence of your song. But ultimately, the best time to stop editing is when it feels right. When it feels complete and no changes can make it stronger. That's it for editing. You've done an amazing job. Editing is a vital skill for any songwriter. And I hope today's module helps you realize it's okay to change things around and edit. In fact, some of the best songwriters spend a lot of time rewriting and improving their lyrics until it's the best it can be. So keep practicing and remember to trust your creative instincts while also being open to constructive feedback. In the next lesson we'll touch a little bit more on songwriting prompts and overcoming writer's block. It's a little bonus module, but it's still just as useful. But until then, keep editing, keep refining, keep writing, and I'll see you next time. 7. Songwriting Prompts and Overcoming Writer's Block: Hi, I'm Bennett and welcome back to becoming a songwriter. This one's a little bit of a bonus module, but it's still just as important. As songwriters, we all hit a wall from time to time. It happens to the best of us. You're staring at a blank page, and words just won't come out. But don't worry. Today we're going to discuss how to overcome writer's block and spark your creativity. Plus, we'll explore some helpful prompts to help you get your writing flowing again. One of the most effective ways to overcome writer's block is to make writing a daily habit. The more you write, the more you train your mind to be creative on demand. And when you have a routine, your brain becomes accustomed to the act of creation. Even if you're not feeling particularly inspired, writing every day allows you to build momentum. Here's how you get started. Dedicate a specific time each day to write, even if it's just about ten to 15 minutes. Don't worry about whether it's good or not. Just get your thoughts out. The goal isn't to write a hit song every single day. It's just to keep that creative muscle active. Sometimes you'll need a little extra help to get started. And this is where songwriting prompts come in. Prompts are simple exercises that just gives you a starting point, and they can open up new paths for your creativity. So here's some prompts you can use. You can take a random word and just write down all the feelings and words that come to mind when you think of it. For example, if the word is rain, you might think of the puddle, melancholy, sadness, stress, you can use these associations to form ideas for lyrics. You can look around the room and pick an object, create a story or a song or a poem about that object. For example, a candle could lead to a story about light, memory, or the passing of time. Or we can think about a strong emotion like love, fear, hope, regret, and we can write something from that perspective of that emotion. What would love say to you? What would fear look like in the form of a character? Talk about perfectionism. Perfectionism is one of the biggest barriers to creativity. You might find yourself erasing lines, overthinking every word or getting stuck in the little nitty gritty ideas instead of letting your ideas flow freely. The truth is the first draft doesn't need to be perfect. In fact, the beauty of songwriting comes in the editing process. So let go of perfectionism and let yourself write freely without judgment. And here's how we can do that. Get the ideas down first and worry about refining it later on. Embrace the mistakes. Sometimes a mistake can lead to something so surprising and unique and also give yourself the permission to write bad lyrics. They can always be fixed and refined later on, but it's the act of writing that's the important. Now that we've covered some techniques on overcoming writer's block, it's time to put it to the test. We're going to pause this module for a few minutes, and I'll tell you the plan. So set your timer for 15 minutes and just start writing without stopping. Don't worry about grammar, rhyming, or perfection. Just write whatever comes to your mind. You can use a prompt like the word association or the objects, or you can just let your thoughts wander. And when the timer goes off, read what you've written and pick out any lines or ideas that stand out to you. And then shape one of these ideas into a verse. But remember, the goal is just to write. Don't judge yourself, just let it flow. So I hope this exercise makes you realize that writer's block doesn't have to hold you back. With a little practice, daily writing habits, and some creative prompts, you can always find your way back to inspiration. And as you move forward into your songwriting journey, remember that creativity is a muscle. The more you work on it, the easier it is to tap into it. So use these prompts when you feel stuck and remember to embrace the messy first draft. Perfect lyrics come with time and edits. So thank you so much for joining me on this course and make sure to check out all of my other songwriting and music courses. And please make sure to share whatever you've created in the class project section down below. I'd love to hear them. Once again, my name is Bennett and I'll see you next time.