5 Ways To Become A Better Songwriter Instantly

Whether you are writing for your own pleasure or you hope to have your songs recorded by major artists, here are some steps you can take to write better songs instantly.

1) Co-write. There are not many people in the world who are world-class at both lyric and melody. Finding out what your strengths are and finding co-writers who are world-class in the areas in which you are weak can instantly make your songs better. I started getting songs recorded by major artists when I dropped my pride, admitted my weaknesses and found people to help me out in those areas.

2) Write better ideas. It’s a million times easier to write a great song when you start with a great idea. Continually searching for better, more unique ideas is crucial to staying on the path of writing better songs. Sometimes we joke that we have an idea so good that all we have to do is get out of the way and not mess it up. Those are the kinds of ideas that make you write better because you are writing “up” to the hook.

3) Re-Write. Too often, we get excited about a song in the writing session, so we rush out to demo it before we look it over and make sure it’s the best it can be. Getting in the habit of spending 30 minutes going back over each song to make sure it’s clear, creative and easy to follow can instantly make you a better songwriter. Try to look at your song as if someone else wrote it and see what issues you can find and fix. You’ll thank me later.

4) Write more. The more you write, the better you get. Songwriting is a lot like golf. The more you practice your swing, the better you will be. Write as often as you can and you’ll find your songs getting better and better.

5) Be open to learning. Watch a video, read a blog, take a class. Then put something new into your next song that you learned in one of those lessons. Every time you stretch out and try something new, you are becoming a better songwriter because you learn from each new thing you try.

Try those 5 steps to becoming a better writer! And write on!

Marty Dodson
Pro Songwriter/Lifelong Learner/Co-Founder SongTown.com