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| Songwriting Guide to Listening |
Just about all of the books on songwriting out there today will tell you
that they key to becoming a better songwriter is to write more. While I
do agree that the more you write, the more comfortable you will be
with it, writing is only 50% of songwriting. That's right, one of the
biggest myths about songwriting is that people always tend to think
they need to focus on writing more than anything else. And that is
where they ignore the other 50%.
that they key to becoming a better songwriter is to write more. While I
do agree that the more you write, the more comfortable you will be
with it, writing is only 50% of songwriting. That's right, one of the
biggest myths about songwriting is that people always tend to think
they need to focus on writing more than anything else. And that is
where they ignore the other 50%.
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So what is the other 50%? To become a better songwriter, you need
to concentrate on two things: Writing and Listening. What many
people don't realize is that listening is just as important as writing
because it helps you understand how music works. And that
understanding is the real key to writing better songs.
to concentrate on two things: Writing and Listening. What many
people don't realize is that listening is just as important as writing
because it helps you understand how music works. And that
understanding is the real key to writing better songs.
Let me show you what I mean. First, think of your favorite song. Now
think of why you like that song so much. Is it so catchy that you can't
stop singing it? Does it remind you of a personal experience or time
period in your life? Does it motivate you to feel strong and inspired,
does it make you feel like crying, or does it just make you want to
dance until your feet fall off? No matter what the reason, there is
something in that song that causes you to feel some kind of an
emotion. And in order to write songs that generate that level of
emotion in others, you must first understand why music moves us.
think of why you like that song so much. Is it so catchy that you can't
stop singing it? Does it remind you of a personal experience or time
period in your life? Does it motivate you to feel strong and inspired,
does it make you feel like crying, or does it just make you want to
dance until your feet fall off? No matter what the reason, there is
something in that song that causes you to feel some kind of an
emotion. And in order to write songs that generate that level of
emotion in others, you must first understand why music moves us.
| How taking the “Writing” out of Songwriting can make your song a #1 Hit! |
Here's an example: One of my all time favorite songs is "Livin' On a
Prayer" by Bon Jovi (written by J. Bon Jovi/R. Sambora/D. Child).
When that song first came out, I wanted to hear it over and over again,
even though at that point, I really didn't understand why yet. I just
knew there was something about it that triggered something in me. It
made me feel energized and psyched up. I wanted to sing along with
it, tap my foot, run around the living room pretending I was a rock star,
etc.
Prayer" by Bon Jovi (written by J. Bon Jovi/R. Sambora/D. Child).
When that song first came out, I wanted to hear it over and over again,
even though at that point, I really didn't understand why yet. I just
knew there was something about it that triggered something in me. It
made me feel energized and psyched up. I wanted to sing along with
it, tap my foot, run around the living room pretending I was a rock star,
etc.
When I eventually started writing, I went back to take a closer look at it.
I wanted to figure out exactly what it was about the song that made
me feel that way and why. So I asked myself which part of the song
drew me in the most. The answer- the pre chorus. When they started
singing "hold on to what we've got, it doesn't make a difference if we
make it or not...", it was as if someone turned on a light switch
and it took me to a totally different place.
I wanted to figure out exactly what it was about the song that made
me feel that way and why. So I asked myself which part of the song
drew me in the most. The answer- the pre chorus. When they started
singing "hold on to what we've got, it doesn't make a difference if we
make it or not...", it was as if someone turned on a light switch
and it took me to a totally different place.
After figuring that much out, I looked closer at what was happening
there. They went to a C chord from an E minor (which is what the
verse is primarily made up of). That didn't seem so unusual so it had
to be something more. Then I listened, this time more carefully to all
of the instruments. What I discovered was that as soon as it went to
the pre chorus, the keyboard started playing quarter notes of 'G'.
If you have that song, play it, and you'll hear what I'm talking about,
just listen for the keyboard part. Those notes were the ones that
caused my emotional response and thus I started to slowly
understand how music really worked.
there. They went to a C chord from an E minor (which is what the
verse is primarily made up of). That didn't seem so unusual so it had
to be something more. Then I listened, this time more carefully to all
of the instruments. What I discovered was that as soon as it went to
the pre chorus, the keyboard started playing quarter notes of 'G'.
If you have that song, play it, and you'll hear what I'm talking about,
just listen for the keyboard part. Those notes were the ones that
caused my emotional response and thus I started to slowly
understand how music really worked.
I used my newfound discovery to break it down even further so that I
could incorporate that emotion in my songs, in a slightly different way
of course. Looking at it closely, the note that was played over and
over again on the keyboards was a 'G'. That 'G' was the fifth of the
chord that started the pre chorus (the C chord). So, I always
remembered that, and years later, I used a similar technique in one
of my songs, "Just Tell the Truth". Now obviously "Livin' On a Prayer"
is a completely different song, but I was able to use a technique that I
learned by listening carefully.
could incorporate that emotion in my songs, in a slightly different way
of course. Looking at it closely, the note that was played over and
over again on the keyboards was a 'G'. That 'G' was the fifth of the
chord that started the pre chorus (the C chord). So, I always
remembered that, and years later, I used a similar technique in one
of my songs, "Just Tell the Truth". Now obviously "Livin' On a Prayer"
is a completely different song, but I was able to use a technique that I
learned by listening carefully.
And the best part is that you can do that with any song. Go ahead, try
it. Think of a song that moves you, then concentrate on what
specifically it is about that song that evokes your strongest emotional
response. Then break it down so you can figure out what's going on
with every instrument in the song during that part. Focusing on each
part individually will reveal to you what technique is being used.
it. Think of a song that moves you, then concentrate on what
specifically it is about that song that evokes your strongest emotional
response. Then break it down so you can figure out what's going on
with every instrument in the song during that part. Focusing on each
part individually will reveal to you what technique is being used.
That's one of the biggest secrets of songwriting and if you ask me,
not enough writers today pay close enough attention to what makes
music work by listening, really listening.
not enough writers today pay close enough attention to what makes
music work by listening, really listening.
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