Someone once said to me that the only stupid questions are the ones you dont ask. I sincerely agree. Knowledge is gained through experience and asking questions and I would like to have a go at answering whatever question about songwriting you care to ask.
If I dont know the answer I'll make sure I get it for you.
The music industry is built on networks. Networking with others is the most important skill (outside of writing songs) that a songwriter needs to acquire in order to get out of it as much as they possibly can.
One of the main reasons I wanted to set up this channel was to share my knowledge and skills of over 20 years of writing songs with everyone.
I truly believe that we are all in this songwriting thing together and that there is plenty of room up the top of the ladder (not that I am anywhere near the top as yet), so instead of fighting our way up lets offer our hands to others and lift as many people up as we possibly can.
Whatever question you have on songwriting, the creative process, the music industry, any article suggestions or whetever you want just let me know. If I dont know the answer I will find the answer for you.
These articles that I write are only scraping the tip of the iceberg of all the knowledge that can be gained by pursuing mastery of the craft of songwriting, and yes it is a craft. A craft that needs to be constantly utilised and improved on by the songwriter.
We are all apprentices of the craft of songwriting no matter how successful we are (I am certain that even Diane Warren would say that she still has a lot to learn with her craft) and in general we are all works in progress so don't be scared, ask questions and lots of them. You can never, ever stop learning.
There are many songwriting resources and organisations out there in the online and offline worlds with dedicated people in them wanting to help you and help you right now. Sure, you might come across the odd mercenary that only thinks about the money and not the person but you get that in any profession.
If you dont feel comfortable with anyone that you come across while networking then stop the dialogue politely and move on. Dont let the possibility of meeting a shark stop you from searching for dolphins.
I stumbled across an article about songwriter Sean Garrett who co-writes with Destiny's Child and Usher (oh, what a gig). Play close attention to what he says in the last two paragraphs and that pretty much sums up why networking and everyone taking responsibility (in our own small way) in expanding the global songwriting knowledge base is so very important.
We, as songwriters owe it to ourselves and the music industry to write great songs so get out of the spectator stands get onto the court of life and start playing the game.
Ask and you shall receive.
Until next time, happy writing,
Corey Stewart
Songwriter/Musician
Keywords: songwriting help, song writing, songwriting, songwriter, song writer, songwriting tip, songwriting technique, songwriting idea, songwriting resource, free songwriting tip, corey stewart
Thank you for your comments
It's good to know that you can come up with hooks as hooks are a major part of the songwriting process. I suppose you need to ask yourself a few questions.
1. What music do I like?
2. What are my strengths and weaknesses? (Am I better at music or lyrics?)
3. What do I want to write about?
4. Do I go it alone or collaborate with someone else?
Depending on you as a person there are other questions only you can find and answer however, the four mentioned above are quite common ones to ponder on.
You are asking what comes next after the hook? Well, my suggestion is that you listen to your favourite music and also what is on the radio at the moment (I say that because your favs and what's on the radio maybe two completely different things) and REALLY listen to it. Having a problem with where to go after a hook sounds to me like you need more knowledge in the different sections of a song (eg: what is a chorus, verse, bridge etc).
When you are listening to the songs pay close attention to the way that it's all put together and try to emulate that with the hooks and riffs that you have come up with. You will notice that there will be some songs will be just the riff, some backing and the lyrics. Others will have more lavish arrangements.
Without knowing your tastes and hearing your hooks thats all I can really say for the time being except that you need to be willing to experiment with the soing formats that you will be hearing and be prepared to write songs that may not be good the first time around. With your hooks and riffs try to get some melody around them and start singing any lyric that comes to your head (you can always refine later on) and build on it from there. I'm sure you have all the tools to put together the aural jigsaw puzzles that are songs.
I hope that this gives you a good starting point to go from. Let me know how it goes.
Take care and good luck,
Corey