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Beginner Songwriting Tips: Critical Listening
Songwriting is much less about being able to write a good songs as it is about knowing where good songs come from. The first question you should ask yourself is, "Why do I like the songs I like?". There are usually just a handful of things that make a song appealing, and getting a grasp of them is easy. Here are some things to listen for:
Melody- After you listen to the song, is it stuck in your head? Really listen to the melody, try playing it. Can you hum it easily? Can you whistle it? You will come to notice that all great songs have a catchy melody you can really hang on to.Rhythm- How does your body naturally move when you listen to the song? You will start to notice that a lot of music evokes unconscious movement-- are you slowly drifting back and forth, tapping your foot, jerking your head up and down? The softness or harshness of the rhythm gives the song a big part of its character.
Performance- What makes the artist unique? Listen to the little subtleties of the artist that let you know who it is. Whether it's the way Michael Jackson yelps, how Rihanna uses her vibrato, or how Jason Mraz flips into his falsetto, these little tricks are good to keep in mind when you are writing, they make a song more personal and unique. Also, pay attention to what the background instruments sound like as well. For instance, try and listen just to the bass guitar-- how does it fit into the song? Try to focus on instruments you wouldn't normally notice, and you will feel how an ensemble really comes together.Form- How is the song laid out? Maybe you think it will go straight to the chorus, but it takes you through a bridge instead, or maybe the 2nd verse is completely different from the first. Be able to identify the different types of sections in a song, and understand why the song progresses the way it does. "Events"- An event is a generally memorable moment in a song. The Black Eyed Peas' hit "Boom Boom Pow" has loads of these, one which stands out in my mind is on the lyric "spaceship zoom". An event can be a bass riff, a sound effect, just anything that makes you stop for a second and say "what was that?".
A big part of learning to write songs is to really listen to music. Just sit and listen to your favorite playlist for as long as you like, and make mental notes (or even physical notes) of what you like about a song. Listen critically, pay attention, and you will notice that you will actually pick up certain tricks by ear. Sometimes I will subconsciously use a chord I heard in a song weeks ago, and I won't find out until later where I got it from. There are thousands of great songs out there, so get listening!To return to the songwriting section, click here.
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