faith. music. media.

How Do You Write?

songwritingI am interested in how you write music. I don’t mean “how” you come up with lyrics, chords, melodies…

I am just curious what your songwriting setup is like.

Me, I just prefer the laptop on top of the piano with the recorder app loaded, my songwriting journal open, a bible and a cup of hot coffee.

My alternate setup consists of no instrument; most likely sitting in a coffee shop with a notepad. I write better melodies when I am not trying to shoe-horn them into the ole’ familiar chord progressions and riffs. I have an Olympus voice recorder, as well as a recording app on my phone.

How about you?

This entry was posted on 12/29/2009. It was filed under Songwriting.

  • http://www.troublewithmonday.com Lee Anna

    I write a lot in the car – then jot down lyrics on any scrap of paper – or just sing them over and over until I get to a piano. I usually write lyrics and melody at the same time, then I fit the chord structure to the melody – making sure to use some interesting chords (ie – I love the sound of Eb going into a Gm7)
    Or – I take my writing notebook and sit at the piano. Then I write an interesting chord structure and then fit a melody and words to it. So, I guess for me the key is to make the melody and the words together – it makes for better prosody! I usually take about 20-30 minutes for a finished song, although that’s the rough draft and can be polished up considerably after that!

  • http://www.corykent.com Cory Kent

    Good to know, Lee Anna- thanks for the comment. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year at SAMI