I’m passionate about songwriting. In fact as a music producer, I just see the recording and production process as part of crafting great songs. And even after being voted christiansongwriting.com’s 2019 Songwriter Of The Year, I gotta say I have A LOT to learn when it comes to writing songs. Here are some good tips and reminders I’ve picked up along the way…

1. Schedule Time To Pray and Read Scripture

   I know…obvious right? But if we believe Jesus’ words in John 15, that “…without [Him] we can do nothing,” then doesn’t that include the songs we write? And in that same passage Jesus explains that those who “abide” in Him will “bear much fruit.”

2. Voice-memos

   Whether you rock Apple, Android, or whatever there’s probably a recording app on your phone that’s designed for taking voice notes or recording meetings, etc. For many pro writers I’ve heard from recently including Phil Wickham, Bethel music writers, Leeland Mooring, etc., these apps have become essential tools. You can drop lyric and melody ideas while driving, running, or whenever. Try it!

3. SCHEDULE regular time for writing

   Hit songwriter Jason Ingram recently said, on the Made It In Music podcast, “If you want me to believe that you’re a songwriter, then show me your calendar.” Yikes. Ryan Tedder, front-man for One Republic and co-host of NBC’s Songland suggests spending at least 3-4 hours per day writing. I’m guessing if you’re like me that would mean re-arranging the schedule a bit.

4. Co-writing

   Co-writing is beyond a fun option these days. It’s the norm. I’ve heard many folks say that they haven’t had much luck with co-writing or they haven’t found that right “chemistry.” But I’ve found the more you do it, the more “chemistry” you find. To quote Seth Mosely, “It’s a numbers game.” I recently sat down with a top CCM and Worship publisher in Franklin, Tennessee. He mentioned that he’s discovered that the “magic number” for co-writers is “three in a room.” That way, chances are you’ve got someone great at lyrics, another person who’s strong with melodies, and ideally a third person who’s great with recording sounds and ideas for the track.

5. Learn To Record and Produce Yourself

   Even if for no other reason than to just make demos. But what if you could even get to the point that you could produce your own songs or albums? If you can learn recording basics like capturing clean vocals, drum programming, recording guitars, etc., you could potentially save thousands of dollars. You could even do the bulk of the production (which tends to be the expensive part) and then have someone else mix and master your project. That’s one way to get maximum quality in the end-product while enjoying maximum savings financially.