Songwriters need to continue to improve their craft. Although I recommend that you write songs every day, you can do many different songwriting exercises every day. However, if you’re anything like me, you may not have the time. This is why I created this list of songwriting exercises I found made a difference in my writing.
You can learn songwriting skills as quickly as possible by looking no further. As I find more beneficial songwriting exercises, I will add them to this list.
Five Best Songwriting Exercises
Word Association
This exercise will require you to use brainstorming to generate as many words as possible to an associated topic. Set a timer for three minutes, and then create a list of words that you can choose from. For example, “Adventure” would be the keyword. You will need to think of as many words and ideas you can associate them with.
The journey, life, loss, new and beginning. These are all words you can associate with “adventure”. This will help you expand your vocabulary and improve your understanding of the words. This will allow you to explore more ideas and become familiar with synonyms.
I like to take it a step further and write sentences, phrases, or even song ideas for the words that I choose. This word association exercise allows me to think more creatively and helps me come up with new ideas. Keep your brainstorming session under the time limit of 3 minutes. This creates more pressure and allows you to put your ideas down quickly.
This is one of my favorite songwriting exercises. It’s quick and easy, yet it can help you become a better singer. I find it easier to combine my thoughts into lyrics, even though I can find words with more flavor.
This songwriting exercise can help you develop lyrics that relate to the words you are referring to.
The 10-minute song
Your goal for this songwriting exercise is to complete a song within 10 minutes. However, you will also be using an instrument of your choice. It would be best to create lyrics and a chord progression within 10 minutes.
As the timer ticks down, you’ll feel the pressure. Here’s a song structure that you can use to help make this songwriting exercise easier.
You don’t have an obligation to share your songwriting ideas, just like freewriting. Don’t be ashamed to share whatever you have to say during the session.
You don’t have to worry if the sound you hear is not what you expected. You can leave a note or return to it after the 10-minute exercise. I have even returned to some 10-minute songs I created during my practice sessions. I combined lyrics and ideas from different days into something new.
As in freewriting, when the timer goes off, you can put your stuff down and then perform your 10-minute song. Recording it is a good idea as you can review what you’ve done and see how far you have come as a songwriter.
Learn your Favorites (Learn songs from your favorite artists)
Here’s something every songwriter can learn from. Learn to play songs by your favorite artists and writers. This is a great resource for songwriters.
Learning, practicing, and mastering favorite songs is a great method to increase your musical skills and styles. All of your musical influences will have an impact on your music. You will be able to develop your songwriting style. Your musical style will eventually blend with those you closely follow, creating a unique sound that you can call yours.
Your favorite artists can inspire you with their song lyrics, chord progressions, and even the overall feel of your songs. Anyone who practices music can benefit from the lessons you have learned.
(Rewriting the chorus).
Rewriting choruses is a fun way to learn songs from other artists. It can be the most difficult step in songwriting. This exercise will improve your ability to create catchy choruses that complete a song.
This is also easier because you already have the song as inspiration when creating your chorus.
The 6 Word Story
Songwriters try to communicate a message via their lyrics while fitting a tune. The “6 Word Story” songwriting exercise can help learn the art of condensing. According to Ali Errett, The Art of Songs, it is “Where we take large ideas and convey them as quickly as possible.”
We want to provide enough information that draws listeners into our songs while not giving all the answers. After listening to your song, you want them to reflect on it. Errett states in his video that “the depth of the lyrics is often in the mystery and the unsaid.”
You only need a beginning and middle to start writing a 6 Word Story. Be aware that conflict and resolution are essential.
It is easier for me to express what I feel or think after doing this songwriting exercise. This holds for songwriting as well as in everyday life. I didn’t realize how important it was to reduce your lyrics. It is crucial to note every word you use when creating a song. If it’s unnecessary, don’t fill your lyrics with unnecessary words.
It has been easier for me to put together lyrics with a lot of meaning while keeping the words minimum. It’s easy to do, and you’ll love it.
Freewriting (10 minutes).
Freewriting helps you train your mind by creating the habit of writing/logging your thoughts onto paper, whether they are complete ideas or developing ones. Thoughts come and go, and people will only write down fully developed thoughts.
This bad habit needs to be corrected. You never know what idea will become your next big hit. Writing free will allow you to get more ideas down and expand them. We recommend that you set aside 10 mins per day for freewriting and at minimum 4-5 days per week.
After setting your timer, you are free to write about whatever comes up. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Think, feel, write. Once the alarm sounds, stop writing and put down your pen/pen. With the information you have written down, you can do what you like with it. Sometimes, I even get song ideas out of my freewriting sessions.
After a few weeks of freewriting, you’ll notice a change in the freedom you have with your songwriting. It will be easier to express what you feel at any moment. This can lead to song ideas and lyrics.
Freewriting is a refreshing experience, and I recommend it to all songwriters looking to improve their craft.
Last Thoughts
Like any other skill, songwriting is not easy. If you want to improve your songwriting skills, it will take practice and training. You will improve as a songwriter if you put in the work. I hope that you find these songwriting exercises useful in your practice sessions to improve your craft. You can leave a comment or email me if you have questions. All the best with your songwriting journey!