How to Write One Song
LIST
FROM #how-to-write-one-song
Jess and I listened up to Chapter 19
Notes mentioning this note
21 songwriting š¼
21 Songwriting š¼ [[21.01 Poetry and Lyrics š]] [[21.02 Melody and Harmony š¶]] [[21.03 Songwriting Exercises šļø]] [[21.04 Principles for...
21.04 principles for songwriting š§
21.04 Principles for Songwriting š§ Treat the song as if it already exists, as Iāve realized in [[Songwriting, white noise,...
Collect sounds
Collect sounds Collect voice memos, riffs, melodies, found sounds, samples, loops, beatsāanything youād like to hear again.1 Starting with a...
Creativity is an act of resistance
Creativity is an act of resistance Jeff Tweedy says not one of the songs we write will save any one...
Cut up and rearrange lyrics
Cut up and rearrange lyrics Cut up some lyrics that youāve been working on, either line-by-line, phrase-by-phrase, or word-by-word. Sometimes...
Don't coddle your song
Donāt coddle your song Perfectionistic songwriting can be likened to codependent parenting: if you just do a little more, you...
Have a conversation
Have a conversation Each of us is a natural improviser of words. Have a conversation with someone whom you find...
How to make creativity a habit
How to make creativity a habit If your goal is write songs for a day job, develop a routine, a...
Learn others' songs
Learn othersā songs The best musicians are the best listeners. There are many musicians who have made their mark simply...
Low self Esteem is an obstacle to creativity
Low self-esteem is an obstacle to creativity Most dreams are not realized because of not giving oneself permission rather than...
Play a one Note melody
Play a one-note melody Plunk out a one-note melody on a piano or another instrument. Songs like āKnowā by Nick...
Play with rhymes
Play with rhymes Take two rhyming words and connect them in a couplet.^[ [[How to Write One Song]] ch. 13]...
Avoid adjectives
Avoid adjectives āThe dog barked loudlyā is weaker than āThe dog barked.ā Some people, like Bob Dylan, may be able...
Imitation is an exercise in finding one's voice
Imitation is an exercise in finding oneās voice Make something in the style of an artist you admire.1 Donāt worry...
Showing up for inspiration
Showing up for inspiration Making appointments to write is like making dates between the heart and the skills of the...
Record an improvisation
Record an improvisation To let go of your judgment and control, practice recording an improvisation. It may be ābad,ā but...
Remix others' ideas
Remix othersā ideas Take a chord progression you love and write a new melody to it. In jazz, this is...
Scan a book for interesting words
Scan a book for interesting words Scan a book for interesting words that have good prosody with a melody you...
Set a timer
Set a timer [[Five minutes is enough time to practice]]. Waiting to create when the moment is right is counterproductive....
Songs have overweighted importance
āSongs have overweighted importance in our lives for all sorts of reasons.ā - Jeff Tweedy, [[How to Write One Song]]...
Songwriting is like meditation
Songwriting is like meditation Jeff Tweedy says teaching songwriting is like teaching someone how to think or have ideas. No...
Songwriting to find oneself
Songwriting to find oneself When writing a song and allowing oneself to just be, there isnāt anyone elseās image to...
Songwriting, white noise, and meditation
Songwriting, white noise, and meditation There is song. No one is singing. This is a verse inspired by the gathas...
Try a different instrument or tuning
Try a different instrument or tuning Writing on a new instrument or in a new tuning can break you out...
What is the daily work of songwriting?
What is the daily work of songwriting? [[Collect words]]. Collect interesting words and phrases. Free-write. Write poetry.1 [[How to Write...
Word ladder
Word ladder Write two lists: 10 verbs related to a subject and another of 10 nouns within oneās field of...
Write from a different perspective
Write from a different perspective Write from the point-of-view of another character, like an animal. Jeff Tweedy says he has...
Write new lyrics to an existing melody
Write new lyrics to an existing melody Take a melody you love and write new lyrics for it.^[ [[How to...
Writing just to write
Writing just to write [[Sitting just to sit]]. Jeff Tweedy says, we do a lot of things in life without...
Practicing before bed
Practicing before bed Sleep helps consolidate memories.^[ How Sleep Enhances Studying] By practicing before bed, I can help my brain...
Be willing to write a bad song
Be willing to write a bad song
![[Every artist was at first an amateur]]
Creative flow leads to ego death
Creative flow leads to ego death
![[Art enables us to find ourselves]]
Creativity is a pathway to self Discovery
Creativity is a pathway to self-discovery Mary Gauthier says the goal of writing is to find your voice.1 We figure...
Living your life gives you something to write about
Living your life gives you something to write about Writing about your life is good, but living your life is...
Sharing can inform your work
Sharing can inform your work One benefit of sharing works in progress is you can a read on how people...
Walking is creative exercise
Walking is creative exercise
![[It is solved by walking āSt. Augustine]]
Why create?
Why create? You must ask yourself, Why do it? What do you gain? Why are you here to do it?1...
You can be well Adjusted and a great artist
You can be well-adjusted and a great artist Thereās this idea that great artists have to suffer. But everyone suffers....