Spectacular Schools Inspired - Tips for successful songwriting

Tips for successful songwriting

Secondary music resource developed by The Arts Unit

Are you inspired to be the next songwriting superstar?

Have you got a spark inside you waiting to ignite? Here's your chance to make your mark, and let us know who you are!

This resource has been developed to support you with tips, tricks and examples to enable you to start your songwriting journey.

We can't wait to hear the song that comes out of you!

That’s it! There’s no rules, you can sing, rap, add your own beats, or record your own instruments - you can make it any genre or style you like - be as creative as you like.

Share your lyrics or, if you have recorded your song, export it as an MP3. To share your creations, follow the instructions on the Get Involved page of the Spectacular Schools - Inspired website.

Before you start

Watch the #EducationLive video as Gina Jeffreys and Max Jackson go through the process of writing a song.

#EducationLive with singer-songwriters Gina Jeffreys and Max Jackson

Duration: 23:56

Demo tracks

In the process of creating a song, songwriters will often produce ‘demo’ tracks. These can be used to collaborate further with other writers or get producers or record labels interested in releasing the song to a wider audience. They can even be used to get a big-name artist interested in recording the song.

Who knows, maybe your demo will get picked up and recorded by Delta Goodrem, or Justin Bieber, or the next massive artist to hit the music scene!

Have a listen to these 2 demo tracks for Supernova - a song written by some of the student featured artists for the 2015 Schools Spectacular - and see if you can identify what changed between each of these tracks, created in June and September 2015, and the final song, which was recorded and produced at Sony Music in Sydney in October 2015.

Supernova - Demo 1 (June 2015)

Supernova - Demo 2 (September 2015)

Supernova - Schools Spectacular

Duration: 03:57

Songwriting tips

Step 1 - Idea or inspiration - aim to create a general feel, attitude or vibe.
Step 2 - Title - This should match the feel, attitude or vibe from Step 1 and can help focus your songwriting.
Step 3 - 3 Chord progression - explore and experiment with chord progressions on your instrument, create a string of chords that reflect the mood or feel of your song. This is a chord progression. Now create 2 more chord progressions.
Step 4a - Vocal melodies - play each chord progression while you sing over the top using random words or scat to develop your vocal melody. These words can be used until your final lyrics are written.
Step 4b - Lyrics - simplify your lyric ideas. Keep linking your lyrics back to the inspiration or idea.
Step 5a - Arrangement - play chords in a group or try recording with synths, strings, drums or other instruments. Select the most suitable chord progression and melody for each section of the song.
Step 5b - Clean up - rearrange your song, you can try to match the structure of an existing song.

Step 6a - Refine vocal melody - check that the melody captures the spirit of the lyrics. This should relate back to the attitude and vibe.
Step 6b - Match melody to idea - refine your lyric ideas. Does anything need to change? Keep linking your lyrics back to the inspiration or idea.
Step 7 - Structure (bridge/solo) - take the song so far and play around with it on your instrument/s, play the song over and over to refine.
Step 8 - Refine solo - use the chorus chords for the solo section and put this before the last chorus.
Step 9 - Bridge lyrics - the bridge may be a change of direction (both musically and lyrically) that leads back into the chorus or a solo section.
Step 10 - Tighten - rehearse the song live - record the track.
Step 11 - Hook? - what will people be singing or whistling after they hear your song? Play all your chord progressions and improvise high climactic vocal parts. Add this new section after the choruses
Step 12 - Chill - allow the song to rest in the subconscious for a long time (or overnight), then listen and analyse - revise if needed.
Step 13 - Send it to wolves - play the song to friends, family, and musicians. Can their feedback be used?

More hints and tips from around the world

The following 6 videos can you used to support your understanding of the songwriting process and guide you with some tips and tricks to get your creative juices flowing:

How to Write Your FIRST Song! (Feat. @Lindsay Ell)

Duration: 11:24