Every songwriter experiences a different songwriting process. Some hear the melody first before finding the perfect lyrics to fit the music. Others find the words before creating the melody.
Sometimes an interesting phrase captures my attention. Other times, an experience compels me to sit at the piano to find the words and music to capture the experience. Either way, my songwriting process begins through a strike of inspiration.
The words and melody begin to dance with one another in my mind and reveal themselves slowly to me in a kind of rhythmic step.
For me, the music and melody come together simultaneously once inspiration strikes. Often, I begin with a scrap of lyrics and set out to create the melody. Sometimes from these scraps a phrase or a hook line of the chorus will remain until the end. Once the layout of the music and melody are complete, I begin to work on refining the lyrics.
Admittedly, my songwriting process is not fast. Some of my songs were written over the course of a few days, months, or even years.
My experience has taught me that inspiration can be elusive and difficult to maintain. Once it strikes, it requires perseverance and commitment to complete the song.
Over the years, I have learned three ways that help me to channel and foster inspiration for songwriting.
Find a Quiet Space
It may seem counterintuitive, but creating music requires silence.
To work out the melody and lyrics forming in my mind, I need to be able to close the door to any outside noise, voices, or other melodies. For me, this place of solitude – where inspiration can take root – is in my home studio. It is a quiet space where I can close the door to be alone with my thoughts and the piano, so I can work to bring a new song to life.
Take Time for Reflection
Inspiration can often strike at inconvenient times. I have felt the wave of inspiration come when I am driving in the car or shopping in a store — far away from my piano. Sometimes it is days before I am in front of the keyboard again and then I may struggle to find the inspiration once more.
When this occurs, spending time reflecting on the experience and the emotions I felt in the moment of inspiration often helps.
It is as though I am inviting inspiration to return when I sit quietly at the keyboard and travel back in my mind to the moment when inspiration struck. There was a time when I would write song lyrics or ideas on scraps of paper as they came to me. Now, I often use the voice recorder on my phone to record a note or melody to reignite my inspiration for the song when I return to the piano again.
Pursue Inspiration
Raising a family while pursuing a full-time career has a way of accelerating the passage of time. I spent many years focused on family and career – and while I would not trade the happy memories for anything, the long days often left me with little energy for songwriting. Before I knew it, years had passed without me finding the inspiration to write a new song.
I realized that if I waited for inspiration to make time in my schedule, I may never write a new song. I needed to carve out time in my daily life to pursue inspiration. Once I did, the inspiration returned, and I began writing music again.
Music has a magical way of allowing us to express our deepest emotions and give voice to our most meaningful life experiences. Songwriting, like any creative pursuit, is fueled by inspiration.
We must find a quiet space for inspiration to grow in our lives, reflect on the moments when it strikes, and pursue it wholeheartedly to bring to fruition music that longs for the world to hear it.
