Month: June 2016

• Audio recordings. If there is a melody in your head, just sing it aloud or play it on an instrument of your choice, and use the recording feature on your computer or phone to get it out of your head and onto paper… figuratively speaking.
• Sheet Music. Alternatively, if you know how to read and write sheet music, having a few blank pages handy is never a bad idea. No matter how many times you forget what you came up with, you can always refer back to what you wrote down. Being able to transcribe music from sounds in your head to notes on a staff is a valuable skill to have.
• Chord Names/Tablature. The guitar and piano are probably the most commonly used instruments in conventional songwriting. Recall chord progressions by writing down the names of the chords or using chord diagrams or guitar tablature.
• Lyric Books. Many  songwriters , myself included, have at least one notebook dedicated to lyrics and lyrical ideas. This is especially useful if you’re on the go. Even the smallest ideas are worth remembering, because a few words or a single line can become an entire song. This can be done digitally too, of course. Many  songwriters  prefer physical notebooks simply because they like to be able to look back at where they made changes to an original set of lyrics.

When I have an idea for a song, I have found that the most effective way for me to remember is to record it. I play the basic chords on the guitar and hum the melody at the same time so that I can remember how the two parts of the song fit together later on. I always have a notebook handy to jot down ideas for lyrics, or sometimes I just use my phone. But no two  songwriters  are alike. The trick is to find the method of capturing ideas that works best for you. It isn’t necessary to have high-end recording equipment or an extensive knowledge of advanced musical theory. All that matters is that it works. Consider what you are good at as well as what resources are available to you. If you are good at picking up songs by ear, recording may be the way to go. If you are good at identifying and reading notes, then sheet music may be a better option. Just make sure that when you start trying to write songs, you have your own method of remembering what you come up with. It will help you become a more productive and efficient  songwriter  right from the start. read more

A songwriting agreement often provides for a share of royalties that may vary depending on the category of use. These categories include foreign rights, movie rights, mechanical licenses, public performances, synchronization licenses, print rights, and other categories. Most agreements between a publisher and a songwriter contain a catch-all paragraph for a miscellaneous category in which the publisher and the songwriter share in the royalties on a 50:50 basis. Take care to understand that a royalty amount and a royalty share may depend on how the use of the music is categorized. read more

For a long time now, my friend has been looking for an easy way to transfer his record collection on to CD. The reason for his wait is simply because the method of transfer has to be idiot proof, that’s right, he’s not what you would call tech savvy. The Crosley CR248 Songwriter CD Recorder could be the answer to his problem. But he has also been looking for something that was a bit retro looking, so the Crosley ticks that box as well. read more

Alison Krauss’ destiny with music started at an early age. She began studying classical violin at the age five but soon switched to bluegrass. At the age of eight she started entering local talent contests and at 13 years of age she won the Walnut Valley Festival Fiddle Championship. The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America named her the Most Promising Fiddler in the Midwest. read more

Sometimes, you need rap music  songwriters  to write the best rap music songs for you because it is not always easy to write a rap song that will catch the listener’s attention as well as sound good and have a nice flow. In fact, it takes some skills and talent in order to write a good rap tune. This is because rap songs are not just a bunch of meaningless words that are put together in a sequence, they have meaning, flow and rhyme. read more

Learning how to become a  songwriter  has been a difficult process for many musicians. Several others have found the task to be easily attainable. I have heard and seen people who don’t play an instrument or sing well, create music that stuck in my brain, and still refuses to go away. There have been musicians who perform extremely well, but could not compose a memorable piece of music if their lives depended on it! read more