A Songwriter’s Most Important Tool

• 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.