Piano Songwriting & Song Composition

(Scroll down to see the full list of lessons in this section)

Learning to write songs is one of the most intimate processes a musician can go through. Every note, from start to finish, is an extension of yourself. From phrasing to chord choices, your song is a representation of yourself.

In this section of the website, we will go over a few tips on how to start composing your own songs on the piano and how you can take song writing to a higher level.

Before we get into the meat of the article, and before we even talk about how to compose songs on piano, there are a few things to take into consideration.

The first is that you need to be able to write music in order to start songwriting on the piano. This means that you should have a full knowledge of both the treble and the bass clef. You also need to understand how to notate note values and how to use ledger lines when the time comes, as it will.

If you aren’t fully familiar with all of these aspects of sheet music, you need to take some time to learn them before composing a song. It is extremely important to be able to write down your music. Leaving things to memory is a key element for disaster. You are taking the chance that, once your memory drifts, you will lose all of your writing. Don’t take the risk; learn the basics.

Once you are fully familiar with transcription, try starting out with a basic pattern. Work on a four bar pattern, and try supplementing notes. This will allow you to get a feel for experimenting with your writing. 

As a musician, it is important that you learn to do so; the first take won’t always be the best. You need to learn how to substitute notes to try different overall sounds. Keeping your mind open is a great way to approach writing. Never be afraid to try something different with a pattern you have already written –you might improve it.

The easiest way to work when composing is to transcribe and play simultaneously. This means, don’t wait for the entire song to come and then try and remember it and jot it all down. When you come up with a section, write it out. Order doesn’t matter; you can always rearrange the sections later by rewriting the piece. This will assure that you aren’t forgetting any bits or pieces of the song.

When you compose songs on piano, be sure that you do it correctly. The last thing that you want to do is be in such a rush that you notate incorrectly. Make sure that you are transcribing the proper notes. If you are playing chords on piano, make sure that you are adding the accidentals if any are involved. As we said earlier; don’t leave anything to memory. That is taking a fifty-fifty risk that you might forget it and come up with something completely different when you sit down again to play it.

In the end, the best way to improve your composition skills is by practicing. Set aside a block of time each day and dedicate it to working on compositions. Little by little, you will see your skills increase. Have fun, and stick to it.

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Lessons on Composing Songs And Writing Melodies:

1. Introduction to Composing Music And Songwriting on Piano
   
   Learning to write songs and compose music on piano stems from both passion and skills. In this introduction, we get you started with the essentials to songwriting.
2. Songwriting Basics on Piano - How to Compose Your Own Music
   
   One of the most common questions that I get asked often is how to compose your own music. Well, there are many aspects to this. How do you decide which comes first? The melody? Lyrics? Or even the title? We're here to help.
3. How to Create Good Song Structures on Piano
   
   Creating good structures in songs can help the listener relate and follow through your ideas. Be sure to check out this article for some ideas and tips to do it well.
4. 5 Powerful Songwriting Tips on Piano
   
   Whatever your reason for wanting to compose songs, we have 5 great songwriting tips that will help you out especially if you are stuck in a rut.
5. How to Create And Compose a Melody on Piano
   
   The melody of a song is really the most important factor that the listener remembers. While it isn't as straightforward to simply sit down to write one out, here's a great read to help you get started.
6. Lesson on Writing Lyrics For Piano Players
   
   Like the composition of the song's melody, writing lyrics for songs on your piano depends alot on your creativity as well as inspiration at that particular time of the day. Having a good understanding of words would definitely help here.