How to Write Songs Faster | 9 Expert Tips for All Skill Levels

Need help keeping up with your songwriting goals? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! 

Making great music can be challenging, but some tricks and tips can help speed up the process. But no worries, that’s where I am here to help!

Get ready to level up your creativity — in this blog post, I’ll give you nine foolproof ways on how to write songs faster.

 No matter your skill level, these tips will help you become an unstoppable songwriter.

Let’s get started!

#1 Figure out what you want to say before you start writing

Before you jump straight into the writing process, take a moment to consider what type of song you want to write. This should include the mood, the narrator, who or what the subject is, and if there is a particular word or two that can summarize the entire mood.

Working backward from this core concept will inform your initial composition choices and give you a general starting place for song lyrics and melodies.

While it may feel like you’re wasting time when you take a moment to meditate and get in touch with what you’re feeling, the time spent will pay dividends. You’ll maintain focused and keep moving towards a destination instead of waiting for inspiration to dictate each stage of your songwriting.

Pros of Tip #1
  • Taking the time to consider what type of song you want to write will inform your initial composition choices and give you a general starting point
  • By meditating and getting in touch with what you're feeling, you'll be able to maintain focus and progress toward your goal instead of waiting for inspiration
  • This approach will save time in the long run since you won't have to continually second-guess the direction of your song
Cons of Tip #1
  • It may take time away from actually writing your song
  • Some songwriters may encounter analysis paralysis and will be better suited to seeing where the music takes them

#2 Keep the song structure and chord progression simple

If you keep your song ideas and structure simple, the writing process doesn’t have to be intimidating and overwhelming.

When building your songwriting muscles, stick to a simple Verse, Chorus, and Outro format. This way, you only have a few building blocks to create before you have a full song. Another benefit is that it will keep your song short, punchy, and to the point.

There isn’t anything wrong with simple songs; most hit songs you hear these days follow a simple format.

With simplicity in mind, you can focus on crafting one to two exciting melodies and simple musical dynamics. This will help you write faster and increase your musical output without sacrificing quality.

Pros of Tip #2
  • Keeps songs short, punchy, and to the point
  • Most pop music follows simple song formats
  • Helps to write faster while still maintaining quality
Cons of Tip #2
  • Simple structures don't allow for songs to breathe and be free
  • Complex structures offer more opportunity for variety, dynamics, and exciting melodies and time signatures

#3 Write the chorus first

Incredible songs have an excellent choruses. When you start with the catchiest and more critical piece of a song, every other section will have a more precise direction and purpose.

Writing the chorus first is key to unlocking the rest of your song.

It’s okay if you don’t write all the lyrics immediately; start by humming the notes and a melody and recording what comes to mind. You’ll be surprised how quickly ideas start flowing when you have crafted an inspired jumping-off point.

Whether composing a song from scratch or editing an existing one, Dialing the chorus first is a great way to get those creative juices flowing.

Pros of Tip #3
  • Focusing on the chorus first gives every other section a more precise direction and purpose
  • Humming the melody helps get your ideas flowing quickly
  • Helps ensure you build off a strong idea
Cons of Tip #3
  • Doesn't help if you struggle with developing that initial idea
  • Sometimes writing the verse first is the better way to go

#4 Use everyday language

While poetic, Shakespearean language is beautiful, most great song lyrics come from everyday speech.

Crafting new songs with everyday language ensures your message connects with as broad an audience as possible. One thing to be clear about is simple language isn’t bland language. It’s conversational and easily relatable. You still want to ensure that you include clever observations and twists in your story.

Simple language will instantly make your song more relatable and approachable. A good rule of thumb is that you’re being too complicated if you can’t talk out your song ideas and make them seem natural.

Also, an excellent songwriting tip is to pay attention to your daily conversations and pick out little phrases or sayings. These everyday phrases can bring new ideas that catapult you into your next creation.

So to ensure your making better and more confident song choices to help you write songs faster, use everyday language!

Pros of Tip #4
  • Paying attention to everyday conversations helps bring new inspirations for songwriting quickly
  • Easily relatable, conversational language help connect a broader audience to your music
  • Testing your lyrics by talking them out is a great way to ensure you're not overcomplicating your writing
Cons of Tip #4
  • There is a risk of sounding too simplistic, generic, or bland if not done correctly
  • Many songwriters who are at the top of their game break this rule

#5 Use Artificial Intelligence to break through writer’s block

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you write a song is a controversial topic. With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, there has been no shortage of backlash regarding the creative community (ahem, Nick Cave).

However, if you can keep an open mind and not rely on AI to craft real hits, you will discover one of the most helpful tools for song and music production.

With AI applications, like ChatGPT or Jasper.ai, musicians and songwriters can explore different lyrical ideas quickly and efficiently, leading to faster original music production.

AI can also be used for musical composition and chord progressions. HookTheory uses AI to study famous song structures and help you make quick arrangement decisions based on a massive music database.

We are at the beginning stages of AI being a viable songwriting tool. Still, as it continues to open more doors for songwriters of all types to easily break free of writer’s block, this is where the future is headed.

Pros of Tip #5
  • With AI, Musicians and songwriters can break free of writer's block faster
  • AI tools can help songwriters explore different lyrical ideas quickly and efficiently
  • Artificial Intelligence can offer alternative options that may open up new avenues of creativity
Cons of Tip #5
  • If not used correctly, you're going to get lousy output
  • AI tools are seen as soulless by some creative communities, leading to backlash and stigma

#6 Don’t overthink it – just write!

Like anything else, practice makes perfect, and the best way to get better at writing is to jump in and not overthink the process.

Allow yourself to get into a stream of consciousness and be comfortable singing gibberish and nonsensical things. Try and get into the music and let it guide you to where the song wants to go.

While you do this, ensure to write down your ideas, or better yet, record them. This way, you capture all these “happy accidents” and have something to pull from when you inevitably break from your zone.

Once you have the first draft written, go through and refine what you’ve written and start fleshing out the entire idea.

By allowing yourself to jump in with no reservation, you will begin to write songs faster. You won’t rely on feeling inspired to get yourself moving toward your songwriting goals.

Pros of Tip #6
  • Writing without overthinking encourages creativity and allows for ideas to flow freely
  • Allowing yourself to jump in with no reservation encourages faster songwriting
  • Not relying on inspiration helps one achieve their songwriting goals faster
Cons of Tip #6
  • It can be uncomfortable and embarrassing when you feel like what you're doing isn't good
  • It's easy to be too judgemental of your ideas, and you can be quick to discard them

#7 Get feedback from friends or family members

The biggest challenge when writing a song is losing objectivity in your creation. Making music in a vacuum can lead you to spend extra time on parts of the song, slowing down your process.

That’s why it can be helpful to enlist the aid of friends, family members, or fellow musicians to help give consistent and constructive feedback on your music.

Having outside opinions can help you make the best decisions for your song and give you the confidence to move forward quickly and confidently. Additionally, having a few trusted people who are familiar with your style of music will be invaluable when trying to refine ideas or tighten up sections or arrangements.

The key is to find people that you can trust to be honest with you and whose opinion you trust. Of all the songwriting tips on this list, this one is the most valuable and time-saving.

Remember to appreciate the power of letting others into your creative process. Often times a quick outside opinion is the thing you need to unlock the full potential of your song.

Pros of Tip #7
  • Assembling trusted people to give constructive feedback allows for refined lyrical ideas, arrangements, and sections
  • Helps prevent you from wasting time hitting your head against the wall when you get stuck
  • Having someone else to offer ideas can help eliminate creative blocks and spark new inspiration
Cons of Tip #7
  • Sometimes people's opinions or insights are not helpful
  • It can be awkward to let others hear your unfinished work
  • You have to be good at accepting constructive feedback

#8 Make your songwriting process a regular and consistent habit

Writing songs doesn’t have to be a grueling, time-consuming process – with a little determination and the right approach, you can increase your songwriting speed.

One of the most critical factors is turning writing songs into a consistent habit. Whether blocking out an hour each day or setting days dedicated to songwriting, make sure to integrate it into your routine.

Make a particular area in your home to be your dedicated writing spot. Have everything you need to begin writing waiting for you and remove all distractions. This way, you can jump into the creative process and make it a routine to write songs.

This may feel difficult at first, but as you build this muscle, you’ll start trusting your creative instincts faster and get more writing done.

Pros of Tip #8
  • A consistent, systematic approach to writing songs will increase the speed of your output
  • Creating a distraction-free environment that has everything you need to write will help you maximize small blocks of time
  • You'll develop a greater trust in your instincts as you build a more significant body of work
Cons of Tip #8
  • It can be not easy to establish and maintain a regular writing routine, especially if you have children
  • Consistency over long periods is difficult to maintain

#9 Finish the entire song!

One of the best ways to get creative juices flowing is to finish every idea that comes to you, even if it doesn’t seem like a good idea. You never know when one seemingly “throw away” idea can spark something bigger and better!

Give yourself permission to let your first or second idea stick and move on to the next part of your song. Don’t worry about if you think it’s good or bad. You’ll be surprised at how often what you thought was a mediocre song or idea was great when you listen back to it later.

Finishing each idea also builds momentum, allowing creativity to flow more freely and helping songs come together faster than ever!

Pros of Tip #9
  • It frees you up from getting too married to any one musical idea
  • Finishing each idea builds up momentum, which encourages creativity and speeds up the process of writing songs
  • Looking back upon finished ideas may reveal additional inspiration and lead to new directions for future songs
Cons of Tip #9
  • Not having a critical eye during the creative process can lead to uninspired work or songs that lack direction
  • Some songs require time and extra effort

The Bottom Line

Developing your songwriting skills takes time, effort, and dedication. With these nine tips, you have all the knowledge and tools to become a successful songwriter.

Remember that practice makes perfect, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches to writing songs. Most importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy the process.

Thanks for reading, and happy songwriting!

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AUTHOR
Brad Johnson
Brad is the creator of Song Production Pros. He writes songs and surfs on the weekends when he's not too busy with family or this website. He writes music under the moniker FJ Isles, and can be heard on all streaming services.

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