Try this Berklee course, it's free to audit and it starts today! (choose "Audit the course" option).

https://www.coursera.org/learn/songwriting-lyrics

Also learn from the good songwriters, Bob Dylan, etc. Or if you want something modern, the guy from Fontaines DC writes some interesting stuff.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hsen14lcO0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAncWquXDE8

 

Last edited: Dec 1, 2024

In my humble opinion, "Studio" has the best courses for making music. While the courses may be pricey, they are made by accomplished contemporary musicians and watching these people go through the process of making songs helps a lot especially if you are at an intermediate level. I must say, watching some of the courses really boosted my confidence to become a one man band and make complete songs all by myself.

I'm crossing my fingers for more courses to be posted on the sister site from Studio.
https://studio.com/browse?category=Music

 

I never had to do that. I just checked now and noticed I am still halfway through the course from a while back

I see you mentioned EDM. I don't think the lyrics have to be rigorously authentic for that genre as you want people to move about, not be engrossed in someone else's life story. It's still good to learn about the poetic and story telling elements though, as every song needs a hook or something that is relatable, even if it is simplified.

 

Last edited: Dec 1, 2024

Theory is all well and good but practice is the decisive factor. I think with a little basic knowledge you can find out for yourself what works and as the saying goes: practice makes perfect. Or everyone starts small.

You can write a great text to get into the top charts, but if the music doesn't fit, it won't work.
I think you have to listen to your own songs longer, better and more and above all take your time.

The guy from the band Yellow says: he has about 50 projects open that aren't finished and he says that things will work out when the time is right or things will develop.

 

David Gilmour said the same thing!

 

I always bought books and studied for half an hour every day and combined it with practice. I'm a big fan of the written word. You can teach yourself a lot of things if you want. I always wrote songs like this. Sitting in an armchair with a Langenscheidt dictionary. A little text, 4 lines, then 2 choruses each and that's it. I then wrote the guitar chords over the lines of text and then sang and played.

That develops as you play, whether you sing a little louder or take breaks, how do you want to write it down. A friend from England once said that a lot of songs from Germany sound wrong because they don't have the right emphasis, please think about it.

Remember, ArtIcStorm, that you have also programmed and you may have a different way of thinking than me, for example. I always work with intuition. Of course there are people who write down entire scores, but I'm not one of them. Greetings to H.S. Bach and Ludwing van Beethoven!

 

a previous version of Ryan.Tedders can be found on Rutracker. I got and already watched the first video, great stuff.

 

How about writing a song for our forum, a love song about our love of music, just an idea that you can then develop further. Then you have to really put in the effort because everyone will hear it. Challenging. Every James Bond crime thriller always starts with the typical James Bond melody.

EDIT: www.stretta-music.de/songwriting-lernen

 

Last edited: Dec 1, 2024

I think it's a great textbook, you can read a sample here:
www.amazon.com/Great-Songwriting-Techniques-Jack-Perricone/dp/0199967679

 

Pat Pattison’s books are all you need.
This one was the first I read on the subject
https://amzn.eu/d/0PgqAcv
It opened my eyes.