I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I have a somewhat cynical view of the things I see online. I’ve learned (and hopefully you have learned as well) that you have to take much of what you see with a grain of salt, and do a bit of research.
But of course there are some excellent things as well. I saw a post recently titled “10 Myths About Songwriting Busted!” written by New Zealand songwriter Charlotte Yates. It turns out, I think I agree with all of them.
In fact, every one of her ten myths are ones I’ve written about over the years on this blog. But sometimes, seeing them written by someone else, using their own unique way of phrasing their thoughts, can make a different sort of impact on you.
Yates’ ten myths:
- “I can’t write unless I’m inspired!”
- “I can’t work at songwriting — it makes it feel like a job!”
- “You can’t learn songwriting — you’ve either got it or you don’t!”
- “I just need to be discovered, preferably overnight.”
- “Songwriters are only successful if they write a hit song.”
- “Songwriting is a solitary pursuit.”
- “I write what I write — the audience can figure it out.”
- “My song has to rhyme to reach a wide audience.”
- “I have to play an instrument or sing really well to write songs.”
- “But the same chords get used all the time!”
I hope you will take the time to read her article, but I also hope you take the time to really think about those statements, and if/how they apply to your own activity as a songwriter. Songwriting myths are often ones where your own musical mind tries to stifle you and your sense of creativity.
And identifying those myths can be a great first step to conquering them.
Written by Gary Ewer. Follow Gary on Twitter.
“The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” eBook bundle includes “Writing a Song From a Chord Progression”. Learn how to write great songs by starting with the chords, and then avoiding all the potential pitfalls of the chords-first songwriting process.