Why You Should Read About Top Songwriters to Become A Better Songwriter
Becoming a great songwriter requires more than just learning an instrument or word-craft. Of course, there's absolutely no substitute for practicing your craft as often as possible, but there are other ways to improve too. One essential tool you can use is reading about other songwriters through interviews, biographies, and autobiographies. Here are five reasons why this can help you in your quest to become a better songwriter.
Alternate Approaches
When you listen to your favorite songs—especially today's top sellers and streamers—it's easy to think there's a formulaic way to write a tune. It's just a great beat and then verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, right? But the more you read about other masters of the craft, the more you'll realize there are a thousand valid ways to approach songwriting. The more you play with the form, the more fun you'll have, and the more you'll be able to discover your own voice as a songwriter. Don't be afraid to try something new.
Avoid Mistakes
Another great reason to read about the artists you love is to learn from their life experiences, particularly so you can avoid the mistakes they made along the way. You don't always have to learn through your own hard-earned experience when you can kickstart your own learning through other people's life lessons. Make your journey a little easier and inform yourself about where your favorite songwriters went wrong.
All Great Art Begins With Mimicry
All the greatest songwriters learned by mimicking a songwriter they loved at first. You can't develop your own voice until you've learned what works for you. Learn how the writers you love approach their craft through interviews and then try it out for a while. Don't assume you know how they do it until you've read about their methods. Some artists start with a chord progression and fit the lyrics in as they go. Others do it the opposite way. Some writers use both methods. Some writers begin by recording whatever random nonsense they create and shaping something out of it. Who is your favorite songwriter and how do they work? Find out and mimic one approach for a while to see how it fits.
Learn the Business
Another great reason to read about the top songwriters you love is to learn more about how the music business works. By reading about their lives and methods, you'll be able to see how your favorite songwriters have navigated the tricky music industry. You might find a few tips that will help you along the way.