In the world of music, it’s common to hear the phrase “anyone can write a song.” You might hear people muttering it to their friends as they leave a pop concert, or rolling their eyes after listening to the Billboard top 100 playlist.
The truth is - a lot goes into the songwriting process. One of my secret weapons in the songwriting process is the piano.
What you hear when you listen to a song is primarily two things: lyrics (the words) and music (the instruments and melodies). What you don’t hear is the time it takes to pour into creating clever rhymes, literary devices, images, and structure that make up a song. Any song can check those things off the list, but what makes a song really stand out?
A great song has a perfect marriage between the music and the lyrics. The music will speak in moments of silence between lyrics, and will support and uphold the emotional intent of the lyrics. We’ve all had a good cry over a song.
Think about that song- what was satisfying to you? Was it the upper register on the piano ringing out a nostalgic sound, tied in with the perfectly timed words that hit you right in the heart? Usually these songs are so brilliantly crafted that both the music and the lyrics are primary players in the game.
So, let’s talk piano. I’ve been playing piano longer than I’ve been writing songs, but I just recently realized in the last 5 years how imperative piano skills are in the songwriting process. Here’s a peek into my process, that you might find helpful if you already know piano, or if you’re interested in learning how to play- this could sell you!
If you were to break the songwriting process down from the musical perspective, songs are basically made up of chords, or even simpler, triads. Different chord qualities produce different emotions or moods. For example, a minor chord produces a more ominous sound, whereas a major chord evokes a feeling of happiness or stability. Just like you have to make decisions about chords, you have to decide how you will arrange them. Different chord progressions produce different journey’s for the listener.
Once you have your chords, you can really expand on the basic triads you’re playing to enhance the song. If you listen to any classic rock song, you’ve probably heard an electric guitar solo before, and if you’ve been to a rock show, you know how much that solo gets the crowd going.
Solos, riffs, musical hooks, any little extra thing that makes the song more memorable and emotionally satisfying, is born out of the chords that you choose. The better you know the piano or instrument of choice, the more interesting you can make the song because the opportunities are endless.
You don’t have to be an expert pianist, and you don’t even have to know how to play piano to be able to get good at the songwriting process. The most exciting part about this is that there is always more to learn. There are always more grooves to choose from or create yourself. You can make a song as standard or unique as you want it when you know the piano. You can always start simple and expand your songs as you get better and learn more.
Now go, listen to the songs you like and study them. Dig into the piano, or start if you never have before. Write good songs and share them with the world! We need good songs!