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Songwriting thought of the Day

Lyric Speed

Lyric SpeedLyric Speed

Have you given thought about the tempo (speed) and the type of rhythm/ groove of the song that will work with your lyric? So, when writing a lyric, at the outset, a lyricist  should think how the words are going to work/interact with other instruments, singers, melodies, harmonies and rhythms, etc It's important to have a clear idea: of the speed of the words, the style of music required, and if possible, a rough idea of the type of melody and a rough idea of the rhythm/groove emanating from the words. It makes things much easier when pitching your work to  songwriters looking for lyrics- “Hey,  I’ve got the perfect lyric for your music, here’s why,,,,,” (you we really sound like you know your stuff! If you haven’t thought about this - you might want to read this article: How to write the Perfect Lyric >>  


The Difference Between a Lyric and a Poem

Songwriter shaping a lyric on the page while a vocalist performs it in a recording studio

At SongBay, we regularly receive writing that is labelled as a lyric, although it is really a poem, a prose passage, a collection of thoughts or a sequence of stanzas that has not yet been shaped for music. That does not mean the writing lacks value. A poem may contain a striking image, a memorable phrase or an emotionally powerful idea. It may be the beginning of an excellent lyric. The important point is that a poem does not become Continue