Songwriting Tips for Beginners: 15 Ways to Start Writing Songs Today

What are the best songwriting tips for beginners? The best tips are simple: start with one feeling, learn a few chords, put your title in the chorus, and finish every song you start. You do not need a music degree or a great voice. You need a guitar, an idea and a little time each day.

This is the Rainfire Music blog, and this page is our Start Here guide. These songwriting tips are the same simple steps we use to build real songs. Bookmark it and come back each time you get stuck.

Who is behind these songwriting tips?

This blog shares the methods of Alvin, the man who writes and records the music for Rainfire. He plays guitar, bass and keyboards, and he does “whatever it takes to get the job done.” He also brings in singers to voice the songs because, in his own words, he is not a singer.

That is good news for you. It means you do not need a great voice to write music. Want to meet him first? Read What Does a Music Producer Do? Meet Alvin of Rainfire Music.

How do you start writing songs as a beginner?

To start writing songs, pick one feeling, learn three or four chords, and write a short chorus around a title. Do not try to write a hit song on day one. Your first song is practice. Your tenth song is where things get good.

Here is a simple way to begin your first song:

1. Write one feeling at the top of the page, like “free” or “missing home.”
2. Pick a song title that says that feeling in a few words.
3. Learn G, C, D and Em on guitar.
4. Loop those chords and hum until a melody shows up.
5. Write four chorus lines that use your title.
6. Record it on your phone, even if it is rough.

What are the best songwriting tips for beginners?

These 15 songwriting tips cover the whole songwriting process, from the first idea to the finished song.

1. Start with one feeling

Great songs are about one clear emotion. Not ten. Ask yourself: what do I want people to feel when this song ends? Happy? Free? Heartbroken? Write that one word down and let it guide every line.

2. Keep an instrument close

Ideas show up at strange times. Alvin gets new ideas while watching TV in the living room or getting out of the shower. That is why he leaves his old guitar out of its case, so he can grab it and work out the idea before it fades. Read the full story in How to Find the Chords to a Melody on Guitar.

3. Learn four chords first

You can write thousands of songs with just four major chords and one minor chord: G, C, D and Em. Learn those, and you can play along with many of your favorite songs. Once your fingers know them, you can spend your time writing instead of struggling.

4. Use a simple chord progression

A chord progression is the order you play your chords in. Try G, D, Em, C. Loop it four times. That one chord progression sits under a huge number of popular songs. Start there and change it later.

5. Find the key of your song

Once you have a few chords, it helps to know the key. The key tells you which other chords will sound good with the ones you have. Not sure? Use our free Key Finder tool. Type your chords and it tells you the key in seconds.

6. Put your song title in the chorus

The chorus is the part people remember and sing along to. Put your song title there. Say it at the start of the chorus and again at the end. This is one of the oldest pieces of songwriting advice, and it still works.

7. Make your first line count

The first line of a song is like a handshake. It tells the listener what kind of song this is. Make it specific. Start in the middle of a moment instead of explaining everything.

8. Show, don’t tell

Weak line: “I was sad when you left.” Strong line: “Your coffee cup is still in the sink.” When writing lyrics, show small details from everyday life that paint a picture. Let listeners feel it on their own. When you write your own lyrics from real life, people can tell.

9. Try easy rhyme schemes

Rhyme schemes are patterns for which lines rhyme. Two easy ones:

• AABB: lines 1 and 2 rhyme, then lines 3 and 4 rhyme.
• ABAB: lines 1 and 3 rhyme, then lines 2 and 4 rhyme.

Close rhymes are fine. “Home” and “alone” work. Never bend your meaning just to hit a perfect rhyme.

10. Play with rhythm

Say your lyrics out loud like you are talking. Notice where the words naturally hit hard. Match those strong words to the strong beats of your strum. Rhythm makes lyrics feel like music instead of poetry on a page.

11. Record every idea

Melodies vanish fast. Use the voice memo app on your phone. Record every hum, guitar riff and half-line, even the bad ones. Some of the best songs start as short guitar riffs you almost forgot. Name each file with the date and a short title so you can find it later.

12. Write the bad songs too

Every songwriter writes bad songs. That is how you get to the great songs. Give yourself permission to write something rough. You can always fix it later, but you cannot fix a blank page.

13. Take a break and come back with fresh ears

After a writing session, walk away for a day. When you come back, you will hear the song with fresh ears. The weak lines jump out. The good parts sound even better.

14. Study songs you love

Pick one of your favorite songs and listen closely. Where does the chorus start? How long is the verse? What makes the hook stick? Studying how a song is built is one of the fastest ways to grow your songwriting skills. Just write your own words and melody. Never copy someone else’s song.

15. Finish the song

A finished song that is not perfect beats a perfect song that never gets done. Finishing is a skill. Practice it on every new song you start.

How is a song made from start to finish?

Every writer has a different writing process. At Rainfire, it goes like this:

• Alvin writes and records the music.
• Singers come in to sing the song.
• Alvin edits, refines and arranges every part.
• Everything gets put together “in the best package I can,” and the song is done.

Want the full walk-through? Read How to Make a Song: Behind the Scenes at Rainfire Music.

What is the 80/20 rule in songwriting?

The 80/20 rule in songwriting is the idea that a small part of your song does most of the work. Your chorus, your title and your main hook are maybe 20 percent of the song. But they create about 80 percent of what people remember.

So spend most of your time on those parts. Make the chorus simple. Make the title easy to sing. Make the hook catchy. The verses still matter, but the chorus is what turns an original song into a memorable song. Most memorable songs have a chorus you can sing after hearing it once.

How do you get really good at songwriting?

You get really good at songwriting by writing a lot of songs. There is no shortcut. Here is what helps the most:

• Write often. Even 20 minutes a day adds up fast.
• Finish songs. Ten finished songs teach you more than 50 half songs.
• Get feedback. Play your songs for a friend or a guitar teacher and ask what they remember.
• Learn a little music theory. You do not need much. Knowing keys and chords helps you write faster.
• Stay true to yourself. Write about what you know and care about. Real feelings make better songs, and that is good advice for any writer at any level.

What habits do great songwriters have?

Great songwriters tend to share a few habits. You can build these too:

1. They write on a schedule, not only when inspiration hits.
2. They keep a notebook or phone file full of new ideas, titles and lines.
3. They finish what they start.
4. They edit hard and cut what does not serve the song.
5. They listen to all kinds of music for creativity and new sounds.
6. They work with others, like singers and players.
7. They keep going when a song gets hard.

Alvin is a good example of habit number 6. He writes and records the music, then brings in singers who fit each song.

Do you need to sing to write songs?

No. Many songwriters and producers never sing on their own records. Alvin plays guitar, bass and keyboards and brings in singers for the vocals. If you can hum a tune, you can write a melody. A singer can bring it to life later.

Can you make songwriting a career?

Yes, but start with the craft first. A songwriting career is built one song at a time. Write a lot, record your best work, share it online, and work with other musicians. The more great songs you have, the more doors open.

How long does it take to write a song?

Some songs come together in an hour. Others take weeks. For your first song, give yourself one week. Spend about 20 minutes a day on it. Day by day, you will learn chords, pick an idea, write a chorus, write verses and record it.

What should you read next?

Here is every how-to on the Rainfire Music blog so far:

• What Does a Music Producer Do? Meet Alvin of Rainfire Music
• How to Make a Song: Behind the Scenes at Rainfire Music
• How to Find the Chords to a Melody on Guitar
• Free Key Finder: What Key Is This Song In?

Where can you hear Rainfire Music?

Want to hear these songwriting tips in action? Watch the music videos on our videos page, stream the songs, or buy them on the Rainfire store. And if you want to rep the music, check out the Rainfire merch shop.

New posts go up every day. Check back often. There is a lot more music on the way.

RELATED TO: songwriting tips, songwriting tips for beginners, songwriting advice, how to start writing songs, songwriting skills, songwriting process

RELATED TO: how to write a song, writing lyrics, chord progression, rhyme schemes, 80/20 rule in songwriting, songwriting career