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Beginner’s Guide to Songwriting & Making Original Music
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items A list of books, tools and resources to get you started on your songwriting journey! I’ve spent years honing my skills and these were all things that immensely helped me get back into the groove of writing. As always, please support your local bookst...
This book is extremely popular for a reason. It kicked my butt into gear when it came to carving out time to be creative. This is the perfect entry level book to help inspire and bring out the artist in you.
The Artist's Way
Pick up a refurbished or lightly used instrument to start learning basic chords. Be patient with yourself as you learn a new instrument!
Buy Used & Refurbished Guitars
Instead of using voice notes in your phone, use this incredible app called Spire. It allows you to multitrack, write lyrics and mix before bouncing a fina demo version. I heard about this app from Hayley Williams, who said Phoebe Bridgers shared it w...
Spire: Music Recorder App
Another solid book to reference when looking to better your songwriting skills.
How to Write a Song that Matters
Purchase a guitar capo so you can play around with singing and playing in different key signatures.
Guitar Capo
Take an online songwriting workshop through School of Song. They have workshops year round with professionals, but you can also access previous workshops through their website. My favourite course was with Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief.
School of Song - Online Songwriting Workshop
This book follows four Russian stories and gives a master class on writing, reading and life. It can easily help strengthening your songwriting!
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
Grab a notebook and pen so you can start to write down your ideas! Jot down anything that may come to mind or inspire you.
Notebook
Purchase some guitar picks! Preferably from an independent owned company or someone who makes custom picks (via etsy).
Guitar Picks
Read some poetry from Mary Oliver to get inspired. Mary Oliver is a genius when it comes to writing about the human experience and bridging it to nature.
Upstream: Selected Essays
Listen to this podcast, where artists breakdown the songs they’ve written. It’s super inspiring and may give you an idea or two!
Song Exploder - Podcast
Create a vision board so it inspires you day in and day out. Place it in a spot in your home where you will see it daily.
Create a Vision Board
Read this as a reminder as to why you’re wanting to create art in the first place. It helps to ensure you’re doing it for the right reasons and takes some of the pressure off.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Another book to help with lyric writing. There’s many out there, and this one was recommended to me from an old professor.
The Craft of Lyric Writing