Songwriting? X-post

[3in9th]

I have a dd who has been singing since before she could talk, literally. She's almost a teenager and she is always singing. She's highly verbal and once wrote a song for a theatre group project. But I think she could do more, but I am out of element as to how to get her started.

 

I thought maybe finding some music without the lyrics, like karoke and have her write lyrics. Is that a good idea? Any other ideas?

[Pronghorn]

If she wants to compose music, then she would benefit from studying music theory.

[Jen in NY]

Does she play guitar or piano?

 

That really makes a difference. I have the junkiest junker of a 3/4 sized guitar that I can leave around (so it's right at hand when I have an idea) and not care if it gets busted. 20 years, and so far, so good. I have written every song I ever wrote on it, and I am NOT a guitar player. I just taught myself enough chords to get by. (Granted... I do know music theory.... but truthfully do not really use it when I am writing.)

 

Seriously, she could get by with strumming 5 or 6 chords and write A LOT of the songs that have been the biggest hits ever.

Just strumming along with all those Carole King and/or James Taylor songs we all know and love will get her the chords she needs... she can branch out after that.

 

ETA: There is sometimes a free songwriting course on Coursera that is interesting. And your idea about using Karaoke tracks is actually a trick some songwriters use to get the juices flowing... picking up a chord progression from existing songs. Just don't copy it too closely... or the Blurred Lines of Copyright law will come back to haunt you when her song hits the charts, lol.