20 Most Common Songwriting Problems Music Artists Have and The Solution

Are you a music artist who struggles with songwriting? If so, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll share 20 of the most common songwriting problems music artists have and the solution to each one.

Songwriting is an art form that requires a lot of skill and talent. But no matter how talented you are, there’s a good chance that you’ll face some common songwriting problems at some stage. In this article, we’ll take a look at seven of the most common problems and provide solutions for each. So don’t be afraid to give songwriting a shot – with the help of these tips, you should be able to achieve great results!

The process of songwriting can be a daunting one, especially for music artists who are just starting out. There are a lot of different elements that go into writing a song, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed.

Fortunately, there are solutions to the most common songwriting problems that music artists face. In this article, we will discuss 7 of the most common songwriting problems and their respective solutions. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the songwriting process and how to overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

Creating a song can be overwhelming because there are so many directions it can go in. One of the most common songwriting problems faced by music artists is not knowing where to start. The solution to this problem is to start with an idea of what type of song you want to write. Once you have a general idea, you can begin to break down that idea and craft specific lyrics and melodies. Having a clear direction to follow will help guide the creative process and make it easier to write the song in its entirety.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information available on the internet about songwriting. From blogs to videos to sound libraries and beyond, it can be difficult to decide which information is relevant and which is not relevant to your needs. The solution to this problem is to find a songwriting mentor who can give clear, useful advice about the process. This will not only help to keep you from overdosing on information, but it will also help to keep you focused and on task.

Writer’s block is one of the most frustrating songwriting problems. It occurs when the lyrics of a song seem to be stuck in one place, and you are unable to move them forward. The solution to this problem is to take a break and let your creative juices roam freely. Take the time to brainstorm ideas, experiment with different words and sounds, and let your creative inspiration take over. Another way to overcome writer’s block is to try putting yourself in the shoes of the character you are writing about and writing from their perspective.

Melodic writer’s block is similar to lyrical writer’s block, except it occurs when you are unable to compose a tune or melody for the lyrics. The best way to get past this problem is to take the time to experiment with different melodies and rhythms. You can also try composing with chords or riffs, or even listening to other songs in your genre for inspiration.

Some music artists struggle with having an ear for music, which can make it difficult to create melodies and develop a song’s sound. The solution to this problem is to practice your ear training. Regularly listen to different types of music and pay attention to the instruments being used and how they interact with one another. By doing this regularly, you will begin to develop an ear for music and it will be easier to compose new melodies and sounds.

Sometimes, music artists are unable to successfully translate their ideas into a song. This can be an especially difficult problem to solve, as the creative process can be different for everyone. The best way to tackle this problem is to take the time to listen to your ideas and reflect on them. Consider what type of emotion and energy you want your song to evoke, and then think about how best to communicate that. This will make it easier to compose a song that accurately translates your ideas and emotions.

When writing a song, it is important to be specific and stay focused. Being too broad with the theme or idea of your song can lead to something that is too generic, thus making it hard to relate to. To avoid this problem, take the time to really hone in on the specifics of the song. Think of it as telling a story, consider how to draw the listener in, and use details and vivid imagery to help bring it to life.

When writing a song, it is important to consider who your target audience is. Not focusing on the needs, interests, and emotions of your audience can lead to a song that is not relatable or that fails to connect with them. To avoid this problem, research your target audience and pay attention to their needs and what resonates with them. This will make it much easier for you to create a song that speaks to them.

Having a unique selling proposition (USP) is important for any business, including a musician’s career. By having a USP, you can stand out from the crowd and ensure that your song resonates with the right people. The solution to this problem is to find ways to make your music unique. Whether it’s through the subject matter, production quality, or a combination of both, you can find ways to make your music stand out and draw in potential fans.

Building an email list is an important part of any music artist’s career. It helps to keep your fan base connected and updated on your work and performances. The solution to this is to start investing time and resources into building an email list. There are many free email marketing platforms that you can use to develop a strong list, and you can also invest in paid advertisements to reach a larger audience.

Social media platforms have opened up countless opportunities for music artists in terms of promotion and networking. Unfortunately, not all music artists take full advantage of this powerful tool. The way to solve this problem is to make and keep an active social media presence. Make sure that your music gets to the right people by posting often, interacting with your followers, and sharing your work.

By dealing with and understanding the most common songwriting problems, musicians will be better able to write songs that mean something and do well. From not knowing where to start to not building an email list, there are solutions to every songwriting problem that you may face. With the right attitude, dedication, and creative inspiration, you will be able to break down any obstacle and create amazing songs.

13. The lack of feedback received by songwriters.

The lack of response to your music is one of the most demoralizing things you can experience.

When you are in front of a real audience, you would have to be pretty awful not to get some sort of applause. People clap to be polite and to encourage you to keep trying.

Social media, on the other hand, is far more brutal. Online consumers don’t care about you, your music, or how you feel about being rejected. They only care about themselves and their entertainment.

Whenever they share a link to your song or video, they care about how popular they will appear to their friends.

Even though it sounds harsh, you need to appeal to that person’s ego whether it’s your material or something else. You either have to appeal to them on a deeply personal level or you have to make them look good in front of their peers. It is therefore imperative that whatever you present is outstanding, that it is different.

Therefore, it is not surprising that so many artists use shock tactics and/or sexuality to boost their profile.

The choice is yours when nobody is interested in your stuff:

•  Sell your soul to the popularity beast or
• Accept that a lot of other musicians are more committed and hungry than you are.
• Dig your trench deeper, ignore popularity, and focus on your art.

When it comes to holding the attention of a viewer, young pretty females are statistically and socially miles ahead of older, more seasoned male performers.

What should we do?

An artist can either go deeper into the music and become more artistic or adopt a more popular or sexually appealing profile if they ignore the ‘give up’ option.

Obtaining feedback and followers is not easy, and it takes a lot more effort than learning how to be a good musician and songwriter.

What you have to ask yourself is, what are they buying into, what are they following? This is why today’s marketers keep shouting about branding and building a following.

14. The lack of motivation, demoralization, or disillusionment of songwriters.

Welcome to the world of songwriters, if you’re here.

Writers, artists, and musicians go through periods when everything seems pointless. It doesn’t matter if it’s an audience member or a creative issue. All of a sudden, this thing we so strongly believed in becomes a poisoned chalice.

It’s because so much of what we do is subjective. Not only that, but its value to us and to society is subjective. This perception in turn is determined by outside events or our own emotions.

Only our perception or context has changed. The music still has the power to move people very quickly to magical and fantastic places.

We are still capable of learning, adapting, and growing, so no matter what challenges arise, we are able to overcome them by taking a break and giving ourselves a break. As artists, we often live creativity 24/7 in our heads. In the event that that suddenly ceases to work, we may panic, forgetting that it probably needed a rest too.

An honest, brutally honest, and personal examination of what we really want sheds new light on old problems with audiences and personal relationships.

A songwriter’s life is an emotional roller coaster, you can either ride it or get off.

I will guarantee that they will have experienced the same feelings of hopelessness as you if you choose to stay on board.

15. When songwriters are unable to sell their songs.

Your songs sell for two reasons:

•  There is an audience, a fan base, a following of people who are ‘fanatical’ about you or your songs, and they are obligated to buy your material or attend your performances. You also have a sales mechanism to deliver your product AND to collect your money.
• In ‘sync’ licensing deals, you sell your rights to other entertainment industries such as film and gaming.

Both options require considerably more effort and commitment than learning an instrument and writing songs.

16. The ability to write songs without an instrument.

• The rhythm of the music:

Without an instrument, you can easily write a very good song with a rhythm and something to shout about.

It can be spoons, drums, shakers, graters, or even a metronome. Anything that you can repeat will give you an ostinato, which is a riff or phrase that anchors you or gives you something to circle around.

Above that foundation, you can explore your story and the emotions it evokes.

If you have an attitude and some kind of emotion to express, you can even manage without words.

If you have a good sense of rhythm, start there, then spread your stuff over the top, and voila!

One or two songs can be written with only rhythm. But once you’ve done five or six, you’ll get bored. Time for a keyboard or guitar.

•  The digital audio workstation:

Even a free one will have a metronome and a way to layer recordings.

There is a learning curve with these, and you usually need a computer or phone and a microphone, so before you know it, it becomes more expensive and technical than learning to play the keyboard.

If you’re good and want to record, get a DAW, but learn an instrument first.

• The third option is to do it with friends:

The most rewarding and life-enhancing experiences you will ever have are standing around in a circle, just clapping and humming.

If you can, write songs with friends. You’ll be surprised at where it leads.

17. Writing songs when the songwriter cannot sing.

You need to educate your mind’s sense of musicianship, even if it’s out of tune and not pleasant to listen to. If you can just get the rhythm half right, that’s a major improvement compared to simply being a poet without rhythm.

Embrace your bad voice and don’t apologize for it. Be proud of your incompetence and you’ll be surprised how quickly your voice will disappear.

18. Listening is more important than singing.

Listen to the way people speak. Welsh is a particularly singy songy language. And listen to Winston Churchill’s speeches to see how he uses pitch and volume variation to cadence his words and saturate them with emotion.

A really interesting style of singing originated in Europe in the early 20th century called ‘Sprechstimme’ or ‘sprechgesang’.

Have a listen to some of it; it will give you confidence in your own voice, no matter how bad you think it is. Instead of singing fixed pitches, the singer is constantly sliding up and down the scale so that the effect is halfway between talking and singing.

How can you explain how another person should sing a song if you don’t understand the sounds a human voice makes?

Sing your songs badly – but sing them nonetheless.

19. When the songwriter has trouble coming up with words or topics to write about.

You just need to know what to look for and where to look for it to be able to find words or topics.

Every object has a story, be it a wall, a brick, a tree, or an ocean. This story can be told in a few simple sentences. These sentences are your verses. How you feel, or how the observer feels, or how these objects feel or make you feel is totally different, and that is where the song is, the emotion is always the heart of things.

That feeling makes a great chorus or refrain or just the title. And that’s what is important about songwriting. Know where your heart is and keep coming back to this feeling and the attitudes which stem from it.

The song will write itself if you keep returning to the title, the theme, or the emotional topic or hook.

It’s a debate in some songwriting circles titled “bottom up – top down”. It’s about structure or words first. I’d say, forget structure at first. The attitude and emotions in a song are the most important and can be shaped to accommodate them. Everything else is subservient to them.

It’s pointless penciling in a big long chorus if your emotional hook can be served in two words, ‘you dig?’

If you look at songs from this perspective, you’ll quickly understand how hard it is to write a song if you start messing around with chords, structures, and harmonies first.

20. Having stage fright as a songwriter.

At 18 and 58, I had stage fright, and I still do.

The only time you don’t get stage fright is just after you come off the stage. I know that it’s a bummer. However, that ‘lack of stage fright’ stays with you for a few days. It will be much easier for you to manage your performance if you perform twice or three times a week.

There is no way we can all do that, so what do you do in that case?

It’s still a case of managing it rather than defeating it. Remember, in the wild, so many eyes would only be on you if they were eating you, so it’s not natural.

What works for me is a two-pronged approach.

When I’m on stage, I’m able to distance myself from it since I’m a completely different person than I am typing these words. I just think, ‘well he’ll figure it out when he gets there.’

My performance is all about my ‘attitude’ & ’emotions’ when I get on – and this is very important.

Take a moment to consider that last sentence. You must relive the ’emotions’ and imbue the ‘attitude’ of your tale. You must do it completely and wholeheartedly.

If you take this approach, your performance will be outstanding because your audience will believe you.

Also, you can record yourself rehearsing and watch it back to gain confidence.

Practice meditation if you want to be able to control your thoughts and emotions.

Prepare and be organized – I mean everything, if you forget your socks before you start your first song, it will freak you out.

Conclusion

The process of actually writing a song is deeply personal, but it can be learned relatively quickly. We are usually self-motivated, so any problems we encounter can be worked on and resolved relatively quickly.

Working with people and getting them to approve, validate and buy your material is a completely different ball game. Marketing is ten times more challenging than songwriting. Being ignored does not inspire persistence, so you’ll have to work ten times harder.

Wishing you the best of luck.