How do beginners start songwriting?

Starting your first song can feel like standing in front of a blank stage with no script and a spotlight beaming down. Exciting? Yes. Terrifying? Absolutely. But whether you're dreaming of topping the charts or just putting your feelings into melody, songwriting is a learnable process. Here's how beginners can take that first leap.

Start with a feeling, not a formula

Most great songs begin with emotion. It could be heartbreak, joy, nostalgia, frustration, whatever's itching to be expressed. You don’t need to know music theory or own expensive equipment. You just need a spark.

Ask yourself:

• What am I trying to say?

• What feeling do I want the listener to walk away with?

  
  

Many beginners find it helpful to write down a few lines or phrases that capture this feeling. That’s your seed.

Find your hook

A hook is the catchy centrepiece of a song, the line that sticks in people's heads. This could be a lyrical phrase, a melody, or both. Think of it like the chorus of a conversation: short, memorable, and emotionally loaded.

Begin with a line or idea you can repeat. Hum it. Sing it. Say it aloud until it starts to take shape.

Choose your structure

Most popular songs follow a familiar pattern. You don’t have to follow it, but it can help:

• Verse: Tells the story

• Chorus: Repeats the main message or emotion

• Bridge: Offers a twist or contrast before returning to the chorus

  
  

Start with a simple structure like verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus. As you gain confidence, you can play with format.

Use your voice (not someone else’s)

Imitating others is a great way to learn, but your songwriting will only stand out when it starts sounding like you. Don’t worry if your lyrics aren’t Shakespeare or your melody isn’t perfect. Honest, relatable writing trumps polish every time.

As songwriter and producer Greg Kurstin says: *"Perfection kills creativity. Just start messy."

Keep a notebook (or notes app) handy

Song ideas come at the worst times: in the shower, on the bus, just as you're falling asleep. Capture them. Scribble lyrics, hum melodies into your phone, or jot down interesting phrases. These fragments are your future songs waiting to be pieced together.

Experiment with music (even if you're not a musician)

You don’t need to play guitar or piano fluently. Try online beat makers, chord apps, or karaoke-style instrumentals on YouTube. Start with three or four simple chords – C, G, Am, F are a popular combo.

Apps like BandLab and Soundtrap let you experiment with song creation, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Edit later – just write first

Your first draft won’t be genius. That’s not the goal. The goal is to get something out of your head and into the world. Editing is a separate process. First drafts are meant to be imperfect.

To quote author Jodi Picoult: *"You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank one."

Real-life example

A LetterLab client recently reached out wanting to turn a breakup journal into lyrics. They’d never written a song. We helped them identify key emotions, build a chorus around a repeated phrase, and map a simple verse structure. The result? A heartfelt acoustic track now being performed at open mic nights.

Useful tools to get started

• RhymeZone: For lyric brainstorming

• Ultimate Guitar: For free chords and tabs

• HookTheory: For learning songwriting theory

  
  

Final thoughts

You don’t need to be a poet or a performer to start songwriting. You just need the guts to say, "this matters to me" and the willingness to fumble your way through it.

At LetterLab, we believe great writing starts with honesty, whether it’s a song, a letter, or a CV. If you want help shaping your ideas into lyrics, our expert writers can guide you from scribbles to something special.

Find out more at www.letterwritingservice.co.uk