6 . ✤ lyric fragments, half melodies, and beginnings of chord pro- chord of statement. sical beginnings and melodies, gressions half that eventually fuse together into one complete fragments, mu- lyric la to songwriting. The creative process is often a whirlwind of W MUSIC ALIVE! Through Through practice, you will learn what works best for you as lyrics, picturedright. hailed forherpoetic Joni Mitchellhasbeen singer- Left: Canadian . Art of the ✤ DISTRIBUTION October 2016 with a good answer. good a have with minds inquiring as wanted to long know, as haven’t for come But up career. the or question countless times over lyrics the course the of their music?” Professional songwriters are songwriting, asked this in fi rst comes hat The The truth is, there’s no step-by-step formu- The NOT FOR by ChrisSampson . . Lyric to it? If not, give it a try. For example, read the four lines lines four the read example, For try. a it give not, If it? to a song. read a song’s lyrics before listening Before we dive in, let’s consider the role that lyrics play in IN A art WORD the studying by start let’s lyric. now, the for of But songwriting. of and lyrically can dramatically improve the craft—both quality of the your tech- songs. many about are musically—that learn will not there only can make the you process easier, however, that but way, the niques Along songwriter. a In upcoming articles, we’ll discuss the musical elements elements musical the discuss we’ll articles, upcoming In Here’s aguideonhowto Sometimes agreatsong

is allaboutthelyrics. craft yourown. musicalive.com . .

PHOTOGRAPHY:

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY: musicalive.com Man.” “Mr. Tambourine to his1965hitsong, Handwritten lyrics Bob Dylan.Above: Singer-songwriter Right: ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES IMAGES ARCHIVES/GETTY ARCHIVES/GETTY OCHS OCHS MICHAEL MICHAEL (DYLAN) (DYLAN) IMAGES, IMAGES,ROBINSON/GETTY ROBINSON/GETTY JACK (MITCHELL) PHOTOS: DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR

October 2016 ✤ MUSIC ALIVE! ✤ ✤ 7