So if you want to join songwriting competitions, you should be prepared. You should have a free-following and creative mind; your ideas should be limitless. If you are a good songwriter, you must be able to write about anything under the sun. Songwriting competitions have different categories. You may send different entries for different categories but there is a small fee for every entries that you send, so prepared to spend some dimes.

Songwriting competition opens up outstanding opportunity for amateur writers and bands. So this is a great way to stage your talent and be known by record label and record executive. Since most contests, songwriting competition is all over the internet, making it available for everybody all over the world to submit their music entries, you must be prepared for a head-to-head competition.

For your music to be able to make the cut, there are some important things you must put in mind. First, you must create a great and catchy chorus for song that delivers your message well. You must keep your listener hook ed In your music by making melodic verses. You can also apt for a story-like lyrics, that make the listeners think and imagine. Just make sure that your lyrics are fresh and original.

When it comes to instrumentation, chose the one that will make your song lyrics stand out and not fall down. If your lyrics is a ballad then piano or guitar is enough. If you want kick-ass rock and alterative music gear up with your band but make sure not to drown your lyrics, for it is the most important part of your song.You must not go for long inteludes and introductions, although classic and long intros like Hotel California and Stairway to Heaven are catchy, today’s song opt for short intros; direct to the point and no time wasting. If you are a band and you want to showcase your members extra talent, you may do so in the middle or ending part of the song; not in the introduction.

When joining songwriting competition there are lots of work to be done; music, lyrics, artistic rendition and more. But always remember two things why you join this kind of contest; because you’re in it to win it and you want be heard and be recognize.

First of all you’ll want to train your songwriting talents to further your understanding of music. This step is really essential in becoming a songwriter. Make no mistake, Bob Dylan and John Lennon didn’t write hits right off the bat. They took years developing their craft in order to be successful songwriters. You should do the same. If possible, take some music lessons, and not necessarily in songwriting. By learning different instruments, you can become a better songwriter as well just by learning which part they play in making a song. For example when learning guitar, most of my compositions would be very lead focused and lacking in rhythm. After learning bass my rhythm composing became much better. By playing multiple instruments, you can do the same. You’ll want to listen to music consistently as well and analyze what each artist is doing. By doing so you will gain influences, allowing you to recreate parts of music that you like. Also if you haven’t done so, check out our Songwriting Tips page. It has some helpful tips to help develop your songwriting talents.

After you feel comfortable writing a song, record your best songs on a demo tape. If you are unable to perform them yourself for your recording, find someone who can. Once you have a recording, you’ll want to copyright it, and submit your songs to record companies, music publishers, or artists together with your resume and biography. Don’t stop there though! Becoming a great songwriter is a neverending path, and you’ll always have something more to learn. So keep writing songs!

Don’t procrastinate once you get an idea to write it down. It’s so easy to lose pieces of music if you don’t act when inspiration strikes. When you have the idea for a song, follow through and make sure it becomes a complete idea before you leave it. Trying to remember it later may not happen.

Songwriting Tip #17

Take your time finishing your song or album. If you set really steep goals, such as finishing an album in a week, chances are it’s going to lack creativity and intricacies that only spending time with a song will bring. There’s no rush, just sit back and enjoy your music.

Songwriting Tip #18

Don’t add parts that don’t fit into the song. Sure you may have some cool new effect pedal but don’t throw it in just because you wan’t to use it. It’s like weeding with a chainsaw. Yeah a chainsaw is awesome and everything, but its better to use a hand shovel to weed than a chainsaw. The same goes with music. If you don’t absolutely, 100% think that something will fit into your song, then don’t add it. Simple as that.

Songwriting Tip #19

Stay healthy. It may sound extremely odd to say this in a songwriting tip, but really a healthy body can help your mind function more clearly. A healthy body can help you focus and have more energy, two things that really add to your songwriting ability. I’m not saying that unless you’re a body builder you can’t write good songs, but eating right and getting good amounts of sleep will really help.

Songwriting Tip #20

Use everyday language in your music. Nobody likes songs that read like the Bible. Thine, Thou, Hast, it just doesn’t work. Use simple everyday language that people can relate to. Common phrases are also great for hooks in your songs.

Songwriting Tip #11

Get as many opinions on your music as you can. The more opinions you get on your music, the better perspective you get. People may have suggestions on what they like and what they don’t like, and this advice can help you improve your music. Don’t go for your close friends and family’s opinions, chances are they are going to be unbiased. You’re looking for constructive criticism here, not lies to help your ego.

Songwriting Tip #12

Focus on your music overall, not the slightest details. Don’t get hung off whether your song should be played at 112 bpm or 111 bpm. Chances are no one will notice. Focus that the song you wrote conveys the feelings you want, and the message you want. Getting caught on details will cost you a lot of time and only bring frustration.

Songwriting Tip #13

Stop griping on other musicians and start focusing on yourself. You can argue all day and night about how this musician sucks and that musician is doing everything wrong, but chances are, if they’re successful they’re doing something right.

Songwriting Tip #14

Don’t settle for a mediocre song. Nobody likes a “filler” track. Make sure each song can stand on it’s own and that its really the best it could be. Don’t throw together some generic song and call it a day. Really put the effort into your music until you can call it a finished piece.

Songwriting Tip #15

Try to teach others how to play an instrument or how to write songs. This is one of the best things you can do as a musician. By teaching others, you’ll find that you too improve as a musician. You may even end up the one doing the most learning!

This tip is for those songwriters who prefer to write their music first. If you can, record the music to the song your writing, and then put it on your Ipod or Mp3 Player. Listen to the music in your spare time or as often as you can. This trick works great because you can fully focus on the music rather than having to play an instrument at the same time, and also if you recorded several instruments, it helps you get the “big picture” of your piece, which can inspire your lyrics to go with it.

Songwriting Tip #7

Who are you writing your music for? It’s important to know your audience for the simple fact that different audiences like different types of music. A person studying music might be into songs with large, orchestral parts, but an average listener might get lost in all the complexity and prefer just a simply acoustic guitar/piano duo. Choose your audience, and find the way to appeal to their tastes. When you write the song think, “Will my audience be able to relate?”

Songwriting Tip #8

It’s your personal ability, not the gear you have. Too many musicians become to focused on getting better gear, thinking it will make them a better musician. And yes, sometimes some gear can open up new ways of expression, but ultimately it’s down to the player. You can have the best guitar in the world, but a skilled musician will still play circles around you with a cheap guitar. Truth is, few people are nitpicking at your instruments tone instead of just listening to the music.

Songwriting Tip #9

Mistakes may not actually be mistakes. Always keep the music you write instead of just tossing it away. You may find a music line, or lyric that you really like that can be used in another song. Even if you can salvage just one line, it’s worth it.

Songwriting Tip #10

Don’t live by the rules, but don’t live without them as well. Music Theory can really help you as a musician, but living strictly by them can really hold you back. Where would a band like Radiohead be without breaking the rules? Don’t be afraid to do the same.

This tip is the most important if you are serious about becoming a songwriter. It is simply, never stop working on your abilities. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing your first song, or your Paul McCartney, there is always someway you can improve. The more abilities you have, the more varied songs you’ll be able to write. Nobody likes an artist whose songs sound all exactly alike.

Songwriting Tip #2

Early bird or Night owl? Try switching up the time you write music, you can find it can give you some inspiration. Personally, I write music best at around 3 a.m. or when I’ve just woken up, probably because I’m sleep deprived. Also try and changing your location; hit up a local park, or lake, or friends house, just somewhere new. Even the weather can affect your mindset, just taking it in will help the writing process.

Songwriting Tip #3

Practice Practice Practice. Everyday, write some lines of lyrics. If you can’t do that then even one line a day will get you done faster than procrastinating. Songwriting is an art, and as you write more and more, it becomes easier and better (hopefully anyways).

Songwriting Tip #4

Focus on the type of song you want to write. Sure several bands or songs may inspire you, but that doesn’t mean they all have room to fit into one piece. Of course, I’m not saying that you can’t have more than 1 inspiration for a song. Just try staying within the same mood or feeling or you’ll find yourself stretching it, and you dont wanna do that for sure.

Songwriting Tip #5

Get Emotional. Music is, in a basic sense, an amazing way to portray emotions. This is what makes music so powerful. Your listeners want to connect and feel the same emotions you do, so make it easier for them. Emphasize the emotion of your song clearly. For example, think of an argument with another person. If someone walked into the argument right in the middle, wouldn’t they be a bit lost on why you are arguing? Raw emotion doesn’t work by itself, it needs a story.