Song Writers

[Korbain12]

Hi , I play on the Abundant life Worship team in Nathchez Ms. . I got saved at the age of 24 . Before i was a christian , I was a muscian and a song writer . My songs have always been deep and dark . But now you can say " I saw the Light " .
I write songs now that don't speak death , and up lifting Jesus . My two main goals in my songs are to the world Jesus and to win the lost .
I would like to hear from other christian song writers and there walk , and there approach to writeing songs . What it is they look for , or does it just come to you ? I know with me , most of my songs just come to me , mostly after I trial and Learn what God was speaking to me .
Thanks
Also If you would Like to check out my website
www.alcnatchez.com

[SaintLewis]

Though I don't know if I'm prolific enough these days to actually call myself a 'songwriter' (I only write about 4 or 5 songs a year nowadays, however 10 years ago I used to write more than that in a week, so I've got a pretty rediculous back catalogue), but I do write - just finished a new one last week, in fact.

Personally, it's important to me that a song be 1.) TRUE - i.e., Biblical, 2.) CATCHY - i.e., has a hook, and 3.) USEFUL, though not necessarily in a corporate sense (I'm just as pleased if a song makes a good special rather than a corporate song).

Since I like to write songs that I'll actually like myself (see the above description), I tend to write towards that end: I keep an audio log (short recording's in GarageBand) or at least write out on paper any neat riffs or chord progressions I stumble upon while jamming - even if I'm at church (I've got chord charts of other songs with notes all over the backs). I use that little 'archive' of charts & samples available whenever I'm feeling inspired. Then later, when I'm feeling creative, I'll either flip open the book of the Bible that's been hitting me recently, or a Christian book that's nailing me, and skim through it, jotting down ideas, which I then take and find a chord progression that is in my archive which seems to emotionally connect with those ideas, then sorta go from there.

Of course, from there a song can go ANYWHERE, and there's no real formula, and as I've heard said by many: rewrite, rewrite, REWRITE. Never be afraid to get a good critical ear to tear apart your song - and even better other local songwriters you respect to give you positive feedback, and even step in to help co-write a section that you might not be getting inspiration for.

Anyway, those are my ideas...hope the help!

[Korbain12]

Yea I know far to well about the rewrite . I am not the worship leader of my team so when I write a song that I feel is lead by God something he would want to say to the church . I know that it will get twisted and molded untill it fits everyone on the team team .
I am guy who rights like a guy and my worship leader is a female lol that sings like a female so most of songs get rewriten .
B.T.W. If you write songs you are a song writer no matter how many songs you write a week or a year . A song with God's annoiting can go on for years years years and never get old . If he used you to write it , your a song writer

[Klampert]

some songs i write for a need as far as topical or liturgical. others come to me in melody or words. and others I write music to others words.

I really like worship songwriting via collaboration. Especially from 2 people in the same church because it really reflects the heart of that church

[Korbain12]

Nice song on your webby klampert , We are working getting some of our songs recorded at our church when we do I will add them to my web site .

[Klampert]

Can't wait to hear them

[SeanMichael]

My songwriting stemmed from my personal journal and poem writing. I also come from a very musical family and I remember as a kid coming up with my own melodies and "hooks". As the years went on I started incorporating my poems with melodies and bang there it was!
A lot of people ask, what comes first the lyrics or the melody? Since every songwriter is different there are obviously many answers to that. Personally, when I sit down to write a song they both come at the same time. When I read a particular passage of scripture or hear something from pastor that inspires me I find that songs of worship pour out.
At times I might really be struggling to some up with a second verse or maybe find a bridge that fits just right. Those are the times that I step away and allow God to refuel my thinking and my heart.
I have been approached about writing songs to be used more on a secular level. But my heart has never been comfortable with that. I feel that God has called me to write for the church and that is what I plan to do.

Sean

[Korbain12]

One of things I desire the most is that the Spirit of God , falls on people .I know people can be healed through a song service .
When I first got in church . I thought it was all about my talent .In my opinion i am a way better guitar player than a bass player , but the team needs a bass player . When I first started . I was thinking awe man , I can just pull one of these kids out of the youth and teach them bass . They'll have it in like three months . But i noticed that the people i was teaching bass wasn't getting it . Man I started questioning my ability to teach .Then one day in prayer , God spoke to me . It's not about me , he said . When I learned that
worship became much more clearer to me . Now all I want is the Spirit of God to fall on his people . I want to see people coming to know Jesus in the song service . People repenting and falling to there knees just weeping to the Lord .
So when I write a song , I spend a lot of time praying about it .I know God can move threw anything , everything is his anyway . I know we as worship leaders are speaking for God . So I try to talk like Jesus and write like Jesus .