http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/ Share your tips, encouragement, and ideas about songwriting for worship. en Sun, 19 May 2013 01:10:40 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/ http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8081-Songwriting-Exercise?goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 18:22:36 GMT Hey worship songwriters!!!! It's been a long time since we did our monthly songwriting challenges. If you're like me, the songwriting freshness has worn off a little bit, and you could use a boost! Soooooo, I thought I might present a songwriting exercise to hopefully spark that desire to write again and more often. Here we go:

* Take a few minutes to look around you, and focus on ONE object that catches your attention.
* Got that object in mind? Think about all the attributes of that object: color, weight, size, purpose, design, etc.
* Ask the Father to share with you attributes of that object that relate to your relationship with him. Ask him questions like: What do the attributes of this object say about me? What do the attributes this object say about you? What do the attributes of this object say about our relationship? Etc.
* Think about metaphors, similes, allegories, colloquialisms, etc.
* If you are willing, share them here. Who knows, songs may come out of this process. NOTE: Simply share the name of the object and the list of attributes and/or functionalities that apply to accumulate ideas.

Any takers? ]]> Songwriter Tips and Encouragement WorshipVanguard http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8081-Songwriting-Exercise http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8079-Writing-a-Bridge-for-Your-Worship-Song?goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 16:50:52 GMT Over years of songwriting I've encountered many schools of thought on what to do with the bridge or middle "C" section of a song and have come to the conclusion that bridges are simply misunderstood. Some songwriters I know avoid bridges in their song at all costs; others use them liberally like it's a requirement. I find that especially in writing for the church there lies incredible opportunity- it's a great place in a song to take your congregation to soaring heights of praise or refocus after an energetic chorus/refrain. Of course, one size does not fit all but let's take a closer look at a few options in our arsenal…

1. Change the energy. Go big. Try making it an even bigger section than your chorus and make this the energy peak of your song. Choose strong chords, open up the instruments and let your melody lift and soar…swing for the fences! In this approach, lyrically I find it to be a great time to expand on the chorus subject and prepare for a final one. Often I can get carried away with high melodies which work great in some songs but for worship we have to be cautious that everyone can still sing along.

2. Throw on the brakes. Sometimes after a busy or repetitive chorus the best thing to do is refocus and bring everything to a halt; songs at one intensity or energy level start to bore the listener and an energy change can bring something new to our ears. A sudden stop in instruments and a spotlight on the lyrics with an acapella (just voices) is one great method. In "Faithful" after a huge chorus and an energetic instrumental/solo section we bring the song back down to the vocal for a refocus on the important bridge lyric - "He rose from the grave, no darkness remains…" Then, as we repeat bridge lyrics the tension and intensity build for a last chorus- the celebration of resurrection grows.

An advantage of dropping out the instruments is that I find the congregation responds together powerfully without distraction. Great responsibility lies here in the opportunity to write lyrics for a bridge section that each worshipper can respond to, and it's an effective time to strip away fancy prose for a more personal reflection. On a listening level it's also great to give a break to anyone who's been hearing pounding drums and wailing guitars for a solid chunk of time.

3. Don't feel it? Move on. As I've said your mileage may (and should) vary- for instance with many song forms such as a hymn-style or A-B song you won't usually need a bridge. Other times the last thing you want is a new set of lyrics or ideas, and often we make the mistake of getting carried away in a long musical tangent (beware). If your bridge feels musically unnecessary, more like a songwriting convention than an exciting addition then it's worth ditching, and be wary of a long, drawn-out section when you've got an important chorus to get back to.

As songwriters all we can do is write what we feel is best for the music and words, and though endless options may exist it's good to keep writing until each section is excellent on its own within a cohesive, flowing song. With a well thought-out bridge covering new ground or changing song energy you can add a brilliant new set of colors that inspires and encourages meaningful worship…and that's what we're writing for! ]]> Songwriter Tips and Encouragement Jcobia http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8079-Writing-a-Bridge-for-Your-Worship-Song