How To Write Your First Song
You can use a simple chord progression to write your first song.
The first thing my guitar teacher taught me was, "Let It Be," by the Beatles.
I confess, it took months to get the C chord to sound "ok," and I still struggle with the open F. Still, this chord progression is the first thing I usually play when I sit down to the piano or pick up my guitar. Harley Hallett passed away in November of 2022, but his teaching lives on.
He gave me excellent resources to keep practicing. The scales, essential chords to start my guitar journey, strumming patterns, and solo tabs he printed out for me at our very first lesson are a precious resource.
One precious thing was the direction to practice the "Blues in G." The 12 bar blues progression was my path to rhythm, counting, and chord changes. Practicing the blues in G gave me the hope I needed to believe I could write a song myself.
So my simple advice to write a song is to find a chord progression you like, and then tell a simple story.
Don't take my word for though, the quote,
"Three chords and a story,"
comes from Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard.
So let hope come to you from Harlan Howard, Harley Hallett, and me, Dear Reader.
My next song uses the chord progression: D minor, G, A minor, E minor. The best thing about that is that it's finally getting me comfortable with playing the D minor: one of my favorite sounding chords.
Until next time, stay playful.
Catherine
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