Songwriting Habit: A way to heal.

The healing benefits of music has long been researched and tested. Music has been used as therapy in education, hospitals, aged - care homes etc. for many years. For ourselves too it can be therapy that soothes the soul and a pathway to healing your heart.

There are times when all of us experience feelings, which we find difficult to explain or make sense of. It is in these moments that song writing can help unlock whatever is inside. It is a way that can give us some release and connect us to ourselves.

All it takes is to spend some time with some chords on guitar or piano and just play. Play with different rhythms, strumming patterns, broken chords……Playing with different sounds that can help process stuff in a safe way..…like that argument you just had with your mother…or the guilt you felt when you let your friend down…

It is a safe place to experience being human. To process all the emotions from love and joy to despair and loss. And the greatest benefit from this process is the freedom to be yourself.

Here is a quick process to get you started:

Step 1 - Pick your favourite song or piece of music

Step 2 - How does it resonate with you? What is it about the sound that you love? What is about the words?

Step 3 - Write down how you would like your song to sound. Use the ideas from your listening to help you.

Step 4 - Play with 3 chords. (Use the chords A, D & E to get you started) …Play means find different strumming patterns or chordal riffs and experiment until you develop a sound you are happy with.

Step 5 - Record your idea

So go on, have a go……and let us know how you go.