From one idea, many ideas form.
I love mind maps. I’m a visual person, and developing a songwriting idea by using a mind map really helps me write my song lyrics more effectively.
Right now you’re probably asking “what is this mind map?” Well, according to Wikipedia a Mind Map is:
“…a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing”.
A mind mapping exercise is a simple, but a very effective way of fleshing out the body of a song from a single idea, phrase or a word.
It’s very similar to brainstorming but in a very visual way.
If you follow the steps outlined below, you will have a whole song laid out in front of you. All you have to do is follow the paths that you have created.
Heres how you do it.
1. Take your idea, phrase or word and write it in the middle of a piece of paper and draw a circle around it.
2. From that circle branch out five lines in different directions. At the end of those lines write a word that is associated with the central word. These words could be the basis for your verses and choruses.
3. From each of those five words start writing five other words that relate and so on.
By the time you have had enough (or you run out of paper), you’ll see the whole song mapped out in front of you and it all started from one songwriting idea, phrase or a single word.
Start from the central theme and work outwards, following the word paths you’ve created. Can you see what phrases you can come up with from doing that.
Be careful not to have too many initial branches springing out from your central theme. This will turn your mind map into a complicated mess of too many ideas pulling against each other. Up to five is plenty.
Remember, you dont have to use all (or any) of the words you have written down, this is another way of opening your mind to new ways of generating songwriting ideas.
Most of us are visual people. As mentioned before, I personally access information the best this way. I can tell you having a whole song mapped out in front of me makes the job of formulating a song so much easier.
Give it a go and see what happens, you’ll be amazed at some of the paths and tangents you create.
Let me know how it works for you
Until next time, happy writing,
Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
PS: For more information on Mind Maps, click here.
Keywords: mind map, songwriting idea, songwriting, writing songs, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting help, corey stewart
Filed under: Songwriting Ideas | Tagged: Corey Stewart, creativity, ideas, mind map, music, Songwriter, Songwriting, songwriting tip, writing, zen
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
I agree that Mind Maps are good for songwriting ideas – i am a novice guitar player and my focus has been on how you remember songs
here is a Mind Map I created on how to remember Yellow Submarine by the Beatles
http://www.fuzz2buzz.com/en/mex/mind-map/hand-drawn/84/yellow-submarine
Can you load any Mind Maps up on your blog – would love to see one
cheers
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for taking the time out to comment. I’m glad you liked the post.
Yes you’re right. I should have my mind maps up on my blog. What a great idea.
I had a look at your “Yellow Submarine” mind map and I must say that you put a lot of colour into it.
My mind maps tend to be more functional creatures rather than a page full of colour however, from looking through your website you’ve inspired me to look at my future mind maps as a creative part of my songwriting process rather than a means to an end.
I wish you all the best in your guitar playing.
Corey
[...] start writing automatically and explore every tangent that comes to mind. I might even use a mind map to keep track of all the different paths that I come [...]
[...] Mindmapping Your Songwriting Ideas (44 visits) – I was surprised how popular this post was. I think the concept of using a mind map in [...]
i’m going to send this to song writing friends!
i keep telling them to write something that becomes world famous then they can do the music they really want to do – living off the royalties!
oh
i heard an old timer who helped barry alamo?manalow? or he said it in a history channel interview – that mass audiences love very very simple words that repeat a lot!
it took him a long while to comply and only then did he take off and only then could he write and perform the songs he really really wanted to do!
good luck all you song writers!
as someone said
if it’s too loud you’re too old!
Interesting article: however I would not agree that brain storming is very similar to Mind Mapping.
Brainstorming or to be politically correct ‘thought showers’ is unstructured, Mindmapping is structured.
As a designer I use brain storming to record every idea no matter how appropriate and inappropriate. As a professional MindMapper I mind map in a structure way.
It is easy to get confused but I dont want people to be confused or mislead.