If photographers can have a visual portfolio of their work then why can’t songwriters have an aural portfolio of their work?
What’s the use in writing a song if you can’t find it when you need it? Well, I have some ideas on this.
For years I had a songwriting book where I would write all of my completed songs into. By hand I would write in black pen, all in capitals with the chords above written in red pen. This was so I could see it when I was performing on stage or at home.
Doing this was like a sacred ceremony for me, a ritual of some sorts.
Writing the completed songs into the book gave me the greatest satisfaction every time I did it. It was like I was burning the song into my consciousness as I was writing it in.
Nowadays however, I put everything onto my PC and soon, I will be buying a laptop for this very reason. It will be a machine dedicated to my songwriting.
(By the way, I still have my songwriting book. It’s now a songwriting ideas archive)
I write songs using the computer now because I can use more than one tool at the same time, all in one place. How very convenient!
For instance, while I am writing down my lyrical ideas I can go online and use a Rhyming Dictionary and Thesaurus in different windows or tabs at the same time.
There are also sophisticated songwriting tools like Lyricist and MasterWriter that you can use as well. The possibilities are endless.
However you do it, it’s so very important that you make sure that everything, from your songwriting ideas archive to you aural portfolio of completed songs are organized in such a way that you know exactly where everything is at all times.
On my system I have a folder called “CS Songwriting Ideas” which has a ‘WIP’ (works in progress) folder and a ‘Completed Songs’ folder.
I record all my ideas with an open source program called Audacity and in these folders are the lyrics and MP3’s of my songs in whatever stage they are at ready to either be worked on a bit more or used in whatever way I see fit.
If anything, having an organized aural portfolio shows that you take great pride in your songwriting, the creative process and the end results of your songwriting skill.
Besides, you never know when you might need to use it.
Until next time, happy writing,
Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
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Yes this is importatnt thing. For me, with many collabratorsthis is the most important thing after goor writing.
Great idea, especially with the completed folder including the lyrics sheet/mp3. I actually studied photography in school…. this is just an idea, but maybe a 5 or 6 song “mix” or playlist that is constantly tweaked as new songs are written would be a cool thing to have.
I mean, I guess they call those EPs, but I mean for personal reasons. : )
Sounds great Nolan,
However you do it is totally up to you. As long as you’re able to find what it is you need to find.
Having your songs organised in this way is also great for when you introduce new band members and stuff like that. It gives them the impression that you know what you’re doing.