Songwriter Toolkit Must-Haves
DAWS. No matter your level of expertise, every songwriter needs to have a DAW or Digital Audio Workshop downloaded onto their computer. Whether its Logic Pro X, ProTools, or Ableton doesn’t really matter. Get a DAW and learn how to use it so that you can properly record vocals or make your own productions.
SM7B-or any other microphone. The SM7B is a great mic for all writers. You don’t even need a mic stand to use it! You can just hold it in your name. That said, there’s a lot of great mics on the market so you should do your research to fine which one most suits your needs. This is essential for recording vocals at home or remotely.
Analog Guitar or Piano. Singer-songwriters I’m looking at you. Having your hands on a real instrument can help you maintain your creativity at home and allow you more opportunities to write solo.
Midi controller piano. Analog can’t provide you with everything! A midi controller will allow you to tap into plug-ins in your daw and begin constructing your very own productions with synth sounds and drum beats.
Voice Memo App. If your song isn’t recorded somewhere, then its bound to shift, morph, or completely dissipate from your brain space. Make sure to use the Voice Memo app, or some sort of comparable entity, to get all your demos down!
Notes App or Notebook. Ideas, like songs, are fleeting until they’re etched onto the page, digital or analog. Make sure you have a space dedicated to recording tidbits of inspiration so that you’re properly prepared for your writing sessions
Guitar Tuna App. This handy-dandy app is essential for all my guitar players. When your tuner dies, this is an excellent back up.
Metronome App. The best musicians practice with a metronome. As you’re running through your vocal scales or rehearsing a song, use the metronome app to keep yourself in time. Slowly speeding up the metronome app will help you master scales and musical exercises.
Rhymezone.com and Rhymebrain.com. Analog rhyming dictionaries are old news. These two sites are essential reference points whenever you’re writing a song. Discover perfect, near, and slant rhymes of varying syllable counts whenever you’re having trouble putting words to music!
