Lyricist job description?

Question

They don't have to be good at notes do they? I mean...i'm really bad at...if this is C minor then it is...and stuff like that, but i'm really good at poetry writing and i've been thinking of becoming a lyricist. Do you think it's the job for me?

Answer 1

No, a lyricist doesn't have to be good at notes to do his or her job. It helps tremendously though so I would highly recommend studying music, even if you only get an elementary understanding.

Lyrics and poems are not the same. Though it is good to understand the basics of poetry and meter, the lyric forms are different and the lyric must be able to be set to music. Most poems, specifically modern, are free form and do not adapt well to music, unless you have a very skilled composer. Poems can be lofty but lyrics must be understood upon first listen (unless of course you're writing art songs instead of pop but they won't bring you a lot of money especially if you don't plan to sing them yourself).

It's a tough business to break into so plan to have an alternate source of income while you hack away at it. You might consider becoming an English major and teach while you do your writing on the side. Eventually, you can leave your "day" job and earn a living by writing. You might also consider other writing options like novels, short stories, newspaper articles, etc. while you work on songwriting. That way, you'll still have an income source.

Check out www.bmi.com or www.ascap.com. They offer workshops from time to time for people interested in songwriting and may be able to help you further. You can also contact the Songwriter's Guild http://www.songwritersguild.com/ for assistance. Most events will be on either coast (NYC, LA, or Nashville typically).

Good luck. It's a rewarding career and there's nothing more exciting than hearing your songs come to life.

Answer 2

Lyricist Job Description