I asked AI to write a songwriting tutorial, here’s what it said…

AI is one of the coolest and scariest human creations. It has progressed leaps and bounds in recent history, getting closer to being indistinguishable from humans. From image recognition to text generation, it can automate a lot of tasks. The following article is written by an AI called GPT-J-6B as an experiment to see what wisdom we can glean from it. I have highlighted some of the funny parts in italics where the AI has gone a bit off-topic, but most people will be impressed with some of the generic wisdom available!

Tips for increasing songwriting productivity by GPT-J-6B

When I worked as a songwriter, it was tempting to find excuses to write less. I enjoyed listening to my recordings and I had the luxury of time. But one of the biggest misconceptions about being a successful songwriter is thinking that you only get what you give.

Here are some tips to help you write better songs and increase your productivity:

Your favourite songs – listen to them

As I mentioned earlier, I was influenced by songs as a teenager. I would copy whole songs and create my own in different genres. You’re a writer, so you’ll understand.

It also helps to analyse the songs you like. How did the writer craft it? Did they have a plot? Do you like the chorus or the bridge? Did they use a particular instrument? Did they use effects on it? How did they create the melody? This is a good exercise to do before you write.

Read books and articles about the craft of songwriting

I was lucky to be around people like Justin Stanley, who took me under his wing and introduced me to his curriculum of studying songwriting. It was then that I discovered books like Playing in the Dark – Stephen King, The Psychotic Kingdom – R.E. Murray, and Secrets of Songwriting – William. It didn’t take long for me to realise that the craft of songwriting is a science. I picked up other books and that was how I discovered my other science, PR!

At the same time, I studied my craft by going to a workshop run by a songwriting academy I used to work at. I still remember the icebreaker that followed: ‘Have you written any songs in the past six months?’ They would take it from there. They could gauge your progress and if you were losing momentum, they would encourage you. It didn’t matter whether you were the absolute best musician or composer in the room, you needed to write songs.

Take lessons from great songwriters

I would also pick the brains of my idols like Tom Waits, Dave Matthews and Neil Young. I’d soak up their knowledge and try to incorporate some of their techniques.

This way, it was like they were my teachers. I think you need a mentor. Find someone in your industry who can teach you the craft of songwriting. If you can’t find one, ask a colleague who’s good at it to give you tips.

As you gain more experience, you can always add a master to your list.

Rely on the tools you need to write songs

My main tools were a guitar, a piano, an MP3 recorder, a DAW, and a pencil. I would only write if I felt there was a strong story behind it. I’d also try and sit in a similar position to the listener so I could hear things I wouldn’t otherwise.

Learn to write about yourself

As a singer-songwriter, I can write about other people better than I can write about myself. The first two songs I wrote were about my ex-boyfriends. The third was about my current relationship.

As you get deeper into the craft of songwriting, it becomes harder to talk about yourself. You have to get rid of the restraints and fear to delve deep.

My music reflects the journey I’m on, and so I make it public to help other people on the same journey.

Go through old songs

Another good tool is to go back to old songs that you wrote. Find out why you wrote them, why you liked them, why they’re successful, and what can you learn. All of these songs won’t turn out as good as you want them to be.

It’s an exercise to help you get over that hump, so you can create something better. Strive to complete songs If you’re not creating, you’re not progressing. I’d say for every 10 songs you write, take four of them to the next level.

Create a process for yourself

Write, write and write. Then, you’ll be able to identify areas of weakness. Try to work with that to grow and improve. As you grow, your ideas will expand.

I remember I used to feel pressure that I’d write a song and the lyrics were no good. After some time, I realised that if I just kept writing and writing, I’d eventually come up with something better.

It doesn’t matter if the song is great, it just matters that you keep pushing and keep working.

Write anywhere

As I mentioned earlier, I enjoyed listening to my recordings. One thing I noticed was that I’d write anywhere. There was no ideal environment.

It was always strange when the music started playing in public and I didn’t know who it was. That would make me question myself.

Whether you’re writing a song in the studio, or you’re writing a love song while riding the bus, make it happen. Music should never stop just because you’re having a bad day.

It’s very, very rewarding to listen to your songs, but it also feels good to know that you helped someone else through their day. I would never dismiss your music when you’re writing it down because there’s the potential to help others. It feels good to know you can help somebody else and it’s a nice reflection on your life.

It’s a horrible feeling if you’re having a bad day and you’re singing, ‘I hate myself’, over and over again. You’re not going to enjoy the process.

Celebrate your songs

I would listen to my music in the morning and put my headphones on before I would go to sleep. It made me happy to hear it. I never got sick of it because I wasn’t listening to the same song over and over again.

With the release of one new song, I had to think of the next. I could go months and months without any new music. It was very difficult, but it’s one of the reasons I’ve achieved as much as I have. I was constantly honing my craft. The reason it was hard was because of the time it took to come up with the next one.

If you stop for too long, you lose all momentum. Finish everything that you start Another of my philosophies is to finish everything that you start. In case there’s anything you didn’t feel like doing, it will sit there like a pile of rubbish. It’s good to let it go and move on. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll pick it up and refocus on the current project.