songcraft
Tune-writing skill set
Songcraft is the art and skill of composing songs—the techniques of melody, lyrics, structure, and arrangement that make a song work.
The term emphasizes craftsmanship over inspiration: Her songcraft has improved since her first album.
A songwriter with strong songcraft knows how to build a hook, structure a bridge, and land a chorus.
Pleasing sequence of notes
- lyricsWritten words for music
- verseMetered poetic passage
- chorusSingers performing together
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
hook · arrangement · structure · refrain · phrasing · chord progression · rhyme scheme · meter
Regular common people
- balladNarrative poem or song
- troubadourMedieval Provençal lyric poet
- bardPoet of epics
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
griot · sea shanty · broadside · oral tradition · passing down · campfire · storytelling · lullaby
Recorded language on surface
- craftingSkillful manual creation
- penningWriting or confining animals
- polishingSmoothing by friction
- revisionAltering to improve
rewriting · demo · co-writing · pitching · workshop · creative process · collaboration · inspiration
Creator of musical works
- lyricistWriter of song texts
- hitmakerCreator of popular songs
- tunesmithInformal term for composer
- publishingDistributing written works publicly
royalties · catalog · demo session · Nashville · Tin Pan Alley · cut · placement · sync
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
bridge · hook · arrangement · structure · refrain · phrasing · chord progression · rhyme scheme · meter · stanza
folk
Regular common people
- balladNarrative poem or song
- troubadourMedieval Provençal lyric poet
- bardPoet of epics
minstrel · griot · sea shanty · broadside · oral tradition · passing down · campfire · storytelling · lullaby · hymn
writing
Recorded language on surface
revision · rewriting · demo · co-writing · pitching · workshop · creative process · collaboration · inspiration · drafting
composer
Creator of musical works
publishing · royalties · catalog · demo session · Nashville · Tin Pan Alley · cut · placement · sync · ASCAP
songcraftincompetence
Lack of required skill
ineptitude · artlessness · hackwork · tunelessness · amateurishness
songcraftperformance
Carrying out a task
stagecraft · showmanship · vocal delivery · interpretation · live performance
song, sing, craft, singer, singing, crafty, sung, songs, unsung