10 Practical Tips for Christian Songwriters

After 20+ years of songwriting and a few hundred songs to show for it, I still feel like I have so much to learn, (especially when it comes to stewarding my songs.) My writing has evolved over the years as I continue to read books on the subject, attend retreats, and learn from some of the best in the world of Christian songwriting. Below are some practical tips I have acquired throughout my songwriting journey, which are especially useful for the beginner songwriter.

1. Write every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a song or not. Some days, you won’t be able to work on a song, but you can write your thoughts from the day in a journal. Write notes from the book you are reading. Write out what you are studying in the Bible. Write little tidbits or thoughts throughout the day in a small notebook or notepad on your phone. Write letters. Blog. Write posts. Write songs. Just WRITE.
2. Stick with one hook/idea. Don’t confuse your listeners by throwing in several different themes. If your verse is about the love of God, don’t make your chorus about the powerful name of Jesus and your bridge a praise anthem. It may sound beautiful, but the message gets muddled along the way. To reach people through song, stick to your topic.
3. Keep the song balance. If the lyrics in your verses are long or verbose, keep the chorus simple. And vice versa. The goal is to get your message across in an understandable and tangible way, not to cram as many words into the lines as possible. If there’s more you want to say on the subject, perhaps the bridge is the place for it.
4. Problem and solution. The first verse can often state a problem, but the chorus should have the solution or at least somewhat of a forward movement to your song story. Keep the momentum by allowing the story to unfold rather than hyper focusing on 1st verse problems. For example, if you are struggling with fear in the first verse but have proclaimed God as your peace in the chorus, do not go back to fear in the second verse. Your second verse should further solidify that the solution in your chorus is correct.
5. Worship should be singable. When writing for congregational worship, keep the melody simple and don’t over-complicate words. Songs that are difficult to sing are not great in a church setting and can leave people playing catch-up throughout the entire song, missing its message. Remember that church music is sung by a broad audience of people–from very young to elderly–and write accordingly.
6. Keep a thesaurus handy. Unless the word you are using is your hook, try not to repeat it more than once or twice in a song. I would say this for any form of writing. The thesaurus is your friend! Use it regularly to make your writing better.
7. Let the bridge connect, not deter. The bridge is not where we completely change direction in the song. The bridge is just that–a connector of thoughts that strengthens the path back toward the chorus. Make it powerful; don’t water it down by going off path.
8. Keep the same perspective throughout the entire song. If you start out in 1st person tense in your song, continue in 1st person throughout. Don’t confuse your audience by switching viewpoints. There are exceptions to every rule, of course. For instance, the older yet always relevant I Exalt Thee by Pete Sanchez (1975) often changes to “We exalt thee” in the last chorus. However, since the song is already very simple, it works.
9. Use a rhyming dictionary. Besides a thesaurus, this little book is my favorite resource for songwriting, especially when I am lost for words!
10. Make sure your lyrics are biblical. Songs are powerful tools that have the potential to help strengthen and confirm people’s faith and belief. However, they can also cause confusion if controversial terms are used. Study and be sure that what you are writing is biblically correct. If you are still unsure, ask a knowledgeable pastor, teacher, or Christian mentor. Let’s be careful to build up each other’s faith, not cause another to stumble.

I hope these tips are helpful, whether you are a beginner or a more seasoned songwriter! Most of these were written very quickly off the top of my head. 😁 I have much more to say on this topic in depth and feel a Part 2 coming very soon! I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for stopping by!

Anna De Lay

I am a wife, homeschool mom, musician, and songwriter; but most importantly, I am a daughter of the King. My heart’s desire is to draw closer to God and bring other people with me! Truly, there is no greater joy.