Organize Your Song Ideas Like a Pro: A Complete Guide

[@Noo90]

The paper journal is the best idea not just for song writting but writting in general, because you have to write out each letter and word your brain remembers that better than typing or voice notes

[@const71]

As a lyricist myself, I agree ... There's something about writing the song on paper that triggers something in the brain ... I love going to the dollar store and browsing all the cheap notebooks and markers ... Is it just me?

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

@@const71i was at office works just this week 🤠 i done a video about it 👉

[@Wokeandproudofit]

Paul McCartney once said the secret to the Beatles strong melodies, especially in the early years, was that they had to be memorable enough to not lose the thought-since they had no way of recording them on the spot.

[@horstborscht7401]

Björn and Benny from ABBA were even more stripped down: they never wrote down anything, because in their view an idea wasn‘t worth it if you can‘t memorize it.

[@cristianlopez_8486]

​@horstborscht7401 I kinda have that same mindset, to a fault though. I consider myself good at writing riffs as a guitarist (gotten that from alot of people), but I'm admittedly not great with arrangements and struggle with building upon them. I feel collaboration with others works better for me.

[@edsterling5258]

This is gold. I wish I had started a system like this in my teens (40 years ago). You are the best songwriting channel out there! Thanks & please keep going!

[@susannamasciulli1173]

Great info. One thing that I always do in the story ideas section is, if I have an idea, I'll start with brainstorming, could be just a word or title, then I write down everything associated with it. Then I'll write a short synopsis of what I think, the song is about. Then I might start a rough first draft and I date it each time I add or make changes. Usually takes 3 or 4 drafts until I think anything is any good. By that time I may have rearranged verses, put intial lines into subsequent verses or kept it. It constantly changes and you have to be willing to make changes constantly until you're sure that you've chosen the right or best word in a line for instance. Some times I decide on the title last because by then it's clearer by the end. I prefer a big notebook or just putting it all on computer because it's easier to cut and paste and I always have at least 5 pens on me at all times plus a small notebook on my bedside table in case I get random inspiration. I'm still quite new at songwriting but feel that each new song is better than the last. Guess it must be working because the lowest score I've received from the UK songwriting constest in the past few years has been 4/5. All the rest scored top scores of 5/5 and one highly commended entry. However getting better at songwriting is an ongoing process and you need to also learn the skills, structures, tools and tricks to capture the audience, and yes I eaves drop on conversations, analize other songs that I love, listen to all genres, news, film, book titles, rhymes that I like, sometimes other song titles, etc too spark ideas .Really liked that lines folder for ideas to be developed later. The learning never stops and it must become a passion to be any good, and constantly writing, daily if possible. I've learnt so much from this channel. Thanks a million.

[@ethansc]

This video gave me some great inspiration to make a dedicated songwriting app! Sketching out the UI now

[@ferenclucas2842]

try this. go back and play one of your captured audio recorded ideas on speakers so you can hear it and with a second recorder, capture that plus new thoughts in dialog live overtop of it. now you get this new blended recording with additional or missed information or commentary further developing the idea. like bouncing it off your later self. I often play the offloaded audio file on my pc and recapture it with my handheld recorder again while adding information to the new file. It's often very interesting what comes out when you have a second go at the original

[@CherylAwh]

Thanks for this. I just organized my Notes this way. I didn't even know you could put Voice Notes on a Note until this. This really helps! 💛

[@TigerRogers0660]

Great video. Thanks!! For me, the melody ALWAYS has to come first (if i am to write anything decent). Then the chord progression, followed by the lyrics - although i might have a couple of lyrical ideas before i start the chords. Finally the arrangement to suit the mood of the song. Melodies always come first thing in the morning for some reason!!!!

[@janinee6733]

Fortunately Samsung notes does all of this too, to no additional cost 😄. Thank you very much for this video. It´s quite helpful to keep things in order.

[@tomcoryell]

I use both Apple note and Samsung notes. Depends on what device is available when I get inspiration.

[@MrW11YT]

Yes I love Samsung Notes. :)

[@lilgreenmomo]

I stopped using Samsung notes because something happened and every single one of my notes was lost! No way to retrieve them. I use Google docs now. It's a while ago now so I don't actually recall what happened (maybe I blanked the trauma out 😂) but I think it may have been to do with an app upgrade.

[@MrW11YT]

@@lilgreenmomo Thanks for the warning!❤

[@janinee6733]

@@lilgreenmomo My most important Samsung notes are always sent to my NAS (as PDF copies and sometimes in the original format as well), this way I hope to avoid such a thing. That's terrible, I can feel you...

[@purplezoid1]

Extremely helpful! Thank you!

[@poetsgarden1]

love what you said about titles...and sounds...I love sounds...they create moments...wanted to write songs as long as I can remember so finally started to do it in my seventies...lol

[@robmillsap]

You always have so many motivating ideas to offer. Thank you for sharing.

[@KevinTPLim]

You can put Voice Memos into Notes on iOS?! I use Notes and Voice Memos too 🙌

[@chieftain5571]

If she had been my music teacher I wouldn't have had a 45 year hiatus.

[@lilgreenmomo]

I just use Google Drive. I throw everything from my phone into the drive, add each idea to a google sheet and put the media (lyrics, photos of my physical notebook, voice memo or zoom video from a songwriting session) into the sheet as chips (great new feature). It's so easy because I don't need to worry about the fact that I have stuff everywhere. I also have a Spotify playlist specifically for production I like.

[@SusieCool2001]

Hi Keppie, I just wanted to say that your video about organizing song ideas Is amazing!!! Creatives seem to thrive on chaos, but some tidying up really saves our sanity. I don't have apple products but happily have found that my phone and tablet have Samson notes. The input method for audio is both by downloading files AND by direct recording, so I am as happy as a clam. I have been using my Google drive for a while now and I will be using your advice about keeping my finished songs in one place. Google drive has saved my butt so many times. I will definitely be sharing your info with my songwriting groups in Orlando. I would love to do one of your workshops soon so please keep me on your list. Take care, and keep being Keppie!!! SusieCool songwriter NSAI Orlando chapter co-coordinator International Songwriters Guild (ISG) Membership/Newsletter officer

[@KateSloan]

hey Keppie, thanks for this super helpful video! not sure if anyone else has already mentioned this, but Apple is adding the ability to record audio directly into Notes in a future update - my partner is an iOS developer so she has early access to the current beta OS and showed me the feature when I mentioned this video to her. so keep an eye out for that! (it'll be under the list of media options when you hit the camera button while typing in a note)

[@ndrew--]

Now you can record directly into a note in iOS 18. Great stuff..

[@paulgallagherexpress]

Wow! We are on the same wavelength in the system and apps! Mine is very similar and your video gave me some ideas to refine it more. One folder I have in Songwriting is Rhythms. I’m always on the lookout for interesting rhythms (to translate to piano - sometimes a challenge). One interesting place is KZbin tutorials for hand pan and cajun. Thanks for all your videos. Lots of things to learn.

[@QuincyKane]

Some great tips here; thank you so much for sharing!

[@Mindermaniac]

I'm quite old school. I used to use a portable cassette recorder, then I switched to a SONY voice recorder, mine is a stereo version. Turn it on, hit the record button and record ideas instantly. I can then import it into my laptop to save the demo. It also is great for recording live sets in clubs, I've used it for full bands and it works great. Best $20 I ever spent on a writing tool. I do also carry it with me in my bag while out walking-riding my bike and If an idea comes, I can sing-speak into this device and hear it back right away with its built in speaker. I have put a 32GB card in it, and it will record 380 hours on one card.

[@joshartall8368]

Check out the zoom r4. After getting frustrated with trying to record stuff on computers etc plus having access to real studios, I didn’t want or care to have some home studio but also needed more than my phone. Looked up tascam four tracks bc that’s what I used to use but they’ve gone way up plus it’s all analog so digital transfer is additional factor. The zoom R4 is essentially the best of all worlds, at least for my purposes.

[@racheleldonmusic]

This is so so helpful thanks so much!

[@StephanSchipper]

Until I saw this video I just used Apple note to make my shopping lists. Brilliant things are often a stone's throw away. Thank you so much.

[@chrisfegan1282]

Great Ideas, i use Mac Notes too. You have given me some ideas on getting my structure a bit better. Cheers , love the videos!

[@Owl-qh2rh]

So many of these ideas I do already but I haven't organized my guitar ideas usually done on video.. I dint realize some note apps allow these to be added! That'll be soooo handy! And way easier to organize.. thank you for sharing!!! Bless 🙏🕊️

[@DebWittner1]

Great thoughts, and an effective affirmation for keeping an open mind to organizing new ideas. (Song seeds. Love that.) Thanks, Keppie!

[@smallships]

Former Evernote user here 🙋‍♂️. The price is crazy for what it is! Also, the relentless pop ups offering a deal on the premium version make the free version unusable, in my opinion. Great video as always!

[@galaxyclassvoyager]

I’ve been using Notes and Voice Memos for this purpose for years, but only know do I realize I can combine them together - thanks! Lol

[@caglarongan]

I loved seeing this side of songwriting as an organization nerd, thank thank you for that. I wonder though, how do you archive your processes/workshop to retroactively see how the song evolved? just for fun or self educational purposes.

[@jz5005]

Awesome content!

[@clivebarnett9673]

Love your work and the passion you bring to this wonderful craft of songwriting. Various jam tracks in various styles and tempos are useful as song starters too. Also useful to 'revoice' to build new ideas.

[@ericklassen742]

Thanks for taking away my frustration regarding "spinning my wheels". Te "what next" syndrome in my song odeas was overwhelming my desire to be a songwriter. I have an iphone, ipad, and Mac Desktop computer. If I record a moment of inspiration on Apple Notes in one of those devices, can that information then be transferred to the other ones so they are all updated? Thanks again!

[@pjalexandra]

great stuff, thanks. I think I agree that for lyrics handwriting really helps me. That said, I often then scan it in and upload it somewhere I can store in accessibly, without a journal. Easier for travelling.

[@stellcas]

Helpful ideas, thanks! My main problem is that my master lyric source document is currently 40+ pages long and has been as long as 60 pages. I typically jot ideas down in Apple Notes or record them into Memo recorder and then e-mail them to myself into Word. My master document is called TIPM (The In Progress Mess) and I need the most help in bringing disparate ideas together before the document gets too out of control.

[@jackbaxon]

Really like this system, thanks for sharing it.

[@drummermomcjs]

I generally use my camera on my phone to capture sonic ideas and videos while I keep a physical written journal for lyrics, chord progressions and melodic ideas. I prefer old school.

[@draixtube]

Amazing video, thanks for sharing 🙏

[@clintonblake1436]

I like StaveNTabs. You can tune the tablature guitar any way you want. I use it to remember chord voicings, ideas etc. not sure if it can be imported into Notes.

[@JT40_]

The best as usual!

[@Gaya_Shoval]

This feature of recording ideas into the note itself it comes with the new update on iPhone and its also possible on Samsung its very accessible ❤😊

[@BobMcGowan-NotTheChairCircle]

Hello again. Thank you for this. I had been using the voice memo on the iPhone and Pages on my MacBook Pro, but these two do not 'connect' or synch. I can use the Apple notes, however, to bridge the gap and get the voice memo to the desktop and then Pages. I am also trying out your method with the Notes app as a possible replacement for Pages altogether. Regards, Bob McGowan.

[@SighDown]

How to embed sounds and video into Apple Notes? Even though I’ve captured all sorts of ideas in Apple Notes, I didn’t know you could do that!

[@KevinTPLim]

15:35 drag and drop on desktop, apparently! Might need you to be using a Mac as well … not sure

[@Squid-Lips]

Also can export from recording app directly to the Notes app.

[@tomcoryell]

Ha, I was thinking that Apple notes is my favorite and was not surprised that you use that.

[@peterdavenport5882]

Nice one Keppie. I do use some of these already, but not to the full extent you suggest. Question, How and what do you record your (stage 3) finished song on? You’re the best, Thanks.

[@dougstewart6581]

Rhymers block is awesome. It suggests rhymes

[@bigfatlazydork]

Do you pay for Google Drive or use the freebie offering? Terrific video with very helpful tips. Thanks

[@JoshFryer]

Substitute G-Drive for iCloud, and that's almost my exact workflow. I guess I'm not as crazy as I thought. 🤷‍♂

[@MYCHANNEL-l6u]

I have been needing this information for a long time. I won't lie the app I use is very unorganized, so it makes it very difficult to find what I need at the moment when I need it most. So I am stuck scrolling forever to find what I need so by the time I find it I lose interest or idea altogether and forget about it or I'm at work and Don't have time

[@stephensandorf5962]

When you write songs are you concerned about copyright infringements? Could you do a video on that topic? I was wondering because I didn't hear anything about that in today's video.

[@DanielRamirezHawaii]

I pretty much use Google Docs or Notes. I'm also hesitant to use Apps since they may change and require a subscription for previous free items or a future update may break things in a way I don't like.

[@katclymer9007]

Oh wow, I didn't know that apple doesn't let you record in it! Samsung's notes lets you just record audio in the notes itself 👀

[@danielforbes5315]

Does anyone know how many folks are presently active in the HTWS Community? I’m thinking of joining …

[@htws]

Hi Daniel. We currently have 155 active members in the community. Hope to see you there!

[@chuckrrose]

No votes for MasterWriter? I use it, alternating with impulsive OG analog fecund chaos!! Jeep R

[@Colors_Unknown]

Is there a reason you’d recommended having lines, titles, chords, melodies, etc as notes instead of folders? I’m leaning towards folders because it will date everything, but at the same time it’s a bit harder to quickly review all the ideas. Gonna try out this system! Thanks for all the info

[@htws]

Thanks for the question! I don’t have them as folders because these are snippets and fragments of ideas. In a practical sense, when I am reviewing them it would add friction for me to have them in separate folders. Once some thing starts to develop into its own more fleshed out, it will become its own separate note inside the song ideas folder.

[@Colors_Unknown]

@@htws That makes a lot of sense! Thank you

[@amnesomniac]

I am too lazy to download a notes app so I have been texting all my ideas to myself for months. It's a mess lol.

[@gabrielchel]

I do that too but I use tags. Like I type de ideia and the "lyrics ref" or "visual ref". Then I can find the registered idea if I look for the tags in the conversation search button. But now I'm working on moving these ideas somewhere else because I almost lost lots of them after changing my phone.

[@anthonybarber3872]

I simply use a composition book, they only cost a dollar...

[@dactylntrochee]

When you say "title", I automatically associate it with the hook. Of course, that's not always the case, and I suppose some people avoid EVER making them the same. In order to understand you better, may I ask if you favor "always same", "never same", or "sometimes"? Again, I just want to grasp what you mean by "title".

[@Covenantfly777]

Am good in writing songs, but my songs Sucks to me lately why ?

[@const71]

Try putting your lyrics in udio or suno ... It can help inspire you and give you ideas ... you can check out my song "Stardust" as an example ... Udio wrote 25% of the lyrics but I used my ability to write poetry to clean it up into something nice... I also changed the original ai music a bit using professional session musicians

[@mightymikemagic]

Sometime Ago My Song Writing Ship Sunk Like The RMS TITANIC , And A Long Time Ago In The Land Of Yesterday I Once Said " That Songwriting Was The Most Important Thing To Me In The World " Last Month It Was Time To Raise The Sunken Songwriting Ship , To Express The Talent In The Songwriting Musical Arts , And To My Amazement I Still Got It I Wrote 2 New Rock n Roll Songs , Last Month & After A Cooling Off Period Re Visit Both & Only Changed A Few Lines , To 100% Both 1st & Final Drafts , My Goal Is To Write One Song A Month , I Have Wrote 3 A Month At Times But My Idea Is To Write A Better Song Every New Time . I Have Been Watching Your Videos , Which By The Way Are The Very Very ,Best Before I Write My Next 2 Songs Having Completed The Music For Them , I Think Of It As Re Charging My Batteries . Its True There`s Two , Keppie & Benjamin Your Both Teaching The Highest Expression Of ART . And For That Alone Your Blessed. Why??? Because You Are Providing A Creative Link From The Past To The Present & Into The Future.