10 Practical Tips for Christian Songwriters

A little about me: I have plenty to learn when it comes to songwriting. I have not been the best at stewarding and sharing the gifts God has given me (especially in the last 6 years), and I am trying to change that. But, contrary to what I have yet to accomplish, I do have a few hundred songs in the vault and over 20 years of writing experience. I have read many books on the subject and learned from some truly great writers, some of which I consider friends.

Here are some quick tips for Christian songwriting:

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. Yes, God is all those things; but 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. Do NOT go back to the problem in verse 2 after you have already presented the hearer with the remedy. 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 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 change directions in the song. For instance, if the song is directed toward praising God for who He is, don’t make the bridge all about you. 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, don’t suddenly change to 2nd or 3rd person. Again, this goes for any kind of writing and is simply a grammar rule. 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.