If you're looking to improve your songwriting skills you're in the right place! There are so many approaches to songwriting, so many books telling you to do different things, so many people telling you, "You either have it or you don't," that it's difficult to know what to do. Well, you'll be pleased to know that with a little knowledge, the right mindset and some key tools to help you along the way, anybody and I mean anybody can write songs! Here are a few key pointers that will help you write more quality songs and turn you into a great, confident songwriter...

1. Don't be self critical. The moment you start to criticize your ideas your creative flow will immediately come to a grinding halt and stop you from writing anything else! Of course, none of us want to write bad songs but you need to get the lower quality ideas out of your head before the good stuff comes out. Just concentrate on generating as many ideas as you can whether they be finished songs, or small musical nuggets then come back later to sort the good from the bad. I usually wait at least a couple of days before I even listen to them again!

2. Sit down to each songwriting session with the aim that you're going to write 20 ideas. You really want to aim for quantity rather than quality...now hear me out for a second. Think of your mind like a fishing trip...you're not going to catch the big one first time round, you'll more than likely catch a few smaller fish first before the big one turns up! It's just something all of us as songwriters have to go through. Whether it takes 3 ideas or 20 before the good ideas show up it's no reflection on your talent or ability as a songwriter at all. Some days it'll happen faster, some days slower the important thing is you keep writing, you keep pushing forwards and creating new ideas.

3. Try every song with a different approach. Try writing melody first, then chords/riff first, write to a drum loop, start off by humming a riff then working out how to play it. There are so many options available and all are the correct way, there's no right or wrong!