Taylor Sappe

BMI affiliated published songwriter since 1979
Private Music Instructor at DeMelfi School of Music and "in-your-home" instruction
Record producer and A&R for Captain Blue Records

Photo by Ken Gallagher

Stages of Songwriting

An idea

An idea is the seed that grows into a complete song. Lyrically, it could start with a word, phrase, sentence or more. Musically, it could start with a chord progression, 3-note motif, musical phrase, or an entire melody. Rhythmically, it could start with a beat on a single drum with a simple or complex rhythm pattern, on a drum set, or on a rhythm instrument like a guitar, piano or bass, combined with a chord progression or melodic phrase.

A draft

A draft is a complete song form with melody and chords before any edits are made. It contains only rough ideas that are sketched out into a complete song.