Learning Songs Helps You Write Better Music (Here’s Why)

A lot of students tell me they want to write original music. Which is awesome. But here’s what I’ve noticed:

They often skip one of the most important steps—learning songs.

Writing music is kind of like writing a novel or a poem. You might have something you want to say, but if you’re not fluent in the language yet, it’s going to come out messy, awkward, or vague. You need vocabulary. You need phrasing. You need to know how the language works before you can express yourself with it.

That’s why learning songs is so important.

Songs Give You a Vocabulary

When you learn a song—really learn it, not just skim through the chords—you’re absorbing language.

You’re getting phrases, chords, licks, grooves, voicings… all the raw materials you can later shape into your own ideas. You’re learning how other musicians solved musical problems: how to connect chords, how to build tension, how to make something feel good.

I still catch myself writing riffs or chord progressions that are clearly inspired by songs I studied years ago. Sometimes it’s a voicing I borrowed and flipped around. Sometimes it’s a rhythm that stuck in my head. That’s not “copying”—that’s speaking the language.

You Start to Understand Structure

One of the biggest differences between beginner writing and high-level writing is structure.

Beginner players often come up with a cool loop or riff, but they don’t know how to develop it. They don’t know how to create contrast, build tension, or make a satisfying resolution. It’s like writing a single sentence and calling it a story.

Learning songs shows you how structure works—how to build a verse that flows into a chorus, how bridges shake things up, how intros set the mood. Once you’ve seen that in action, it’s way easier to apply it to your own music.

My song “Citybound,” for example, came together because I was listening to a ton of soul and funk with strong section transitions. The way the harmony dropped into the groove in those tunes gave me a roadmap.

You Discover What You Like

The more songs you learn, the more you start to notice patterns in your own taste.

Maybe you’re drawn to jazzy chords. Or bluesy bends. Or tight funk rhythms. Whatever it is, learning tunes helps you figure that out—and gives you the tools to use it when you write.

This was a big part of why I started reshaping the direction of my own music recently. I realized I kept gravitating toward certain harmonic colors and rhythmic feels—stuff I picked up from listening to Soulive and Wayne Krantz. Once I saw the pattern, I leaned into it intentionally, and the music started to feel more cohesive.

Writing Without Input is Like Talking Without Listening

If you sit down and try to write without ever learning songs, you’re basically trying to have a conversation without listening to anyone else speak first.

It doesn’t work.

But when you do listen—when you learn and break down songs—you start to hear what’s possible. You hear how great music is constructed. And little by little, you become fluent.

So if you want to write better music, don’t just noodle around and hope for the best.

Start learning songs deeply. ✓

Study how they’re built. ✓

Steal ideas. ✓

Break them apart and put them back together. ✓

Let them shape your musical vocabulary. ✓

Try This:

Pick one song you absolutely love. Learn the chords, the melody, the feel. Ask yourself:

• What’s the structure?

• What parts do I really like?

• Can I borrow one idea for my own tune?

  
  

It doesn’t have to be complex. Just start somewhere. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your writing improves when you treat learning songs as part of your creative process—not something separate from it.

✨ Want to Write Better Songs?

If you’ve been noodling around and hoping inspiration will strike… maybe it’s time to try a different approach.

In lessons, I help students build real songwriting vocabulary—not by memorizing theory charts, but by breaking down the music they actually love.

We’ll look at chord progressions, melodies, structure, and phrasing, then use those ideas as a jumping-off point for your own writing.

I teach private and group guitar lessons in Tokyo (Takadanobaba) — and online — in both English and Japanese. Whether you’re into funk, jazz, pop, or city pop, I’ll help you understand how songs are built so you can start building your own.

👉 Click here to check my availability and book a free trial lesson

Let’s get you writing music that actually sounds like you. 🎸