Originally Posted by Dottie
You're opening a big can of worms, but it's your call!


This is not a can of worms it is a no brainer.... I accept that people can do what they like so it is their call whether to learn or not.

It is simple common sense that if you want to be any good at writing lyrics then you have to understand the other parts of the craft. That surely entails learning about music theory and structure.....what better way of learning than to learn to play an instrument.....To ignore this advice will only hold you back and will show in your work.

I am surprised that people even try to argue with this.....

Somebody mentioned Bernie Taupin as a great lyricist.....well he is....What a lot of people do not know is that he is a pretty good musician and performer as well. I wonder how good a lyricist he would be without all this musical knowledge and ability.

Yes there is room for poets to write words that can be set to music......but to produce proper lyrics you have to have a pretty good understanding of music theory....Ok some lyricists claim that they have this knowledge....I wonder....and I also wonder how much better they could be if they understood a bit more about music theory.

Can such a person who writes only poems be described as a songwriter or even a lyricist?......debateable.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055