Anyone who's ever written a song knows that it's not always sunshine and roses. Sure, inspiration seems to strike some people more, but every songwriter out there has experienced writer's block before. Just like novelists, screenwriters, and even freelance writers, songwriters also experience this creative plague.
Luckily, there are some apps that can help you with your writing process. Whether you focus more on the music or the lyrics, one of these apps will help you put pen to paper and crank out a fantastic song. Let's check out what these songwriting apps can do!
1. Tully
On Tully's home screen, you'll see all your current master tracks. You can upload all your files to Tully, including your masters, projects, or standalone beats. When you start a new project in Tully, you can keep notes or lyrics in the blank space, import files to that specific project, start up a metronome, and record audio directly in the project space.
If you're satisfied with how a song came out on Tully, you can even pay for a subscription to instantly get your music on major platforms where people can download your music. After it's distributed, you can see how your song is performing and how much revenue it's bringing in.
Download: Tully for Android | iOS (Free, subscriptions available)
2. Maestro
Although there are plenty of tools to help you write your own sheet music, Maestro is an app that allows you to take it with you anywhere you normally take your phone. So, pretty much everywhere.
When you first open the app, you'll see an untitled song that you can immediately start editing. You can change the title, of course, and then add in different notes and play around with different times until you find the melody you're after.
Since this app involves you writing your own sheet music, it's more for the advanced songwriter who understands music theory. That said, the app will play whatever you create on the instrument you select, so even amateurs could piece together a melody that sounds good.
Download: Maestro for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Apollo 16
Apollo 16 is basically a note-taking app, but you can record audio and upload media directly to each new note. This is super handy if you're always getting inspired when you're away from home or don't have a pen and paper on you.
You can quickly start a new note if you get an idea for a song, and even hum a melody or speak the lyrics that you're thinking of at the moment. Or, if you're working on a song while you're waiting in the doctor's office or on the commute home, there's also a rhyming words feature in each note where you can find the best word for your newest creation.
Download: Apollo 16 for Android | iOS (Free)
4. Lyric Pad
Lyric Pad is a fantastic Android app if you're a super visual person. When you're typing out new lyrics, it looks like you're writing on a piece of lined notebook paper. Then, when you're finished, you can press the eye icon and look at your finished creation on a cleaner white screen.
On each note, you can add photos or media that are on your phone. Then, you can easily share any specific note with a friend for feedback. You'll see all your current projects displayed proudly on the home screen for easy access.
Download: Lyric Pad for Android (Free, subscription available)
Go Write a Hit!
Getting out of a songwriting rut is not an easy task, but by using other tools to get your creative juices flowing, you'll be on your way in no time.
Even if you find that these apps aren't as efficient as your typical songwriting process, it's something new and different, and your brain will thank you for it. Shaking things up is an excellent way to give your brain a break and allow inspiration to come to you instead of you constantly searching for it.