Having a unique sound for your songs can be more important than having really technical talent. You’re more likely to stay in the audience’s heads.

Writing a song isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you want to write one that evokes positive feelings from others. Picking a subject you’re passionate about and writing from the heart is the first step, but there are also other ways to inspire the people who listen to your music.

Even if a particular genre of music doesn’t appeal to you for your own songwriting, there are still some undeniable lessons you can glean from any popular inspirational song. While it’s always great to read over songwriting tips from the hitmakers, sometimes it’s just as productive to look at the work itself. Here are five examples of successful inspirational songs and the lessons you can use from each case.

Image via Flickr by tracyshaun

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Choosing a distinct, well-defined theme can make your songs 
highly memorable & engaging. It can help to craft your stage presence as well.

Build a backlog of song ideas — what seems like a bad concept today may look completely different with a little time and a new perspective.

Work on developing your songwriting vocabulary — you necessarily don’t have to become a master of music theory, but it helps to know the lingo.

Choose a good beginning point for your song and build a strong story around it. The premise is among the most important parts, so make sure it’s solid.

The more closely your lyrics reflect the mood of the song, the more likely it is to resonate deeply with your audience.

You have the potential for musical greatness. Dig deep and commit to practicing every day. Even with all the talent in the world, crafting the perfect song is work.

Your inner critic is often what stops you from writing an amazing  song. Silence it until you’re done with channeling creativity.

All songs begin in silence. Fill that silence with observations and emotions from the world around you.

Opposites can create great contrast for your ‪songs. If you’re using long-held chords, then staccato-style vocals might do the trick.

Try using a different time signature and varying your rhythmic range in the next ‪song you write.

Many musicians double vocal lines and shift pitches when recording to achieve richer‪ vocals for their songs.

Despite what some fans may say, nobody wants to hear you release the same album twice. It’s okay to keep your fans in mind when writing, but the best songs come from writing from the gut.