H.E.R.'s Simple Method For Writing GREAT Lyrics | Studio Deep Dive 

Wanna see how H.E.R. finishes this song? Check out her full class on Studio! Follow along as she writes 2 brand new songs from start to finish, right in front of you, explaining everything she’s doing and thinking along the way. studio.com/classes/her/songwriting

I always feel like gibberish is where the magic is. It allows us to feel the vowels that fit well with the melody.

1:21 - "I don't want you, I want tomato" - I felt that

Love this girl, she lets her talent and music speak for itself, no gimmicks or attention seeking, just Art

she took trust the process to another level

00:00 📝 Clarity matters more than poetry in lyrics; being clear and certain about your words makes a difference. 00:26 🧠 Start with a simple but effective technique for crafting lyrics out of an initial idea. 01:47 🎶 Let the music inspire words; consider personal feelings and let the music guide the song's direction. 03:31 🗣 Experiment with mumbles and gibberish; don't worry about sounding pretty initially. 04:23 🕰 Trust the process; once a central theme like "ultimatum" emerges, connect every lyric tightly to it. 06:41 📖 Follow the story line; think about what you're saying to continue the conversation and avoid repetitive filler lines. 08:23 💡 Ask questions to develop the story; delve into the "why" and connect new ideas back to the established theme or title. 09:35 🎵 Establish a theme or title early on; everything in the song should connect back to and flow from this central element. 11:46 🗣 Make lyrics conversational; cleverly convey "take it or leave it" without explicitly saying it. 13:58 🎼 Songwriting steps: 1) Simple chord progression, 2) Develop a melody, 3) Find a theme or title, 4) Connect every lyric to the theme for a cohesive song.

"baby I'm frustrated, because I love you and i hate it" She's just on another level.

some lyrics are poetry others are riddles still others are mind palaces (a mnemonic device used to recall large amounts of information). Sometimes its not the writer creating the lyrics but the words seem to write themselves as if someone else is writing it through you. If that happens to you it means the song is MEANT for the whole world to hear it because the message is very important.

Throughout my years of music gibberish has always made for a more creative melody/ song... it's a gold mine!

I have so much respect for H.E.R as an artist and a person. I had the privilege of meeting this amazing young person and she understands the assignment fully. She understands giving back and sharing her professional knowlegede. a rare gem. I wish continued success and longevity to her.

this is identical to how I've been writing songs for a decade. super cool!! What I'm enjoying is that she's able to do this in front of other people. I've always felt like a weirdo using my personal approach when working with other artists. I've been taking different approaches in the past few months, trying to write words first, etc. but nothing holds a candle to exposing your subconscious with mumbles!

This is literally how I’ve written songs for years. I LOVE seeing this in action!!! She’s so talented. Love H. E. R. 🤍🤍🤍

12:40 - H.E.R, you need to release this song, it's so good, and your voice, my god, heaven sent

Hard place is the best creation. And then there is “carried away”. It’s so nice to see how she creates these.

With all the talent shows and interviews with artists there's zero content about the actual songwriting structure and process. Thanks for this.

Interesting way to write a song…rather than having something to say, you create a story around the melody…you can make a point either way, one’s just more passive. Kudos.

Wow her voice is beautiful live, just the raw vocals hits different. Sounds so effortless

Feeling and Energy is Everything.

Her guitar playing is so instrumental in creating lyrics too❤

I can’t help but imagine this type of episode but with Kanye. I love how open, transparent, and practical this episode is instead of sticking to abstract ideas that don’t really help viewers.

This feels like a sports play by play but for something I'm interested in 😂

I like this. This is an advantage to writing this way for singing vs rapping. It's more difficult to craft actually meaningful, layered, real rap lyrics this way.

Yall this was genius 🤯!!!. I’m not a song writer, but I am learning to play the guitar and piano and during this time I have been learning and practicing singing other people’s songs and what I have found is that I naturally want to make my own music. HER is really that girl!! I hope she comes out with that song because it’s so real. Too many people are currently in situations like that and I think it could be a hit. ❤

I could see ultimatum as the 2nd part of a rhyme like, "I'm tryin' hard not to hate him, but I don't need an ultimatum." Or "he can keep that ultimatum" The line could even continue from there "I'm tryin' hard not to hate him, but I don't need an ultimatum to see what's wrong...this has gone on much too long..." hold that last note...brief pause... then into the hook. Maybe a little more country than pop though...

H.E.R is freaking beautiful 😍

That was so cool. You can use this to write poetry as well.

That’s insane that she came up with that so fast. You can tell she’s written boat loads of songs

A true talent! Writer, musician, Singer, creator, performer, rapper……!!! H.E.R IS REALLY ON ANOTHER LEVEL!!

Shes such an excellent well thought out song writer.

Usually, i set the mood of the song then i look some chord progressions and start playing with the rythm on my casio. The mood is set by what i'm feeling at the moment, and after i finish the song that bad feeling goes away, songwriting is my therapy. By the way, i love the songs "Hard Place" and "Best Part" those are my favorite songs from H.E.R.

Don’t want the pain that came with your options hits deep. I’m a song writer and singer and this is similar to my process

I am a huge believer in thingamajigs, whatchamccollits and GIBBERISH! (official language of people from Gibbervania). Annnnd BTW the tone of your bloody Martin makes me feel like I' in heaven.

Yes as a multi-media talk creator and presenter we establish a THEME statement (a word or phrase from it may be the title of our talk) that contarins the essence of the song...an idea the reader, listener can latch onto...then we use content in our presentation to distill the essence, giving it a meaning and message the audience can take away and hold. For songs, if the tone of voice and instrument, rythm, melody and phrasing all support the emotion evoked by the lyrics...all working together = prosody!! Excellent video!

I could watch her write music all day. Shes like a lauryn hill around my age

I love this video. It's like an intimate TED talk for songwriters. So well expressed and generously thought out. She calls the working out lyrics the gibberish. I've always called then dummy lyrics. Great advice overall. #SoGood

This is the best songwriting video I have seen! Her is a master 🔥

It's beautiful because she completely trust herself in the process, and flows from that place of trust in self. I trust I choose these things, this inspiration. And it's coming from a deep place within her

This is so cool, ive never seen this channel before. Ive written songs for 17 years now and I’ve never thought about the intention through my songwriting process. I’m definitely gonna explore more and develop my songwriting skills!!! Thank you for this resource I really appreciate what y’all are doing!

This is brilliant insight. She’s a humble character. A good teacher. And wow, beautiful. Very very rare combination in the entertainment/creative business.

I love H.E.R! She is my go to when I'm singing/practicing guitar and want to feel all the feels. Her melodies and lyrics just hit different...Also, Ryan Leslie's "gibberish" is the perfect example of feeling a whole song with no actual lyrics.

She’s so magical.

This was a beautiful process to walkthrough, thanks for sharing. ❤

thanks for sharing this, i have been waiting for that check to purchase the masterclass and now it has arrived 😄

I love the channeling process.❤

Oh how I needed this help with writing..Gibberish is definitely how I come up with my music🧘🏾‍♀️Thank you Thank You Universe 💫🕊️👆🏾❤️you guys

H.E.R is a super genius 🔥🔥🙆💪🏾

I love your music! Can’t get enough of it!

Bro I paid for this class and now it’s free 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

This is my process as well, and I agree, it absolutely works!

This is exactly how I write songs as well. I loooove H.E.R. When is this coming out?

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this process. It's the magic behind the music.

Been there done and doing that. Nice of you to do this video because this a great message for composers that are struggling and / or new at this. Cudo's to H.E.R.'s.

Mumbles to music is like clay to a sculptor… A friend of mine introduced me to that writing style years ago and I find it is very useful. It keeps the writer in the moment

What i hear is H.E.R. - She has a beautiful flexible articulate speaking voice and that reflects in her singing voice. She has a guitar style which is the result of a lifetime of playing and practicing, and she has a thoughtful outlook on life. When you combine who and what she is and her polished talents, the song almost writes itself as an outgrowth of her being. She could sing the telephone book and it would sound good. She will always sound like that and, in fact, may have to struggle at times not to become repetitive. The mechanics of songwriting are easy to learn in a few hours, but without the lifetime of accumulated musical skills they are useless.

I can come up with riffs and song ideas in my sleep… one after the next. My problem with songwriting is that I will come up with 5 different melodies or lyrical motifs for the same musical idea, and I can’t decide which one to roll with. Then I get scared I am going to ruin the whole idea with using the wrong melodies or whatever.

this might just be the best video for songwriters

Thank you my Sista..Makes alotta sense and does work for me as a songwriter..♥️🖤👍

She is too talented 👍🏾💯🔥🔥

She’s so talented 🥰 I love watching other songwriters write

I love this series Great songwriting tips! ❤

Thank you so much for this video ❤

Just saying #Let the music dictate, Let the music take us ....freed me up. It makes the idea of writing a song or anything creative being done so less daunting. Sometimes its the simplest of statements that makes a huge difference or break through. I genuinely thank you for sharing your process!!!!!

That “take it or leave it” concept was executed so well

Awesome vid!👍Thanks

So crazy before seeing this video I was doing this last night and told myself this is what I need to do first and then put the words to match the sound to create the song and here comes this video wow, this is a sign indeed

So crazy, Benny Romalis was my composition teacher at JMC College! This video is great!

This was so brilliant and insightful

some of my favorite billy joel songs i heard billy say he wrote them in the studio. also the beegees some of their best songs were written in the span of a week or two i think it was for saturday night fever. it seems easier to write small parts until you have many good ones then put them together later.

This was very helpful!!! Thank you!!! God Bless you!!😇🙏🏽🙌🏽

Fantastic @Studio 🕊

You are awesome vocalist

I absolutely LOVE this!!!

Exactly how I write things!

Great video! Well it helps to have HER talents too start out with 🤷🏽‍♂️

I do really like the logic of her writing, but I've found that I connect better to more visual and sensory lyrics. Sometimes without those elements, it seems like I'm listening to somebody's diary entry.

H.E.R. reminds me of someone with a lot of longevity. She's like a mini music Oprah Winfrey.

🔥and kept it so simple with two chords.

This is truth,, as annover thinker the flow was born...❤❤

Thank you SO very much for this ❤❤❤❤

I was singing along by the end! H.E.R. please make this 😅👉🏾👈🏾🤎

I totally get it, I do that myself sometimes.mumbling, and gibberish, turns into words and phrases that works for your song.

I do this sometimes. It works

I need this song!!

This was actually so helpful

I was thinking to do gibberish also to help with a flow, lovely video

Wow she truly phenomenal 😮‍💨

I wish yall would do the commentary where her in the room, just feel like it would be more of a natural exchange and giver her a chance to expand on her ideas and process. Fire video 10/10

I LOVE this sooo much! I hate that I stopped writing songs but this inspiring. Also…she needs to drop this track lol

Cool video.. Never heard of you guys' channel. Good stuff.. Her process and how every sentence/idea seemed to revolve around the word "ultimatum" reminded me of the song "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles.

Thank you!

This is really similar to the approach I really take. I think the part about reading lyrics through without the melody can really help when you're stuff on a phrase.

hope she finishes and drops this song omg

I hope she releases this ❤

Thats how I do I love to just freestyle and record it then listen back and analyze what I said subconsciously

Theme and title, wow.

This was super helpful ❤

Incredible talent ❤️🔥🤙

I dig this so much! I write the same way! ❤️❤️

H.E.R is a gift from up above✨

This inspired me ❤ thank you!