Wracking your brain for great gifts to get songwriters? In this guide you'll find the best ideas to get your favorite songwriter inspired and jumping for joy!
Simple Songwriter Essentials (Under $25)
Here are a few things songwriters need that won't break the bank!
Songwriting Journal
All songwriter's need somewhere to write down their ideas. A songwriting journal is the perfect place to do just that, and the good news for you (as a gift giver) is that even if they've already got one, they'll eventually need another!
While the moleskin is the go-to notebook for many writers, there are some songwriter notebooks that can make it easier to jot down both lyrics and music notes, and/or guitar TAB.
This one offers alternating ruled lines and staff paper on each page, while this one allows writers to jot down lyrics, music notation and guitar TAB all on the same page.
Rhyming Dictionary
All songwriters writing lyrics should have a rhyming dictionary. This one's the gold standard.
Handheld Recorder with USB
All songwriters need a way to quickly and easily record new ideas as soon as they strike! This one will fit in their pocket, and they can move their recording files to a computer via USB (note Mac users will need a free download to do this).
Songwriting Books
Writing Better Lyrics is an absolute essential resource for lyric writers, written by the great Pat Pattison (one of my favorite Berklee professors).
Songwriting Without Boundaries is another Pat Pattison book full of writing exercises to help songwriter's find their unique voice.
Songwriter's Playground is a really unique book for helping with writer's block and getting the creative juices flowing when feeling stuck or uninspired.
For songwriter's thinking about writing for film and TV, this book provides great advice for writing, recording AND pitching.
A New Instrument
One of the best ways to spark new creative ideas for a songwriter is to learn a new instrument - or even just play around with it! Songwriters don't have to be great performers, at least not while writing. For a songwriter, an instrument can be a great tool for inspiration, rather than perfection. Personally, I've done some of my best writing on instruments I didn't have any formal training on, and was free to just have fun and experiment!
First Things First: Essential Songwriter Instruments (Piano/Keyboard, or Guitar)
If your songwriter doesn't already have one or both of these instruments, they are the best place to start!
Piano or Electric Keyboard
I personally believe all musicians, singers and music writers should learn at least a little piano, even if they don't use it to primarily write and/or perform. It is the best and most straight-forward instrument for learning music theory, easily visualizing intervals and chords, and it's just got a beautiful, classic and inspirational sound.
For beginners to pros, my favorite all-around electric keyboard is the Yamaha NP32 76-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard. It's affordable, lightweight (I easily carried it on my back to gigs as a petite female), has weighted keys (very important for sound quality and accurate "feel"), and a songwriter can use it for recording song ideas or for live performance.
For the price, it sound pretty dang good, almost like a real piano. I sometimes prefer it to my much more expensive, non-portable electric piano.
Another option with great reviews is the Yamaha PSREW300 76-key Portable Keyboard.
>> Essential Keyboard Accessories
Piano is just no fun (or at least way less inspirational) without a sustain pedal. This one is affordable and will get the job done!
And, if the keyboard will need to be lugged around to gigs or writing and recording sessions, this lightweight gig bag has a big pocket for storing the sustain pedal, cables, a notebook and more.
Guitar (Acoustic, Electric, or Acoustic Electric?)
Choosing a guitar can be a little more tricky than some other instruments, mainly because it's difficult to find one that is "affordable" that also sounds good. Poor, screechy or tinny sound quality, paired with strings that hurt beginner fingers can be a little discouraging, and even stop inspiration rather than encourage it (speaking from experience!). A guitar, even for a beginner or a child, is not something I'd recommend skimping on. It will likely end up just being a waste of money that stays in the case much more than it's pulled out.
That said, a great-sounding and great-feeling guitar can be a GREAT source of inspiration for a songwriter, especially for those in pop, rock, folk, and well, just about ANY genre! And so, while it's hard to give specific guitar recommendations for anyone looking to get a guitar, I can give a few based on my own experience and preferences (note: I'm primarily a pop/folk writer).
Acoustic Guitars for Songwriters
Assuming the guitar will be used primarily for writing and not performing, an acoustic guitar without a pickup (allows a guitar to be amplified electronically) can be just what the doctor ordered.
I've personally tended to go straight for acoustic electrics, because I knew I wanted to have great plug-and-play sound for writing, performing and recording. That said, from "unplugged" tone alone, as well as ease of playing for my short girl fingers, I'm very partial to Martin guitars, and also Zager. (I have one of each as acoustic electrics and love them both!)
For a beginner guitarist wanting to play around with a quality-sounding acoustic guitar, I'd probably recommend a Zager. Zager's are built to be easy on the fingers, sound great, and stay in tune longer than most acoustics. They're also pretty affordable for the quality you get.
Acoustic Electric Guitars for Performing / Recording Songwriters
I personally would not bother with most acoustic electric guitars under $1000, especially if you're aiming to perform with them. The electronics involved can really make or break the quality of live sound, and destroy the pure "acoustic" tone that a writer performer is likely looking for. The right electronics (such as Fishman) can work wonders, but will generally only be found in guitars around $1500 and up.
Bad electronics in a cheap guitar will sound even worse when trying to record the guitar, but a quality guitar and pickup can actually sound pretty good recorded, for songwriters wanting to easily plug in their guitar and record ideas.
I am very partial to Martin guitars, for their generally rich and dark tone compared to something like a Taylor, another popular quality brand that I find to be a bit to bright and even harsh until you get into the multiple $1000's price range. I find Martin's to be perfect for the typical "singer songwriter" acoustic sound, and even after testing out a $5000 Taylor I still preferred my $2000 Martin.
While again, I personally would go for an acoustic electric over $1000, if not $1500, the Martin DRS2 Dreadnought has consistently great reviews and is under $900. Or, for a little more you could give the Performing Artist Series GPCRSGT Grand Performance Acoustic-Electric, which has a smaller and (more attractive?) shape, which might be more comfortable for a player with a smaller frame (raises hand).
Electric Guitars for Songwriters
While I don't consider myself an expert on electric guitars, I did start on electric. I can tell you that while not unimportant (especially if you're planning to perform and actually get really good at it), it's much less iffy to choose an electric guitar to use for fun and creative inspiration than it is to choose an acoustic or acoustic electric guitar.
This is because 1) the strings are already much thinner and easier to press down on an electric, and 2) since the sound is meant to be distorted anyway, the tone is less differential from guitar to guitar on a beginner level.
Therefore, if it's between a cheap electric guitar and no electric guitar (or any guitar for that matter), I'd say sure -- go ahead and gift a cheap electric guitar like this one, for well under $200. It even comes with a small amp, guitar picks and everything needed to get started.
>> Essential & Fun Guitar Accessories
Creative Capos
While regular capos make it easier for "non-pro" guitarists to quickly change keys, an unconventional capo like this one can inspire infinite creative tuning ideas by only covering certain strings!
Extra Light Strings
My personal favorite strings I've used on all my acoustic guitars for years, these Martin Extra Light strings are easy on the fingers without compromising on rich tone.
Other Fun Songwriting Instruments
These instruments are fun and fairly easy to learn well enough get the creative flow flowing and inspire new song ideas!
Ukelele
Not only has the ukelele become insanely popular among songwriters and solo performers, but it's also really cheap and fairly easy to get started! Great for writing in pop and folk styles. For around $50, you can this whole 5-star rated ukelele starter kit.
This tenor ukelele (lower sound) has stellar ratings and comes will free online lessons!
Banjo
The banjo adds a new a super fun sound to the songwriter's inspiration toolbox, and is perfect for inspiring writing in country, folk, Americana, and alternative styles. It's also pretty easy to pick up the basics, compared to a guitar. You can grab up this banjo beginner kit for around $100.
Mandolin
Mandolin is a must for haunting, folky and Americana writing. Pick up this beginner mandolin for around $100.