Da Capo Paper
Songwriting Journal
24 pages for songwriters: idea inbox, song cards, rhyme and melody tools, lyric and staff paper.
- 24 pages, instant download on Etsy
- Print on US Letter or A4, in color or low-ink
- A Goodnotes edition with clickable tabs
- Five PDF files, nothing ships
It's made for the parts of writing that stall. Maybe it's an idea you lose before you write it down, or a song that sits half-finished. Maybe it's a line that won't fit the melody. Catch ideas fast, work in short sessions and see where every song stands. Every tool page starts with one small first step and a time estimate. There's a page for getting back in after a break.
Use the pages however you work: start anywhere, skip anything, and fill the open pages your own way.
What's inside
- 1Cover
- 2Start here five ways in, plus an index
Start
- 3Back after a break a five-minute way back in after time away
- 4Energy menu pick what to do by how much energy you have
Writing tools
- 5Writing sessions three short writing sessions per page
- 6Song cards where each song stands, two songs per page
- 7Song structure the whole song as a row of blocks
- 8Writing log a line per session
Words and music
- 9Rhyme ladder one word at the top, every rhyme and related word underneath
- 10Syllable fit line up lyric lines that share a melody
- 11Melody shape sketch the shape of a melody, verse against chorus
- 12Section contrast compare your sections side by side
- 13Progression lab try chord progressions and keep the ones you like
Open pages
- 14Idea inbox open page for catching ideas fast
- 15Lyric sheet
- 16Staff paper
- 17Lead sheet paper
- 18Chord chart
- 19Chords over lyrics
- 20Dot grid
Reference
- 21Chords in each key the seven chords in every major key, and five progressions that use them
- 22Song forms five common song shapes, drawn to scale
- 23Rhyme types five kinds of rhyme and four rhyme schemes, with examples
- 24Printing and help
Works for
Any genre, any instrument or voice. It covers lyrics, melody, chords and structure, for writers working alone or with a band.
The filled-in pages in the photos are examples. The pages you download are blank. For personal use.
Questions
How do I download my files?
On Etsy.com in a web browser (computer, phone or tablet), go to You > Purchases and click Download Files. The Etsy app can't download files.
Which file should I print?
US Letter for the US and Canada, A4 for most other countries. Print at 100% or Actual Size, with Fit to Page turned off. Use the Low-Ink version to save ink.
Can I use it on a tablet?
Yes. Import the PDF into Goodnotes, Notability, Xodo, or any app that lets you write on PDFs. Every kit includes a Goodnotes edition with clickable tabs made for tablets.
Can I get a refund?
Digital downloads can't be returned once the files are delivered. If a file won't open or prints wrong, message me and I'll fix it.
Can I share or sell the files?
Personal use only. Reprint pages as often as you want for your own practice, but please don't share, resell, or post the files.
The links don't work in Goodnotes.
Open the Goodnotes edition (its file name ends in Digital-Goodnotes). Tap a tab or page name with your finger. If a tap draws a line, touch and hold the link and choose Open Link, or switch to Read Only. On Android, Windows and the web, switch to Read Only first. Still stuck? Message me on Etsy.
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