For a beginner songwriter, it might take several weeks or months to write a first song. As they gain experience and develop their skills, the time it takes to write a song may decrease. With practice, some songwriters may eventually be able to write a song in a matter of hours or even minutes.
Here is a general breakdown of the songwriting process and the time it might take to complete each step:
1. Inspiration and Idea Generation: This can happen in an instant or over a longer period of time.
2. Melody Creation: Creating the melody might take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the complexity.
3. Chord Progression: Choosing or creating a chord progression can take from a few minutes to several hours.
4. Lyrics Writing: Writing lyrics can take anywhere from a few hours to several days or weeks, depending on the complexity and depth of the lyrics.
5. Arranging and Structuring: Arranging the different sections (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) and creating a coherent song structure might take a few hours to several days.
6. Refining and Editing: Polishing the song, refining melodies, lyrics, and arrangements, can take several days or weeks.
It's important to keep in mind that these are just approximate ranges and the actual time taken may vary greatly depending on the individual, their skill level, and the specific song.