Vince Gill Shares His Secret to Good Songwriting—Here’s a Hint: Think Smaller

Vince Gill says he keeps songwriting sessions productive by bringing small musical ideas rather than arriving with a complete song in mind. He develops snippets of lyrics, melodies or grooves with his co-writers, an approach that helps explain how he collaborates across a long career.

Gill told the Off The Record podcast that his ideas can begin in different ways: for example, the song “Liza Jane” grew from a guitar lick. He also keeps a few ideas ready to avoid sessions going quiet, and researches co-writers’ music beforehand so he can draw on something familiar to them.