Getting started with Clavet songwriting

What is Clavet?

Clavet is a songwriting tool designed for musicians who want to capture ideas, organise lyrics, and collaborate without losing their creative flow.

Key features

• Lyric organisation: Structure songs with verses, choruses, and bridges
• Voice memos: Record melodies and ideas, automatically transcribed
• Version control: Experiment without losing previous versions
• Collaboration: Co-write with others, track ownership splits
• AI assistance: Get help organising and refining (without losing your voice)
• Export options: Move finished songs to Crescender for performance

Creating your first song

Getting started is simple, just start writing.

1. Open Clavet Go to clavet.crescender.com.au and sign in with your Crescender account.

2. New song If you're using Clavet for the first time, you'll be automatically taken to the new songspace.

3. Start writing Begin typing lyrics in the first section. Don't worry about structure yet. Just capture ideas. Be creative.

4. Add sections When you have a few lines, add a new section. Type [Verse] or [Chorus] and Clavet will create a new section for you.

5. Save and review Clavet saves automatically. Review your work periodically to ensure accuracy.

Your first song structure

Basic sections:

• Verse: Tells the story, sets the scene
• Chorus: The hook, repeated throughout
• Bridge: Contrasting section, adds depth

Don't overthink:

• Start with whatever comes first
• Add sections as ideas develop
• Rearrange later if needed

Adding sections

Sections help structure your song and make it easier to navigate.

Creating sections

Method 1: Add section button

1. Click "Add Section" in your song
2. Choose section type (Verse, Chorus, Bridge, or Custom)
3. Start writing in the new section

Method 2: Type section markers

• Type [Verse] or [Chorus] and Clavet recognises it
• Sections are created automatically
• You can rename them later

Section types

Standard sections:

• Verse: Narrative sections, usually 4-8 lines
• Chorus: Main hook, repeated 2-4 times
• Bridge: Contrasting section, appears once
• Pre-Chorus: Build-up before chorus
• Outro: Closing section

Custom sections:

• Create your own labels: "Hook", "Rap", "Instrumental"
• Use whatever makes sense for your song
• Organise however works for you

Rearranging sections

Drag and drop:

• Click and hold section header
• Drag to new position
• Release to reorder

Copy sections:

• Duplicate verses or choruses
• Modify copies for variation
• Keep original intact

Basic editing

Clavet's editor is simple but powerful.

Text editing

Basic formatting:

• Type normally, line breaks create phrasing
• Use spacing for rhythm
• Capitalise as you prefer

Line breaks:

• Press Enter for new line
• Double Enter for stanza break
• Line breaks affect how lyrics read

Undo/Redo:

• Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo
• Ctrl+Y (Cmd+Y on Mac) to redo
• Full edit history available

Selecting and moving text

Select text:

• Click and drag to select
• Double-click for word
• Triple-click for line

Cut, copy, paste:

• Standard shortcuts work
• Move text between sections
• Copy to other songs

Saving and accessing your work

Clavet saves automatically, so you never lose your work.

Auto-save

Automatic saving:

• Changes save as you type
• No "Save" button needed
• Works offline, syncs when online

Version history:

• Every change is saved
• View previous versions
• Restore if needed

Accessing your songs

Song list:

• View all songs in workspace
• Search by title or content
• Filter by tags or date

Quick access:

• Recent songs at top
• Pin favourites for easy access
• Organise into folders (optional)

Exporting songs

Export options:

• Plain text: Simple lyric export
• PDF: Formatted lyric sheet
• To Crescender: Move to performance app

Understanding the interface

Clavet's interface is clean and focused on writing.

Main areas

Left sidebar:

• Workspaces and songs
• Search and filters
• Settings and account

Center editor:

• Your song content
• Sections and lyrics
• Focused writing space

Right panel (optional):

• Voice memos
• Notes and ideas
• Collaboration chat

Navigation shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl+N (Cmd+N): New song
• Ctrl+F (Cmd+F): Search in song
• Ctrl+S (Cmd+S): Manual save (though auto-save handles it)
• Esc: Close panels

Mobile app:

• Same features as web
• Optimised for touch
• Works offline

Next steps

Now that you know the basics, explore more advanced features:

• Voice memos: Record melodies and get automatic transcription
• AI assistant: Get help organising and refining ideas
• Collaboration: Invite co-writers and track ownership
• Version control: Experiment freely with version history
• Export: Move finished songs to Crescender for performance

Getting started checklist

• [ ] Sign in to Clavet
• [ ] Create your first workspace (optional)
• [ ] Create your first song
• [ ] Add verse and chorus sections
• [ ] Write some lyrics
• [ ] Rearrange sections
• [ ] Save and review your work
• [ ] Explore the interface
• [ ] Try voice memo recording
• [ ] Export a song to test

You're ready to start songwriting with Clavet! Remember: the best songs start as rough ideas. Capture everything, refine later, and don't be afraid to experiment.