Writing and organising lyrics in Clavet

The lyric workspace

Clavet's lyric workspace is designed to get out of your way so you can focus on writing.

Workspace layout

Section-based structure:

• Each section is a separate writing area
• Sections can be collapsed or expanded
• Focus on one section at a time, or view all

Clean interface:

• Minimal distractions
• Focus mode available (hides everything but current section)
• Customisable font size and spacing

Writing tools:

• Spell check (optional)
• Word count per section
• Character count for specific lines
• Rhyme suggestions (when enabled)

Creating sections and custom labels

Sections are the building blocks of your song structure.

Standard sections

Verse:

• Usually 4-8 lines
• Tells the story or sets the scene
• Can have multiple verses (Verse 1, Verse 2, etc.)

Chorus:

• Main hook of the song
• Usually 4-8 lines
• Repeated 2-4 times throughout
• Most memorable part

Bridge:

• Contrasting section
• Usually appears once
• Adds depth or changes perspective
• Often 4-8 lines

Pre-Chorus:

• Build-up section before chorus
• Creates anticipation
• Usually 2-4 lines

Custom section labels

Creating custom labels:

1. Click "Add Section"
2. Choose "Custom"
3. Enter your label name
4. Start writing

Common custom sections:

• Hook: Standalone hook line
• Rap: Rap verse section
• Instrumental: Notes for instrumental parts
• Intro: Opening lines
• Outro: Closing lines

When to use custom labels:

• Your song doesn't fit standard structure
• You need specific section types
• You want clearer organisation

Formatting and line breaks

How you format lyrics affects how they read and flow.

Line breaks

Single line break:

• Creates new line
• Use for phrasing within a stanza
• Affects rhythm and reading flow

Double line break:

• Creates stanza break
• Separates verse lines
• Visual spacing in song

Best practices:

• Break lines where you'd pause when singing
• Match line breaks to musical phrasing
• Consistent formatting helps readability

Spacing and rhythm

Using spacing:

• Extra spaces can indicate pauses
• Indentation for emphasis
• Visual rhythm matching musical rhythm

Capitalisation:

• Capitalise as you prefer
• Some writers capitalise each line
• Others use normal sentence capitalisation
• Be consistent within a song

Formatting tips

For readability:

• Keep lines similar length when possible
• Use consistent stanza structure
• Clear section breaks

For performance:

• Format matches how you'll sing it
• Line breaks match breath points
• Spacing indicates musical pauses

Version history

Clavet keeps a complete history of every change, so you can experiment freely.

Viewing history

Access version history:

1. Click "History" button in song
2. See timeline of all changes
3. Click any version to view it
4. Compare versions side-by-side

Version information:

• Date and time of change
• What changed (sections, lines, formatting)
• Who made the change (if collaborating)

Restoring versions

Restore previous version:

1. View version history
2. Find version you want
3. Click "Restore This Version"
4. Creates new version from restore point

Why restore:

• Experimented but prefer original
• Accidentally deleted good lines
• Want to try different direction
• Compare approaches

Version naming

Name your versions:

• Before major edits, duplicate song
• Name clearly: "Song Title v2 - bridge rewrite"
• Include what changed
• Makes comparison easier

Scratch pad for loose ideas

Not every idea fits immediately. The scratch pad keeps loose lines safe.

Using scratch sections

Create scratch section:

• Add custom section called "Scratch"
• Or use Clavet's built-in scratch pad
• Drop in lines that don't fit yet

What goes in scratch:

• Lines you like but don't know where to use
• Alternative phrasings
• Ideas for other songs
• Random thoughts worth keeping

Organising scratch:

• Group by theme or mood
• Tag ideas for easy finding
• Review periodically
• Move to songs when they fit

From scratch to song

When ideas fit:

• Copy from scratch to song section
• Modify to fit context
• Remove from scratch (or keep for reference)
• Build songs from scratch ideas

Scratch as inspiration:

• Browse when stuck
• Combine multiple scratch ideas
• Use as starting point for new songs
• Never delete, ideas resurface

Best practices for organisation

Good organisation makes songwriting smoother and more productive.

Song organisation

Naming conventions:

• Use descriptive working titles
• Include date or version: "New Song - Dec 2024"
• Update title as song develops
• Final title can come later

Tagging:

• Tag by mood, energy, style
• Tag by project or album
• Tag by completion status
• Makes searching easier

Workspace organisation:

• One workspace per project/band
• Group related songs
• Archive finished songs
• Keep active songs accessible

Workflow tips

Daily practice:

• Write something every day
• Even if it's just a line
• Capture ideas immediately
• Review and refine later

Iteration process:

• Write first draft freely
• Don't edit while writing
• Refine in second pass
• Polish in final pass

Keeping momentum:

• Don't get stuck on one song
• Work on multiple songs
• Return to stuck songs later
• Fresh perspective helps

Advanced organisation

For serious songwriters, advanced organisation features help manage larger catalogs.

Folders and collections

Create folders:

• Organise songs by album or project
• Group by style or theme
• Archive old work
• Keep active work visible

Collections:

• Create themed collections
• Songs can be in multiple collections
• Useful for: "Best Songs", "Needs Work", "Ready to Record"

Search and filters

Search functionality:

• Search by title
• Search within lyrics
• Search by tags
• Find songs quickly

Filtering:

• Filter by date created/modified
• Filter by tags
• Filter by completion status
• Filter by collaborator

Export and backup

Regular exports:

• Export important songs as PDF
• Backup to external storage
• Version control for finished work
• Share with band members

Getting started checklist

• [ ] Explore the lyric workspace layout
• [ ] Create sections with custom labels
• [ ] Practice formatting and line breaks
• [ ] View version history of a song
• [ ] Restore a previous version (test)
• [ ] Create scratch section
• [ ] Add loose ideas to scratch
• [ ] Organise songs with tags
• [ ] Create folders or collections
• [ ] Export a song as PDF

Mastering lyric organisation in Clavet makes songwriting more efficient and enjoyable. Structure supports creativity, organise well, and ideas flow more easily.