Using Chord Progressions That Avoid The Key of Your Song

Some of the best verse progressions are ones that pleasantly avoid the key of the chorus. _____________ Take a look at “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” eBook Bundle packages, and take advantage of the DISCOUNT PRICING of the 10-eBook Deluxe Bundle. Read more.. _____________ It’s really not important to an audience that your song is in G […]

Songwriting Exercise: Creating Melodic Ideas for a Line of Lyric

Here’s a way to create several melodic ideas for one line of lyric. Then all you do is choose the best one. _______________ Written by Gary Ewer, author of “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” ebook Bundle. _______________ It’s often hard to say why a certain melody seems to partner so well with a lyric. We know […]

Foo Fighters - Rope

Why Avoiding the Tonic Note in Verse Melodies Creates Musical Tension

Written by Gary Ewer (Follow Gary on Twitter) “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” eBook Bundle To create musical tension means that we’re writing/playing music that makes listeners think that something more exciting is right around the corner. Musical tension includes anticipation of a climactic moment in the very near future. And that sense of anticipation is what keeps an […]

5 Tips for Making Listening a Part of Your Daily Songwriting Routine

Daily listening is every bit as important to a songwriter as daily writing. _______________  “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle will strengthen your songwriting technique, and take you to a new level of musical excellence. It comes with a 7th free eBook, “From Amateur to Ace: Writing Songs Like a Pro“. Read more.. ________________ If you ever […]

5 Practical Improvisation Tips for Chord Progressions

If you start writing by trying to improvise random progressions, you’re likely wasting a lot of time. _______________ Written by Gary Ewer, author of “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook Bundle. _______________ There’s nothing random about a good chord progression. Those with some knowledge of music theory will know that. If it sounds good, there are […]

Writing Songs That Use an Ad Hoc Design

An ad hoc form is one that’s unique and specifically designed for one song. Here’s how to create one. ________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle. The songwriting manuals used by thousands of songwriters, all written by Gary Ewer ________________ When we talk about form in songwriting, we usually mean the arrangement of verses and […]