What to Do About Verse 2

In the process of songwriting, many songwriters actually start with the chorus. That’s because the chorus tends to use shorter, stronger (and simpler) chord progressions, hooky melodies that use repeating ideas, and emotional lyrics. By comparison, the verse can be a bit more of a challenge. You need lyrics that describe people and/or situations, and […]

Identifying the Problem(s) With a Problem Song

The Songwriter’s Checklist can help you identify nagging problems with your song. ______________ You may be writing songs every day, but are you just reinforcing songwriting errors? Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and solve your songwriting problems today. ______________ Last week I wrote about the temptation that exists to fix a song that […]

Good Songwriting: Branching Out From 3-Chord Songs

Here are some ideas for taking a short 3-chord progression and turning it into something a little longer, and more interesting. _____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-Ebook Bundle. 11 Songwriting Principles That Will Turn Your Writing Around – Guaranteed. _____________ If I did a blog post listing all the 3-chord songs that have been written in […]

Reinforcing Songwriting Structure With Melodic Sequences

A sequence in songwriting has the benefit of tightening and strengthening musical phrases. You may be writing songs every day, but are you just reinforcing songwriting errors? Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and solve your songwriting problems today. ______________ In music, a sequence is a short melodic idea with accompanying chords that […]

Changing the Sound of Your Music

The best way to change the basic sound of your songs is to change the way you start them. _____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and learn the 11 principles crucial to any songwriter’s success. _____________ Does it ever worry you that your songs all have a similar sound? That’s not too unusual, and […]

Resisting Temptation to Correct a Song That Works

Stop worrying if your songs break the rules. There are no rules. _____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-Ebook Bundle. 11 Songwriting Principles That Will Turn Your Writing Around – Guaranteed. _____________ In songwriting we rightly speak of principles more than we speak of rules. To say that there are rules means that straying from them is […]