“Jar of Hearts”, and the Art of the Long, Slow Build

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! ____________ Christina Perri’s single, “Jar of Hearts”, currently no. 19 on Billboard’s Hot 100, is a beautiful example of how to contour a ballad into a hauntingly beautiful musical journey. The secret to the song’s success lies in its subtleties. The song evolves […]

5 Ways to Make a Song Unforgettable

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and turn your good songs into GREAT SONGS. ____________ There are lots of songs that seem on the surface to be good songs, but the proof is in their ability to bring listeners back. The best songs out there demand our attention. They reel us back […]

Swapping Major and Minor Harmonies to Create Contrast

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career right now! ____________ I used to joke with a friend of mine that I liked when he parked his car close to mine: it made my car look so good. In songwriting, there’s a parallel. If you want a particular element of […]

Songwriting: Which Chords to Use, and When to Use Them

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career right now! ____________ Adding chords to a melody that you’ve already created causes a great deal of anxiety for some songwriters. For many, even if they know the seven chords that naturally exist within a key (by building triads on top of […]

Listening Outside Your Genre Improves Songwriting Skills

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career right now! ____________ It’s understandable; you usually only want to listen to the music that you love, the music you grew up with, and the music that you write. If you’re into metal, you’re not likely going to cozy up with the […]

5 Vital Steps for Developing a Great Lyric

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career right now! ____________ A lyric, like any other other element in a song, needs to sound spontaneous and natural. The relationship between lyric, melody, harmony and rhythm in good songs will feel unforced and easy, as if there’s no other good way […]