5 Ways Songwriters Can Beat “Parkinson’s Law”

Self-imposed deadlines for completing music rarely work; here are some ideas for creating real deadlines. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ If you lack inspiration to write music, one solution will seem rather simple: stop trying. Divert your attention with something else for a while, and inspiration […]

5 Pleasantly Ambiguous Chord Progressions For a Song Verse

Chord progressions that are tonally ambiguous have that useful quality of making people wait around to hear the follow-up stronger progression. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ Verse chord progressions differ from chorus ones in one big way: while a chorus progression usually needs to […]

Where Should You Put a Song Melody’s High Point?

Songs with a strong melody really benefit from the creation of a “high point.” __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ A song doesn’t need to make the melody its most redeeming feature. For example, you could argue that the melody for Train’s “Drive By” takes a […]

The Difference Between Verse and Chorus Rhythm

It may seem counterintuitive, but chorus lyrics usually become less rhythmically active. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ Since song choruses typically become more energetic than their preceding verses, it may seem that chorus lyrics (i.e., the rhythms that you would use to set the words) […]

Songwriting Challenge: Renovating Music, Axis of Awesome Style

Try taking the chord progression of your favourite song, and writing an entirely new song with it. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ Most of you are probably familiar with “4 Chords“, the rather hilarious tune recorded by Axis of Awesome. That song highlighted the fact […]

Using Deceptive Cadences to Boost a Song’s Energy

Extending chord progressions by using deceptive cadences will entice listeners to keep listening. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ One of the important ways that songwriters build energy is by creating an expectation, and then avoiding it. Here’s what I mean. Most songs are a musical […]