Everything Old is New Again!

•Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter for website updates, songwriting tips and more. • Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of songwriting e-books at a 50% savings. _____________________ I think J. S. Bach would have made a great pop songwriter if he had […]

Is That Progression Complex? (Or Does It Just Suck?)

•Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter for website updates, songwriting tips and more. • Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of songwriting e-books at a 50% savings. _____________________ Weeks ago I wrote an article examining the problem with chord progressions […]

3 Great Ways to Make Your Chord Progression Longer

• Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER for songwriting tips and notification of blog updates. • Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. _________________________________ I often think that songwriters obsess about chord progressions to an unhealthy degree. Let’s set one […]

Bullet Power! Use This Songwriting Checklist

• Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER for songwriting tips and notification of blog updates. • Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. _______________________________ You’re pulling your hair out because you know that your songs just seem lackluster and you […]

Orchestrating Songs: Adding Solo Acoustic Instruments

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER for songwriting tips and notification of blog updates. Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. __________________________ There’s nothing like the natural beauty of an acoustic instrument. While we should feel blessed that we […]

Contrasting Minor and Major Within the Same Song

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER for songwriting tips and notification of blog updates. Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. ___________________________ Successful songs are a balancing act between contrasting elements. The best songs out there are studies in […]