How to Fix a Song That Just Doesn't Work

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: You can learn as much by looking at bad songs as you can by looking at the good ones. The problem is that it’s difficult to find a lot of bad songs to study.If a song has made it to the radio, it usually means that […]

Sometimes All You Need Are Some Chord Progressions that Work

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website If chord progressions mystify you, Gary Ewer’s e-books will give you hundreds of progressions you can use right now, as is, or modify them to suit your latest song. Click here to read more. ____________________ My main duties in the Dalhousie University Department of Music center […]

Demo Recording Pitfalls – No Second Chance for a First Impression

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website:   The old adage, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is never truer than in the songwriting business. Audiences are somewhat fickle, and if you aren’t grabbing their attention pretty much right away, you’re wasting time, and probably squandering the only chance […]

Just Rewriting Your Songs May Not Solve Your Songwriting Problems

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: Because songwriting is as much or more a craft than it is an art, I am a big fan of working and re-working songs. For most composers, the working out of a song from start to finish can take weeks or months. Any songwriter who says […]

Bored with I-IV-V-I Progressions? Spice things Up with These Suggestions

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle, and get back to writing great songs! _______________ by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: If you find yourself using the same boring chords in every song you write, it’s time to expand your chord vocabulary. Here are some suggestions for making things more interesting: […]

Songwriters, What Are Others Doing To Your Songs? You Have Rights.

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website:   For songwriters, it’s tremendously important to know your rights,particularly if you want your songs to be sung and recorded by others. Sadly, most songwriters don’t really understand this essential part of the business. You might be missing out on money that’s owed to you. […]