Microphone - Song melody

What Kind of Backing Vocals Are Right For Your Song?

How to write (or even if you should write) backing vocals is usually a step beyond songwriting. In other words, it’s usually something that comes under the heading of production more so than songwriting. These days, though, where technology has blurred the line between songwriting and production, you may find yourself thinking a lot about what to do about […]

Kris Kristofferson

The Power (and Danger) of Quick Changes Within Songs

There’s a concept in music that applies to chord progressions called harmonic rhythm. That term is used to describe how frequently (i.e., how quickly) chords change, especially in relation to how many notes of melody happen between changes. As you know, some songs use progressions where each chord is strummed for a relatively long time before […]

Guiding Principles for Writing Good Backing Vocals

Backing vocals can add a professional touch to your music – but only when done well. _______________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and learn how to apply 11 important principles of songwriting. (Right now, save 56%) _______________ If you’re trying to write backing vocals for your next song and you’re running into problems, […]

10 Songwriting Ideas that Generate Rhythmic Energy

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ The rhythmic choices you make as you compose a song are strong contributors to the overall energy level of your music. Some aspects of rhythm are determined by your lyrics. But other details can be more fully under your control: the […]

Using Strong and Fragile Rhythm to Generate Real Punch

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Fix your songwriting technique! Check out “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle – available now at a 50% savings! ________________________________ One of the things that made The Police so popular in the late-70s and 80s […]

Layla: What a New Tempo Does to a Song

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. For songwriting tips and notification of blog updates, FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” suite of 6 e-books now at a 50% saving. _________________________________ It’s amazing how little you have to change a song’s presentation in order to come up with something […]