Shontelle's "Impossible": Why It Works

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Check out “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle ______________________ Bajan singer Shontelle is releasing her second album, “No Gravity”, in June of this year. Her first single from that album is a great […]

Getting More Power From the Dominant Note

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Check out “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle ______________________ As a songwriter, you’re usually looking for ways to control song energy, usually building it as the song progresses. We know that there are […]

Songs Don't Have to be Written From the Front End

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • Check out “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle ______________________ When the fun of songwriting is replaced with frustration, it can make you wonder why you ever got involved in music in the first […]

How to Create Contrast in Verse-Only Designs

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. _______________________________ While verse-chorus-bridge designs are possibly the most commonly used plans in the pop song world, the verse-without-chorus is […]

When to Fix a Song, and When to Toss It

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” e-book bundle. 6 E-books for only $37! _________________________ There are certain songwriters that appear to have nothing but great success. This is not reality, of course. We’re not usually acquainted with songs that miss […]

How Many Notes Does a Good Melody Need?

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW GARY ON TWITTER Find Your Songwriting Breakthrough – Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” _______________ Melodies are confusing little beasts. Just when you’re convinced that a good melody requires a nice contour, taking the listener through an octave-and-a-half journey, along comes a Bob Dylan […]