Sting

Experimenting with Odd Time Signatures in Your Songwriting

A time signature is a way of indicating how the basic beat of a song is organized. By far the most common time signature (also called ‘meter’) is 4/4, or common time. Most of the songs you’ve heard in practically any genre are in 4/4 time. “How to Harmonize a Melody.” It shows you, step-by-step, […]

Peter Gabriel's "Panopticom"

Combining Complexity With Simplicity: Peter Gabriel’s “Panopticom”

There’s more to a song hook than meets the ear… a lot more. “Hooks and Riffs: How They Grab Attention, Make Songs Memorable, and Build Your Fan Base” is a vital manual for any serious songwriter. The issue of complexity and simplicity in songwriting is an important one. Songs that are too simple are usually […]

Peter Gabriel - Car

3 Big Tips For Making More Interesting Chord Progressions.

Every once in a while I take a look at the visitor stats for my blog, and especially take note of which pages — and in particular the topics — are the most popular. Typically it’s been articles about chords that get the most attention – usually 6 out of the 7 top posts. So […]

Kate Bush

Offering Instant Gratification to a Modern Day Audience

“The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 10-eBook Bundle will take you quickly to a higher level of excellence. Polish your songwriting technique, starting right now! In the mid-60s to early-70s, there was a notable attempt by some pop musicians to make rock music more respectable by borrowing compositional techniques from the classical and jazz genres. Called progressive rock, […]

What Songwriters Can Learn From Apple Inc. About Song Intros

Think of a song’s intro as “packaging” that eventually reveals the product. ____________ “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle comes with this FREE eBOOK: “From Amateur to Ace: Writing Songs Like a Pro”. 7 Songwriting eBooks for $37 _____________ There is a part of Steve Job’s biography, written by Walter Isaacson, that might just have a […]

Songwriting and Time Signatures: Time to Branch Out

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle, and build your audience base, starting right now. _________ The time signature you use determines the patterns of strong beats and weak beats in your songwriting – or vice versa! This usually happens without us giving it much of a thought. The vast majority of music from pop […]