Why Are Songs Easy to Start, But Hard to Finish?

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ My experience is that most songwriters can start a new song at the drop of a hat. That’s almost never a problem. The difficulty is finishing it. Those initial ideas that coalesce into something of a musical embryo represent, for most […]

7 Ideas to Help Neutralize Writer’s Block

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ Humans have an ability that no other animal (apparently) has, which is to think creatively, and to communicate those creations to others. But what do you do when musical ideas seem to dry up? Nothing frustrates songwriters more than the sudden […]

5 Ways Lyrics Will Strengthen Your Song’s Form

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ Every song you write represents an attempt to communicate thoughts and ideas to others. Every element you compose contributes to that task. Without a doubt, we communicate most directly by our words: the lyrics lay the groundwork and tell the […]

The Pop Song and the Hook: Creating Memorable Music

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ I am not one of those who believes that every song must have a strong hook. Some songs are like fine wine: their appeal grows over time, and in those songs the hook is not clear or distinct. But it’s […]

Lennon, Cetera, and the Art of the 3-Part (ABA) Song

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ Three part ABA songs are ones that usually have no chorus. They normally consist of one long “verse” that presents a main melody, a contrasting melody, and a return to the first main tune. There are two perfect models for […]

5 Tips for Developing a Bridge (Middle-8) For Your Song

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 E-book Bundle. Become a top-level songwriter, starting now. _________ A bridge usually comes after the second chorus in a song, and it has many reasons for existing. Among those reasons, the introduction of new melodic material is probably the most important one. After two verses and two choruses, your […]