Songs Without Chorus: Pay Particular Attention to the Harmonies

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. Click here to read more about Gary Ewer’s songwriting e-books. Follow Gary on Twitter for songwriting tips and more. _______________________________________________ The chorus of a song helps to complete what the verse begins, lyrically, melodically and harmonically. And for many songwriters, beginning with the chorus, from […]

What is Good Music?

“It is quite possible to talk about a song as being “good” while actually not liking the song at all.” Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. See Gary Ewer’s Songwriting E-books Follow Gary on Twitter We all have the music we like to listen to. Because we listen to it, […]

How to Write an Anthem

“Everyone seems to agree that “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is an anthem and “Shake Your Booty” isn’t.” Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website Follow Gary on Twitter An anthem is one of those kinds of songs that comes under the heading of, “Hard to define, but you’ll recognize it when […]

Good Lyrics are Developed After They Are Written

“There’s nothing worse than bad lyricists trying to sound deep. Like coolness, profundity can’t be faked.” Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website Follow Gary on Twitter Leonard Cohen has spoken of songwriting as “cultivat[ing] this tiny corner of the field that I thought I knew something about…” For him, and […]

Copyright without Registration Limits Your Legal Power

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website Follow Gary on Twitter Every document you read will tell you that copyright is automatic upon the creation of an original work. If you’ve written it, you own it. That may be true, but unless you’ve registered the copyright, you lack the legal power […]

A Pedal Tone Provides Stability

by Gary Ewer, from”The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: Pedal tones in chord progressions can be very useful, particularly if you’re looking to use more chromatically complicated chords. That constant pedal (i.e., a low note that stays the same while the chords above it are changing) acts as a kind of anchor, helping the listener […]