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, […]

Rick Beato interview with Sting, Dominic Miller

Getting Inspired by Professional Singer-Songwriters

Often the best instruction you can get in songwriting is to listen to the songwriters who have made it big. Not only do you get good instruction, but you find yourself getting immensely inspired; you want to grab your instrument and start writing! Last year, Rick Beato, whose YouTube channel I’ve mentioned in my blog […]

5 Ideas For Getting (And Staying) Creative

Songwriting needs to be a daily activity. That kind of commitment will stimulate creativity. Get “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Discover the essential secrets of great songwriting. _________________ Inspiration is not a necessary first step to writing music. Actually starting the songwriting process — grabbing your instrument and putting your bum in a chair […]

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 […]

Does a Song Need a Hook?

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. You can find Gary’s songwriting e-books here. ______________ Do a quick online search about songwriting, and many times you’ll read some variation on this sentence: “A song must have a hook.” Depending on what you mean by the word, that could be true. But if […]