Staying Off The Downbeat – with The Clash
When I react to a song emotionally, at some point I get interested in looking…
Writing Something Is Better Than Writing Nothing
Yesterday I posted a quote about writing (from William Stafford) – “When you get stuck,…
Sing The Words Like You’d Speak Them
This week I’m writing about one of the basic principles of Songwriting… but one that…
“What Should Come Next In This Song?”
Maybe I’ve written a Chorus… now what will the Verse be? Or I have a…
How To Harmonize A Simple Melody Creatively – by NRBQ
Top New York City guitarist Larry Saltzman recently reminded me of a song I love…
When Bad Tempos Happen To Good Songwriters
I’d bet that most songwriters have their ‘tempo comfort zones’. Many of us, including me,…
Bob Dylan’s Verbs… and What I Learned From Them
There are many extraordinary aspects to Bob Dylan’s songwriting… but today let’s consider his Verbs. …
Raising The Stakes Can Help a Lyric
One way to combat blandness in a lyric (a battle worth fighting) is to increase…
A Quick (Usually) and Effective (Sometimes) Way To Improve A Song
I’ve found that sometimes one of the quickest and most effective ways to improve a…
Major 7th Chords – Due for a Songwriting Comeback?
Listening to how great it sounds in Frank Ocean’s ‘Super Rich Kids’ made me realize…
There’s Always a Good Reason To NOT Write – Creating a Songwriting Practice
Near the beginning of most new Songwriting workshops or classes I do, I emphasize this…
Today’s Top 5 Ways To Make A Song Better
1) Improve The Melody Play the melody by itself, on an instrument. Play it very…
Don’t Forget About The SOUND Of The Words
As far lyrics go, where the rubber meets the road is how the words Sing. …
(Bass) Substitutions Allowed – On The Songwriting Menu
Early in the process of writing a song I usually start playing just the melody…
Opening Up Your Chord Sounds – Or Not
I’ve noticed that most writers tend to either stick with triads OR use upper extensions…
With Songs, The Cutting Can Be The Hardest Part
This week’s post touches on a painful subject – cutting things that I really like…
In ‘Song Time’, How Long Is Too Long?
The writer says what he or she has to say… and the length of the…
When And Why Should I Put A Bridge Into A Song?
Although the Bridge of a song can be delightful, by the time it comes along…
Today’s Top 10 – Most Common Songwriting Mistakes, Part 2
Everyone’s heard thousands of songs. If a songwriter isn’t on her or his game, even…
How To Finish Songs… When It’s Easier To Just Start A New One
In basketball they say about some players, “He/she is a good finisher.” That means that…
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