John Lennon: Underrated Melodist
I write this on what would have been John Lennon’s 85th birthday – October 9.…
Does My Song Need A Bridge?
As beautiful as they can sometimes be, and as much as they can add to…
The Master of Melody
Billy Joel’s been around for a long time, and I’ve had mixed feelings about his…
The 5 Essential Elements of a Good Song
Though we try to get everything right, some aspects of a song have a higher…
The Early Genius of Brian Wilson
As time has passed – it’s been 55 years since ‘the ‘60s’ ended – it’s…
You Don’t Need More Than Two Chords If…
Witness Bob Marley and the Wailers’ ‘Waiting In Vain’, written by one of the 20th…
Songwriting Is Hard… Except When It’s Not
Let’s face it. To get a song ‘right’… usually it’s hard. Hard in the sense…
A Good Melody Tells A Story – Without Words
A good melody tells a story – without the words. You may think it’s the…
Your Next Song May Only Need 20 Words
Sometimes songs with very few words can be really effective. I’m not talking here about…
The Brilliance of Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘How Much A Dollar Cost’ is a harrowing story of an encounter in…
Songwriting: Why Does Skill Matter?
Skill is a big part of the difference between an amateur and a professional. Just because…
Getting Your Song Stolen… Do You Need To Worry?
“If I play this song in public and it’s not copyrighted, isn’t there a good…
Why You Need More Uptempo Songs
Some years back I heard songwriter/music publisher Eric Beall talk about the value of uptempo…
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