One Way To Make Sure Your Songwriting Sucks
Writing is a habit, a routine. Like all habits and routines, it’s much easier to…
Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Phrasing
Before I commit myself to a musical phrase, especially when it contains a Title, it’s…
Having Confidence in Your Imagination
There’s imagination… then there’s believing in one’s imagination, having a certain confidence that you can…
“I like Big Buts and I Cannot Lie”
I’ve often said that the most dangerous word in songwriting is ‘IT’. As with any…
Finding The Best Key For Your Song
You don’t have to play your song in the key in which it was written.…
The Bee Gees and the Power of Repetition
I was listening to Rick Rubin’s podcast, Broken Record. He was interviewing Barry Gibb of…
The Lyric Is Not What Your Song Is ‘About’
It’s not uncommon for songwriters to be asked, “What’s this song about?” The question is…
The Greatness of Songs That Make No Sense
Writing songs with hooks that are just sounds, without literal meaning, is a special talent,…
Alfred Hitchcock’s Advice To Songwriters
‘An audience wondering is not an audience emoting.’ – Alfred Hitchcock The British master director…
The Benefits Of A Songwriting Practice
Songwriters, all writers, get their work done in many ways. But it’s hard to get…
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘How Much A Dollar Cost’
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘How Much A Dollar Cost’ is a harrowing story of an encounter in…
5 Essential Elements Of A Good Song
Some aspects of a song have a higher value than others. We try to get…
An Easy Way To Improve A Song
As a bassist, producer, and songwriting coach and teacher I’ve listened closely to thousands of…
It’s Not Too Late To Write Your Songs
I just had a birthday. I’ve been making music professionally for around four decades. I’ve…
When It’s Time To Stop Working On A Song… For Now
Writing a song starts for me when an idea makes me pay attention. I may…
In A Lyric, You Can Just Say What You Mean
I was in a songwriting consultation session recently with a talented writer. We were going…
The Rise and Fall of the IV Major-IV Minor Chord Progression
Here’s a chord progression: || C | C | F | Fminor | C |…
How To Avoid An Unnecessary Pre-Chorus
Pre-Choruses are ubiquitous in modern pop songs. If that’s what you’re writing, it’s likely your…
Flaming Lips’ Sci-Fi Future: ‘One More Robot’
I’ve been meaning to get around to a great song, ‘One More Robot’, from a…
The DNA of Your Song’s Lyric Is In The Title
For some reason, the more songs I write, the less frequently I start with a title. When I…
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