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…
The Necessity of Songwriting Craft… And How To Get It
Ever have this happen to you? You get an idea for a song that really…
You Write All Your Songs On This Instrument… And It Breaks
I have a guitar at home – it almost never leaves my apartment – on…
When Great Melodies Don’t Have Motion
Most great melodies are filled with movement. They roll up and down, with steps and…
Better To Get Your Song Right Than Get It Perfect
I spend a lot of time, with my own songs, and with others’ in songwriting…
Fast Songwriting vs. Slow Songwriting
It’s a truism that the best way to finish a piece of writing is to…
Maybe That Issue With Your Lyric Isn’t Really a Problem
Some common issues/problems that get brought up about lyrics: * Not understanding the meaning of…
Write Your Lyric Down No Matter How Bad It Is
I’m guessing that, when working on a lyric, most of us still either write it…
The Musically Underestimated Songwriting of Neil Young
Neil Young’s musical sophistication is underestimated. Many people love his songs, of course. He’s an…
‘I’m A Loser’: When Music & Lyrics Disagree
Will Lee recently did a great (almost) solo version of John Lennon’s ‘I’m A Loser’…
Beware The Repeated Melody Note
The first time we hear a song we take in the big picture, we notice…
Why Sometimes Your Lyrics Don’t Fit The Song
We all have an ongoing monologue in our heads. It changes as we move through…
The Temptations of Producing/Recording vs. Songwriting
It’s more useful and important than ever for songwriters to be fluent with recording and…
The Great Art Of Writing Simple & Direct Lyrics
In a song, music, especially melody, almost always carries more weight than words; especially when…
The Pandemic Won’t Do Your Song’s Work For You
Since I produce artists and facilitate songwriting and production workshops and classes, almost every week…
Push Your Lyric To The Edge
There are no rules in songwriting. When doing a workshop or teaching, I feel like…
For A Songwriter, How Much Isolation Is Too Much?
Over the years, as I’ve gotten more serious about my writing, I’ve gotten used to…
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