Does My Song Need A Bridge?
As beautiful as they can sometimes be, and as much as they can add to…
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…
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…
The Temptation: Produce & Record instead of Writing a Song
It’s more useful and important than ever for songwriters to be fluent with recording and…
Got a Great Songwriting Idea? It’s OK To Forget It.
There are probably two main ways songs start. One is having an idea, a musical…
The Best Way To Complete Your Song
When asked which came first, the music or the words, the great lyricist Sammy Cahn…
The Difference Between Writing and Rewriting Your Song
Writing is active. Moving forward, one note leads to the next, one word follows another.…
Inside ‘We Are The Champions’
Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ (written by Freddie Mercury) consistently intrigued me. I’ve always been…
The Unexpected Gift
There have been periods in my life, long periods, when I wrote two or three…
How Do You Get Out Of A Songwriting Rut?
When I hear a song I like that’s either new, new to me, or that…
Bring The Pain – To Your Songs
It’s common for songwriters to anxiously think something like, “when people hear my songs, then…
Take The Great Leap In Your Songwriting
Melodies are a songwriter’s secret weapon. More than any other part of a song, a…
How To Finish Your Songs
When asked which came first, the music or the lyrics, the great lyricist Sammy Cahn…
How Thinking Backwards Helps You Finish Your Song
When writing a lyric, we songwriters often have trouble answering a very mundane question: What…
Who’s In Charge… You Or The Song?
If I’m lucky, I start out a song with an idea I like – music,…
Afraid Someone Might Steal Your Song?
“If I play this song in public and it’s not copyrighted, isn’t there a chance…
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