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…
Keeping The Listener Off-Balance… And Involved
The two very different great songs we’ll look at today use the same device to…
Not Settling For A ‘Good Enough’ Song
To get going on a new song idea, I have to have a sense of…
Making The Lyric, When Sung, Feel Like It’s Being Spoken
It’s good to remember that writing melodies and words for songs relates very strongly to…
When Is It Time To Give Up On A Song?
Sometimes the moment comes when I realize my song is just not going to work…
Against Punctuation (On A Lyric Sheet)
Not all punctuation. I’ve got nothing against apostrophes. But most punctuation that’s put on a…
How Do You Finish A Song Without A Deadline?
I don’t know how anyone finishes, really finishes, a song without having a deadline of…
Thinking Backwards From The Title
Many people who write and teach fiction, playwriting, screenwriting, etc., suggest that writers not go…
An Explanation Of Not Explaining
I think a reader of this blog, no matter how occasional, might notice how much…
When Starting A Song, 10 Thoughts Worth Ignoring (At First)
1) This sucks. 2) I stole this melody from another song – I just don’t…
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