Category: SONGWRITING TIPS

The Power of the Kick-Off Line

Annnnnd there’s the kick-off! The ball is in motion. The players explode into action. The fans are on their feet. It’s the moment they’ve all been waiting for! That’s the power of the kick off.

Now think about launching a verse or chorus with that kind of energy!

A kick-off line can add a big shot of excitement to any section of your song. It can be the attention-grabbing opening of Verse 1. It can be the boost that gives your chorus a chance to really soar.

An effective kick-off line is a combination of strong melody and lyric writing. So, let’s check out some examples from a few big, contemporary hit songs to see how it’s done.

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Should I Write Or Should I Listen?

Probably every songwriter reading this would answer: WRITE! We all want to spend as much time as we can writing our songs: moving lyrics and melody forward, getting them finished, and starting new ones. Writing feels productive. It feels like you’re accomplishing something.

But listening to songs is just… well, it’s just something you enjoy, something you do when you’re driving, or studying. In other words, something you do while you’re actually doing something else.

But what if I said that listening to songs is as important to your success as writing songs? What if I told you that you should spend as much time listening as you do writing?

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30-Minute Sessions: Solve a Songwriting Problem

We all run into songwriting problems from time to time. Solving that problem quickly and moving on is the key to growing you song catalogue, saving time, and getting your work out there to listeners. You can use the 30-Minute Songwriting session technique to quickly get the solutions you need and get your songs moving again.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 in this series on 30-Minute Songwriting sessions to get familiar with this incredibly useful technique.

Note that in these sessions I suggest that you use hit songs as reference songs to help you find the answers. Don’t copy the hit song. Instead, use the techniques you find and adapt them to your own style and song.

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The 30-Minute Songwriting Workout

Songwriters, do you find yourself sitting on the couch watching TV when you should be writing? Does it seem like too much effort to workout in your home studio? Haven’t got the time to lift your guitar, do a few reps on the piano, or stretch those vocal cords at the mic?

Well, I’ve got the perfect life hack for you!

In just 30 MINUTES A DAY you can have the creative muscles you’ve always wanted. Wishing won’t make it happen. But if you’ve got a half hour a day to dedicate to your creative life, you can get your songwriting in the best shape ever!

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