Category: SONGWRITING TIPS

No More Writer’s Block

At one point in my career, I had to write three to four songs a week for a television series. Writer’s block was simply not an option. If I failed to turn in my songs on time, the show came to a swift and expensive stop! Early on, I learned an important lesson: Writer’s block is not about a lack of creativity; it’s about identifying and solving a problem so you can get on with things.

Problem 1: TROUBLE GETTING STARTED

There are few things more intimidating than starting a song. Maybe all you have is an idea or a theme. Every time you think about getting to work on it, you feel overwhelmed. next thing you know, you’ve got writer’s block. Solution : Break down the initial process into a series of steps and do them one at a time.

1. Begin by finding a title you’re interested in.

Look for short phrases that resonate emotionally for you. You don’t have to make it up out of thin air. Watch TV shows and films, listen to people talking, take down phrases from news shows or the Internet. (Try the “Title Generator” in the links section at the end of this newsletter!) A short one-to-five-word phrase that grabs your attention should do it for you.

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Make Your Melodies Memorable and Original

Today’s melodies and many of the great melodies of past rely on a handful of tricks to create that special something that makes them insanely catchy and memorable.

Here are three tips that will help you make sure your melody has everything it needs before you launch it into the world.

1.Use your melody to create unforgettable song structure.

If your song has a VERSE / CHORUS structure, make sure listeners know where they are by creating plenty of contrast in the melody between these two sections. Melodic contrast grabs attention and keeps your melody from sounding like it’s wandering aimlessly. Listeners like to have a sense of “place” in a song. They want to know where they are. 

  • Try a big leap up (or down) in the melody to launch your chorus. Then stay up there for a couple of lines before gradually dropping down to the verse note range. You can hear this is big hit songs like Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Roar” by Katy Perry.
  • Use a choppy melody in your verse with plenty of fast-paced notes. Then change to a smoother melody style in the chorus. Check out “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz or “Vertigo” by U2 to hear this type of melody structure.  
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Song Starter: Say YES!

Having trouble getting a song started? Try this idea: Just say YES! Here’s how.

Say YES!Imagine yourself…
Walking on the beach or…
Hugging someone you love or…
Dancing at a party or nightclub or…
Hanging out with friends or…
Anything you like.

Now, do these five things…

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Songwriting: It’s Like Riding a Bicycle

Bicycle in your mind

Remember when you learned to ride your first bicycle? It wasn’t easy. You fell down a lot, but you kept trying. At first you needed someone to hold on, keeping you steady. Then you used training wheels to help you stay upright as you pedaled. Then, finally, you were able to ride on your own. You had found that complicated thing called balance. After that, it was a breeze! The process of writing songs is a lot like riding a bike. It’s all about finding a balance!

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What Are You Really Writing About?

You’re Inspired! You woke up in the middle of the night with a killer first verse running through your head. You actually sat up in bed and said: “Man, that’s killer!”

You managed to write it down before you forgot it. Maybe you even got up and plunked a few chords on the piano. Suddenly you felt like Sting writing “Every Breath You Take.” You even recorded your inspiration onto the Voice Memo on your Smartphone before going back to sleep.

Now, in the cold light of morning, you listen back to it. Amazingly, it still sounds good!

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