How to Use Chord Inversions

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: Songwriters are always looking for ways to be more creative with chords. Some of the best ways involve simple modifications, and chord inversions offer great bang for the buck. You may know the term “inversion” by another term: “slash chords.” What it means is that […]

Getting Lyrics to Work – Three Simple Things

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: The words you use in your song are pretty much the only way you can communicate with your audience in the literal sense of that word. So how do you make sure that the lyrics are the best they can be? If I were to […]

Recognizing When Your Melody Isn't Working

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: If you don’t know why your melody isn’t working, don’t worry, it’s fixable. If you don’t know that your melody isn’t working, that’s a problem; you can’t fix a problem you don’t recognize. It’s really hard on a songwriting website like this to address good […]

Writing Good Songs – The Predictability Factor

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: As as songwriter, you can be forgiven for fearing that your song is sounding pretty much like every other song out there. But on the other hand, predictability will sell more songs than innovation. What attracts a listener to a song? You’ve got it: the […]

How Many Chords Make a Good Progression?

Written by Gary Ewer, Senior Instructor, Dalhousie University, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. • Follow Gary on Twitter • “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle is available now at a 50% savings! ________________________________ For many of you, what you really feel you need is a set of good chord changes that work. It’s […]

Looking for Free Songwriting Help?

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: Seems like everything costs you something these days. But here’s something that doesn’t cost you a penny, and and help make you a better songwriter. The Songwriter’s Quick-Tips Newsletter is a monthly ezine that offers tips to help you write better songs. The kind of information […]