Creating Melodies by Inverting Musical Phrases

Flipping melody ideas upside-down can help create longer melodies that have a great sense of structure. ______________ Whether we realize it or not, the human brain is able to constantly and spontaneously create ideas all the time. For example, every time you speak to someone, you are uttering words that, just a few seconds earlier, […]

Comparing Verse and Bridge Song Sections

Here are some key differences between verse and bridge sections of your song. Similar structure, but different duties. In songs that use verse-chorus formats, there’s a relatively predictable way the structure works: things tend to alternate between ambiguous and clear. When you compare verse and chorus melodies, for example, you’ll often (though not always) find […]

Can Your Melody Be Drawn Like a Line?

A line drawing of your melody gives you a valuable graphic tool to diagnose melodic problems _______________ As a songwriter, you’re always looking for a way to make your melodies easily sung and easily remembered. It’s a crucial part of hit songwriting. One of the most important qualities of good melodies is the presence of […]

Connecting the Pulse of a Lyric to the Shape of a Melody

Try this little experiment for getting your lyric and melody to work well together. ___________ It’s an interesting exercise to read a well-known lyric without trying to think of the melody it belongs to. Try it — you’ll likely find yourself putting the same pauses and pulses of the melody into what you’re reading. It […]

Reinforcing Songwriting Structure With Melodic Sequences

A sequence in songwriting has the benefit of tightening and strengthening musical phrases. You may be writing songs every day, but are you just reinforcing songwriting errors? Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and solve your songwriting problems today. ______________ In music, a sequence is a short melodic idea with accompanying chords that […]

A Well-Placed Motif Can Be As Important as a Hook

A repetitious element, like a motif, adds important structural cohesiveness to songs of any genre. _____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and learn the 11 principles crucial to any songwriter’s success. _____________ In songwriting, there are two elements that owe their existence and noteworthiness to repetition. One is a hook, that repeating element that […]