Adding a Hook to a Finished Song

Good songs don’t necessarily need to start with the hook. It is possible to write a song and add a hook later. _____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and build your audience base, starting right now! _____________ If you ask most songwriters, they’ll tell you that for them, songwriting often starts with the […]

Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer” – A Study in Lyrical Layering

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting 6-eBook Bundle“, and become a top-level songwriter! ______________ Every distinct section of your song (verse, chorus, etc.) should treat lyrics differently and have a different goal. Lyrics, when done well, should show a clear 2- or 3-level design. Messing this up can cloud your message, and your song can fail to produce […]

Pre-Chorus: When It Makes Sense To Write One

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! _____________ A pre-chorus is that bit of music that songwriters sometimes insert between a verse and a chorus. Not all songs use them; in most cases, it’s completely fine to move straight from the verse to the chorus. But there are songs, and […]

“Moves Like Jagger”: Developing Melodies from a Killer Hook

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! _____________ There’s a very catchy little instrumental hook that  happens right at the beginning of Maroon 5’s hit, “Moves Like Jagger” (see link below). It’s part scale, part arpeggio, and instantly appealing. Partnered with an energetic disco-pop accompaniment, the hook is almost strong […]

Song Form: 5 Options for What to Do After the Bridge

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! _____________ There are several benefits to creating a bridge for a song. In the first place, it’s a great way to “gain mileage”, as it’s an easy way to extend the length of your song. It helps avert listener boredom by introducing new […]

5 Ways a Song’s Verse and Chorus Should Differ

Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-ebook bundle, and kick-start your songwriting career! _____________ There are important differences between verse and chorus structure in a song, differences that are not usually clearly obvious to the listener. But as a songwriter you need to get this bit of compositional architecture right. Done correctly, a verse features […]