Talent vs Knowledge: Which is More Valuable?

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. FOLLOW Gary on Twitter, for songwriting tips and news. ___________ Talent – the word refers to a natural ability; to describe someone as talented is to say that they have an innate understanding of the intricacies of their field, and can produce something impressive, even if they lack […]

Does a Song Need a Hook?

by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. You can find Gary’s songwriting e-books here. ______________ Do a quick online search about songwriting, and many times you’ll read some variation on this sentence: “A song must have a hook.” Depending on what you mean by the word, that could be true. But if […]

Six Ways to Turn a Child Into a Good Songwriter

Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website: Occasionally when I adjudicate at music festivals, I am given the pleasant “task” of assessing musical works composed by young children. Happily, these types of events are non-competetive, and so it gives me an opportunity to help young musicians with their writing by showing […]

When You've Got Killer Lyrics, Other Elements Can Step Back

“The lyrics on “There’s a Reason” are wonderful, and on first listen you’d swear you’re listening to Dylan…” Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. Check out Gary Ewer’s Songwriting e-books here. Follow Gary on Twitter You’ve probably got the instinct of most songwriter’s out there, which is to ensure that […]

Writing Chord Progressions – It's Supposed to be Simple

“If the chord that follows sounds like it came out of left-field, you’ve probably got a chord progression with a problem.” Written by Gary Ewer, from “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” website. (Check out his songwriting and chord progression e-books.) Follow Gary on Twitter My motto for songwriters is: Songs need to grab attention; chord progressions need […]

Letting Others Listen to Your Songs is Vital to Your Growth as a Songwriter

An important part of improving your songwriting skills is singing your songs for others to hear. Not doing this is like writing in a vacuum, and your artistic improvement will be slow and restricted. Having someone else judge your music can be a very humbling and unnerving experience. It takes a lot of inner strength […]