Strengthening a Chord Progression: Check the Roots

Musical complexity happens better if you focus on melodic phrasing, time signatures and rhythms, and leave chord progressions more or less intact. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ You might be tempted to think that creating a good chord progression is a hit-or-miss activity, where […]

Between Chords, Melody and Lyrics, Something Should Be Predictable

As a songwriter, you should see predictability as a great way to balance innovative elements in your music. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ You wouldn’t think of “predictability” as being a good characteristic to incorporate into music. After all, when something is predictable, it […]

Building Song Energy is Usually an “Ebb and Flow” Thing

Musical energy should build and die away several times throughout a song’s length. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ There aren’t many musical compositions that start at a low energy level, and then build energy in a straight line to the end. For most songs, energy […]

Curing Songwriting Frustration With Some Mindless Activities

Let some mindless non-musical fun get you back to the enjoyment of writing music again. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Write smarter – Tap into your creative mind. __________________ It would be ridiculous to think that you should never feel frustration as a composer. When you write, you’re getting something to grow from […]

Changing How You Start a Song Makes Music Fresher

If you start every song the same way, it’s likely to make all your songs sound the same. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ One thing most songwriters hate is to be labeled. To be labeled means that your music is sufficiently similar to other songwriters’ […]

Why a Double Chorus Might Work Better Than a Pre-Chorus

Adding a second chorus to your song can be an alternative to the pre-chorus. Here’s how it works. __________________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6 e-book bundle. Become the best songwriter you can be! __________________ Is it possible, or even desirable, to write a song that uses a double chorus? Your first thought might be that it […]