5 Songwriting Ideas That Create Tension-Release

Tension and release –  it’s what keeps people listening. ____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and increase your song’s HIT potential. _____________ The “tension and release” concept in songwriting is one of those things that most listeners aren’t overtly aware of. Because it’s not as simple as, for example, music getting louder, though that can be […]

U2- With or Without You

3 Great Song Hook Types, and How to Write Them

“Hooks and Riffs: How They Grab Attention, Make Songs Memorable, and Build Your Fan Base“, is part of “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” Deluxe 10-eBook Bundle. Get the manuals that thousands of songwriters use to improve their songwriting technique. Read more.. When we talk about creating a hook for a song, there’s a tendency to think […]

Songwriting Tip: Be Clever With Your Song’s Instrumentation

Don’t let instrumentation be an afterthought in your songwriting. Use it as a creative tool. ____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and build your audience base. _____________ There are many hit songs from the past several decades that have used the same, or at least similar, melodies in both the verse and the chorus. […]

Connecting Verse and Chorus Chord Progressions

Verses and choruses are often different, but it’s crucial that they sound connected. Chord progressions can do that for you. ____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and increase your song’s HIT potential. _____________ Some songs use the same melody and chord progression for the verse and chorus. But those songs are in the minority; for most […]

Song Structure: When a Pre-Chorus or Bridge Is a Good Idea

Here’s how you know that a pre-chorus or bridge will help your song’s structure. ____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and increase your song’s HIT potential. _____________ The verse-chorus form is probably the most common in pop song genres, songs in the 3-6 minute time frame. Of those, many use bridge sections – that shortish part […]

A Guideline for Creating and Using Fragile Progressions

Fragile progressions have a charm that really works well in song verses. Here’s how to create them. ____________ Download “The Essential Secrets of Songwriting” 6-eBook Bundle, and increase your song’s HIT potential. _____________ In simple terms, chord progressions are either strong or fragile. A strong progression clearly and unambiguously points to one chord as being the tonic, while a […]