Songwriting - Learn To Write Songs

The Art of Songwriting

2008-11-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

By Lori Mortimore

When I was a kid taking guitar lessons, I was always fascinated at how artists such as Rush, Led Zeppelin and Yes, just to name a few, were able to put music and lyrics together to create great works of art. I asked my instructor Jessica, "What is their secret?" She replied, "They're just creative." I was hoping for a more formulaic answer about how musical compositions were arranged, how chord progressions were written, how certain lyrics fit into time signatures, etc. However, I found there were no mathematical rules to songwriting, only an art that had to be perfected and crafted with time and practice.

In my many years as an astute listener and aficionado of music, I have dissected songs that I felt worthy of study. A well-written song should do at least one of the following:

1. Evoke an emotion
2. Make a point
3. Tell a story
4. Set a mood

The first point, evoking an emotion, is what the majority of well-written songs will do. The melody or vocal line is usually the strongest allure that listeners hear on the radio. A listener can be drawn in by a given situation lyrically, when they can relate to it on an everyday basis. In the 90's, what woman could not totally, or at least momentarily, relate to the anger that Alanis Morrisette portrayed in "You Oughta Know "and who among us hasn't felt the emotional fortitude of Steve Perry in songs such as "Open Arms" and "Don't Stop Believing." Along this same vein, "You've Got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest and "I want it All" by Queen are songs that pump up our adrenalin and inspire action.

Songs such as these are often the types of songs that have a point to deliver to those who are listening, and it is when we feel the need as a listener to approach these lessons which are offered in these songs, that we seek out those lyrics and/or rhythms, that seem to, for a time, at least, fend off those feelings of impending doom and/or frustration. We pursue these avenues of self discovery in songs such as these at a time when we most feel the need for an adrenalin rush. The overall feelings of euphoria are sought out by our Psyche and when certain songs are played they tend to induce that adrenalin rush and give to us the desired emotional result, i.e. the knowledge that all things considered, It is all fine in the end. In regards to this aspect of writing, the band that comes to mind is Rush. Their lyricist and drummer, Neil Peart, has many recurrent themes that he has written about over the years. One of them is the ability to be self-reliant in a cold and ever changing world. "Enemy Within" with its self-evident title makes the point that is up to the individual to take chances in order to advance one's standing in life, as is "Circumstances", "Roll the Bones", and "Dreamline."

Thirdly, telling a short story is an art in and of itself, but when it is set to music, the story becomes available to a much wider audience. Bob Segar's many tunes are prime examples of how a vicarious but realistic situation can find a place to live in the spirit of anyone who longs to travel from and be free of the responsibilities of everyday life. In three to four minutes Segar can take us on a journey through his youth with songs such as "Hollywood Nights", and "Night Moves" or with Songs such as "Against the Wind" and "Main-Street" to the epiphanies that contain the resolutions which we all struggle to achieve while transcending into adulthood. In this same fashion, Neil Young is another great story teller, all one need do is listen to songs such as "Sugar Mountain" and "Rockin' in the Free world. "

The last point, the setting of a mood is the most cerebral of the creative concept and its process. I find this technique mostly used in heavy instrumental songs that hearken back from the psychedelic era of the 1960's, to the prog rock of the 70's, and definitely into the 90's with the advent of grunge rock.

The Beatles revolutionized the recording process in 1967 with Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. They echoed the vocals heavily to give to the songs a larger than life sound; They sped up and slowed down instruments in order to alter the tempo in the music, and through the art of editing, they successfully spliced recording tapes into different orders to give a feeling of detachment and disconnection to the listener, thereby supplying the means with which one might escape from reality.

Also along these same lines, Guitar greats such as Jimmy Page, with his signature riffs and innovative production gave the impression that music and the emotions invoked by it have a tendency to be the vessel that transports the listener from one state of mind to another... "The Rain Song" literally sounds like rain, and, as I learned from my instructor. It was written as a combination of sliding major 7 chords a half step down and playing the major chords on a higher register with riffs, audibly emulating drops of rain, connecting the chords together. "Ramble On" takes the listener to JRR Tolkien's Mordor with clever hand drums and tricky guitar rhythms that give the impression of leaves falling, and wind blowing in a scene that sets it self within the loneliness of a solitary journey. Yes's "Roundabout", with its famous harmonics of an E chord and sleepy vocal introduction, puts me in mind of an eagle waking up on top of a mountain to a pristine sky. As the song crescendos and descends the eagle soars and dips to view the valley below him.

In the 1990's, after the light pop craze prevalent in the 1980's, a new genre of music, grunge rock, arrived on the scene. The dark decade was upon us and Nirvana took it by storm. "Smells like Teen Spirit" with moshable motifs and introspective lyrics gives the listener the energy of punk but an outlet for self-absorption. "Lithium" was a direct look at the psychotropic drug culture that was put into place to counteract the effects of the climbing divorce rate affecting the youth of the generation.

My last example, "Stairway to Heaven" is a song that encompasses all four points listed above. The song tells a story of the rich lady in the forest who believes that she can buy salvation with gold. On her spiritual quest, the song makes the point that there are two paths to take and it is up to the individual to take the right one. It evokes the emotion of hope as it promises the listener, with the application of correct decisions, a higher spiritual level. The mood is set by building constantly building tension in the music that only climaxes in the last few seconds as the lady realizes that only the spirit within her, not gold, can buy her everlasting salvation.

In conclusion, songwriting is a combination of personal experience and the ability to step outside oneself. It is the knowledge of music and the creativity that comes from spending countless hours with a guitar or a piano. Most of all, it satisfies the desire in all of us to breath life into our thoughts and ideas and leave a permanent mark on the world.

Lori Mortimore- author and songwriter

originally posted at http://www.Musicxspot.com

Lori Mortimore More2moremusic

Songwriting - What's in a Song?

2008-10-29T11:12:00.001-07:00

By Steve Cheeks

There are many myths about songs and songwriting that we have either heard from someone in our life, or even conjured up in our imaginations. To most people, and even many musicians alike, songs can be as vast as the ocean we gaze out upon from the shore, with all its great mysteries and depths of unknown. In my own studies, I have found that songs are not that complicated at all.

In fact, songs are merely sections of music pieced together to create one cohesive composition. No matter the genre or style of music you study or plan to compose, you will find that songs are actually broken down into sections and the sections have names. But o be clear here at this point,for times sake we are only discussing Modern Contemporary Music (the last fifty years or so) and are covering most top genres (Pop, Rock, R&B, Country etc.).

Another point worth mentioning here is that there are typical scenarios that take place when constructing songs. Although most writers will use successful and proven formulas when composing music, their are no "have to be's" just "probablies" . If there were ever a place for the saying "rules are made to be broken", it is definitely in the songwriting format. So remember this anytime you see the word "typically"mentioned in the article.

1. Song sections have names: Even if your exposure to music has been minimal,you've probably heard some of the musical terms like chorus, verse or bridge. These are just some of the names given to sections to describe their function in a song. Others might be the introduction (intro), lead break, middle eight or mid section.

2. The function of sections: The chorus of a song is typically where you find the song title. This is also where you will find the main "hook" of the song. The hook of the song is the part of the song that gets "stuck in your head" and want let go. A singable hook is a key component of a successful song. The verse is the section that "talks" about the hook or song title. The intro is typically a smaller part of a section (verse or chorus) that introduces the song. Strong songs typically have strong intros. A mid section (mid eight) will be the section of the song that will sound noticeably different from the other sections of music. And of course, the lead break is the section where a lead instrument, such as the guitar or saxophone, takes over the melody.

3. Section lengths: Sections are created by measures of music also called bars. The bars are where the beats and chords dwell. A typical bar has four beats. Typically, sections of music are eight bars (measures) long. Modern Contemporary Music songs are typically three and a half to four minutes in length.

4. Melodies and Chord Progressions: Inside the sections are melodies, lyrics and chords. The melody is the tune of the song that you sing or play. The chords accompany the melody. The order in which you play the chords are referred to as the chord progression. Each section has a chord progression. The lyrics are the words to the song that you sing.

5. Connecting the Sections: The order in which you connect the sections of music is called the arrangement of the song. Although there are typical orders of arrangement, again, there are no "have to be's" just "probablies." The typical order of a song arrangement will vary from style to style and has changed with the trends in music over the past fifty years. A great barometer for a budding songwriter would be to check out the genre and style that they are currently composing. This will help to identify what order typical arrangements can be.

It is always a great idea to study songs that have been written in the style or genre that you would like to compose, as well as, any other successful songs that you think would help you with in understanding musical composition. A couple of old time sayings come to mind when talking about songs and songwriting. "Don't try to reinvent the wheel", and "Don't fix it if it ain't broke". In other words, your best bet is to use the arrangements and formulas for songs that are tried and true.

For more on this and other music related subjects visit us at http://www.stevecheeksstudio.com

Steve Cheeks is musical psalmist, songwriter and teacher, having accomplished many various instruments and has written many songs. Steve now is on a mission to get the whole world playing, singing and writing music. He resides in Evans Ga.

Songwriting Techniques For Better Intros - Creating Impact

2008-05-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

By implementing great songwriting techniques during your song intros to add freshness and originality, you can set yourself apart from the average songwriter playing arpeggiated chords for 4-8 bars in the intro. In this article, we'll explore how to make song intros more powerful and effective using various songwriting techniques, so that, by the end of the article, you'll be able to better explore this concept on your own and immediately apply it to your songwriting. Songwriting lesson

Song Writing Tips: How To Add A Distinctive Flavor To Your Songs

2008-04-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

Some songs sound absolutely phenomenal with just a voice and an accompanying instrument such as guitar or piano. But these are rare, and most songs end up needing that extra special ingredient to make them stand out as worthy songs. Songwriting lesson

Song Writing: To Find Yourself In The Music You Compose

2008-04-28T00:27:00.000-07:00

What is songwriting? What is composing? Do you really compose when you write songs or are you just copying? Songwriting lesson

How To Write Songs Like A Pro - Part 1

2008-04-24T04:13:00.001-07:00

By Orlando Gutierrez

One of the questions my readers frequently ask is, "How can I learn to write songs if I don't play an instrument and have no musical experience." I usually answer that question with another question. "Do you like music and haven't you been listening to music all your life? Then of course you can.

But before you start emptying your pockets on songwriting courses and e-books, I'd like to show you the cheapest, easiest, and most effective way by far to get your songwriting on the right track so you can learn how to write songs like a pro!

If you like music, the only thing that'll hold you back from reaching your goal of becoming a darn good songwriter is lack of information and desire, not necessarily in that order. You're in luck! I'm going to give you the information but you have to provide the desire.

Like any other career or vocation, in songwriting, what you put in is what you get out! There is no easy shortcut but the good news is you can actually be running up in no time creating songs worthy enough to sing in front of your mirror with the blow dryer as your microphone. Just keep the vocal belting to a minimum until you read the following tips on how to write songs, even if you have no musical background other than listening:

1. Understand there are two main parts of actual songwriting: writing lyrics, and writing music.

2. The first thing you should do if you're serious about songwriting, is buy "The Craft Of Lyric Writing" by Sheila Davis. It is super-cheap through Amazon.com and hands down, the bible of lyric writing, and it is one of two books you'll probably ever need for developing your "lyrics" chops.

While you're studying this book, start experimenting by writing lyrics and inventing your own melodies no matter how silly you think they may appear to someone outside your comfort zone. To become a great lyricist, you need to know the basics first, and you need to start practicing consistently by applying what you've learned. Soon enough your ideas and lyrics will come straight from your heart! Boy, that sounds cheesy, but it's true.

3. Next, if you haven't already, consider learning how to play either guitar or piano. Although there are a few highly successful songwriters in music history who never played an instrument, the majority of songwriters do. The good news is there are a handful of good software and e-courses available on the market to give you a shortcut to success in this area. Jamorama and Guitar Alliance are great for learning guitar and are the closest thing to having a real guitar teacher for a fraction of the cost, and Piano Wizard does the trick for learning piano/keyboards.

4. Realistically, after a month or so, if you're serious about it, you will have probably written the lyrics to your very first song! Imagine the shock and delight on your Chihuahua's face when you sing it! At this point you should have finished reading "The Craft Of Lyric Writing", so take some time to look at your lyrics and run it through the principles you have learned in the book, and you may be able to determine some of what works and what doesn't. By reading and re-reading this book from time to time, songwriting basics will eventually become second-nature to you, and you will be able to recognize strengths and flaws in your songwriting easily.

The building blocks for successful songwriting begin with learning the basics. If you're an intermediate or advanced songwriter you probably have Sheila Davis's book, so don't hesitate to review all the basic songwriting principles every now and then-it can only help!

Now that you have the secret to lyrical success, in Part II, I'll show you the only songwriting book to purchase (really cheap) to teach you the "musical" aspect of songwriting, and how to use it to your advantage. In the end, you will have spent less than $25.00 on the three most effective songwriting resources ever published by buying them "used and in good condition" from Amazon.com." You'll be on your way, in a big way!

Orlando Gutierrez is a former Warner/Chappell Staff songwriter who dedicates most of his time to his website, http://www.songwriteradvisor.com, in order to provide innovative songwriting tips and techniques to give songwriters an edge over the competition in an ever-changing music industry. Visit the website and take a look at the songwriting books page for more info relating to this article at: http://www.songwriteradvisor.com/songwriting-books.html

(c) Copyright - Orlando Gutierrez All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Songwriting Idea - Building An Ideas Archive

2008-04-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

By Corey Stewart

Most songwriters I know write with an acoustic guitar but I am amazed at how many of them don't record their ideas on tape but rely on their memory.

I set aside some time each day to just pick up my guitar and noodle. I just play whatever comes to mind and I always have a tape player handy so when I get a hint of something to develop I simply press record and play and put the idea down.

When I'm done with that I just go onto the next idea. The beauty about this process is that I am not under any pressure to remember any ideas that I may have conjured up in that time, I've already recorded them. If I forget them it doesn't matter.

When I'm noodling I am also singing whatever comes into my head. It's taken me a long time to just be able to babble rubbish into a tape player and not feel bad about it. When I am lyrically noodling I am only interested in the melodies and the rhythms I come up with.

The actual lyrics can come later. At this stage I am not even looking to finish a song, just gathering ideas, phrases, riffs and melodies and getting them down on tape.

After a while you start to develop a collection of tapes with your noodlings. An aural journal if you will. Once you have say, two or three 60 or 90 minute tapes full of stuff, it's then time to listen back and hear what you've done.

Be warned, your inner voice is going to have a wonderful time telling you how bad it sounds and how awful the lyrics are but you have to ignore it and look at your ideas as just that, ideas that are not finished yet.

You will be amazed at how many ideas you would've forgotton. It would be like hearing it for the first time and it's from this perspective that songs get completed.

Just think, with your ever growing list of possible song titles at your disposal and your musical and lyrical noodlings on tape, imagine how many more songs you are going to be able to write.

Exciting isn't it?

Corey Stewart is a published Singer/Songwriter from Australia who has his own songwriting blog and his own website.

He also has a FREE eReport for you to download. It's called "11 Ways To Eliminate Writers Block FOREVER!" and you can get it HERE

Songwriting Techniques - 7 Tricks For Improving Creativity

2008-04-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

By Jean Littman

Have you ever wondered how the great songwriters of our time keep the ideas coming? They seem to have an inexhaustible supply of great ideas that we connect with again and again. How do they do that? They must have gathered a good store of songwriting techniques somewhere along the way, that's for sure.

The best songwriters usually achieve their fluency by writing about everyday topics such as love, using a different angle each time. In this way, their audience remains interested and entertained by having an old and familiar subject treated in a new and interesting way.

It would be interesting to know exactly how songwriters achieve this. What particular techniques and practices do these songwriters use to keep their material fresh and their creative output prolific? Although each songwriter is different, there are a number of songwriting techniques which can help to nurture and develop the creative juices. Try some of these:

1. Practice singing harmony. As a songwriter, one of the best skills that you can develop is to sing harmony on the fly. By singing harmony on the fly you are really 'composing'.

2. Listen to lots of different music. Listening to other writers' music can give creativity a real jump start. The subconscious can pick up riffs, nuances and tone which can help a writer to write much more fluently.

3. Keep a digital recorder and/or notebook with you at all times. It's impossible to predict when inspiration will strike, or a new melody might come to you.

4. Make time to jam with others. Getting songs ready for a jam session can help creativity and song fluency.

5. Find supporters. Writing music is very personal and difficult to produce without positive feedback. Having friends who really enjoy your music and provide encouragement helps to keep you motivated and inspired.

6. Don't censor yourself. If you have a strange or unusual idea for a song, use it and keep going with the song. You can change it later if you still don't like it.

7. Think in multiple lines of instrumentation. When music is going through your head, try to stretch your composition ability by thinking in multiple lines of music. This is not easy, but the more lines of instrumentation you can hold in your mind, the better you will be able to compose.

And remember that just because a song is popular or easily understood, it doesn't mean that it's not creatively sound. Music is subjective, and is definitely in the eye of the beholder. The song you like the least could be well be someone else's favorite.

So don't every stop being creative and artistic. Use some of these great songwriting techniques and keep that inspiration and creativity simmering away. And always remember that there are people out there who want to hear your message!

Jean Littman is co-owner of the guitar and music resource site GuitaroJam.com Free newsletter and music related articles, online guitar lessons, guitar tips and techniques. Read interesting songwriting articles and learn new songwriting tips and techniques

Songwriting: Can You Write a Song?

2008-03-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

By Duane Shinn

Wouldn't it be great to be able to write a song especially for a special celebration, or to honor someone that you love? Some people seem to have a natural talent for writing songs. Perhaps you've always believed you aren't one of those people. Think again. If you've ever had the inkling to write a song, you probably have what it takes. All you need are a few tools to help you get started.

Would it surprise you to know that many bestselling books, blockbuster movies, and even songs started out as nothing but a title? Believe it or not, starting with nothing but a title is your best bet. Forget lyrics for now. Don't worry if you can't read music and don't play an instrument. Focus on a title. The title should be born from the heart of the song, your inspiration for writing a song. What is it that moved you to want to write a song in the first place? That's what your title should be.

Some rules of thumb for titling your song: keep it fairly simple. Three to five words are usually best. Sometimes one or two words can capture the emotion as well as 3 or 4. More than five is typically too many, unless it's a comedy song. The title will often appear as a line somewhere in the lyrics of the song. But this isn't necessarily the case. The title may simply reflect the subject of the song, or even who the song is for/about (for example: "Nadia's Theme").

Once you have a title, you have a starting point, a place from which your thoughts can flow. Now you need to think structure. Most every song ever written follows a similar structure: a verse, chorus, another verse, chorus, bridge, and chorus. A good pop song usually has no more than 2 to 3 verses at most. Don't stress out too much over stanza numbers. You'll probably want more than one, but if you can't come up with more than two your song will be just fine. Similarly, don't go overboard. Most listeners will fall asleep long before the ninth stanza.

When it comes to the chorus, four to six lines are probably adequate. You may even have as many as eight, but more than that and your song may become drudgery. An experienced songwriter may pull off a ten-line chorus, but for your first try you should keep it simple.

The bridge of the song is something like a short interlude. It too should be fairly simple, no more than four to six lines in length. The bridge is the part of the song that ties all of your thoughts together. It might be the solution to the problem you are singing about. It might be an epiphany that has resulted from all of the other thoughts in the song. It should not present a new thought, however; otherwise it's not really a bridge, and it's just another verse. It should be a natural segue from the ideas presented in the verses to the chorus.

Once your words are complete, you can focus on the melody. If you read music and play an instrument, this part is probably easy for you. If you aren't a skilled transcriptionist and you want to have the music scored out, you may need to enlist someone to transcribe for you. This is probably not a necessity, though, unless you plan to have it played by a band or you want to market it.

Chances are, for your first attempt, just you and a piano or guitar will suffice. If you don't read music, you can find a musical friend to help, or even hire a professional. This is an especially good idea if you plan to present the song publicly.

Your first song doesn't have to be a billboard hit. Music is meant to touch the soul. If that's what your song has done, even for just a few people, then you've accomplished what you set out to do. Writing songs just for your own personal benefit can be a good thing, even if no one else hears them. It can be very therapeutic, and it's an excellent way to express your inner emotions. Once you start, you might find you have a knack for song writing after all.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular DVD home study course on playing piano titled Crash Course In Exciting Piano Playing!

Tips on Songwriting

2008-03-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

By Darren Monson

Step #1 - THE THEME

Try and say something in a new or original way. Instead of saying "I want you back", Toni Braxton said, "Unbreak My Heart". Instead of saying "I love you", Ne-Yo's song "When You're Mad" explains how he loves her even when she's mad.

This is a very simple difference but it can be the difference between a tired subject or a fresh angle on a common theme.

Theme's that usually work best are those that engage the emotion of the listener, the reason "love and relationships" is so popular in music is because most people think about those subjects a lot, and understandably like to listen to music that communicates their inner fears/hope/experiences on those subjects.

Step #2 - THE TITLE

A good title should be instantly memorable, it should put a picture in your mind of an event or situation and it should lend itself to a catchy melody, or one that's suitable for your music style.

A good title will naturally lend itself to a catchy hook, finding that title can be hard, especially when so many songs have been released over the decades ... how can you find a new one?!

One way is to keep your "antenna up". Be aware of what people are saying around you and if you are writing for a teen market, take a look at teen magazines, if it's urban you want then check out urban mags. Words and phrases are everywhere ... you just need to pick up on them when they come!

Finding a title that paints a picture all on it's own is also very important because it will create a deeper connection with the listener. The best songs create images in the listeners mind or evoke an emotion, your title will help achieve this.

Elton John's "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" instantly evokes an emotion that can be identified by all of us ... a time where we have experienced how hard it can be to say sorry even though we know we should!

Step #3 - THE LYRICS

A good lyric paints a picture, it says things in a new and unique way whilst dealing with topics that most of us can relate to.

Country music often has fantastic lyric writing. One clever technique is to create a story that suddenly flips and means something completely different the moment you hit the chorus. This is just one technique for engaging the listener, or keeping them on their toes.

Another is to word things in a new way, like the song we mentioned earlier "Un-break My Heart". Keep the chorus lyrics the same so as it remains easy to remember. You could also keep the pre chorus, or bridges the same too.

Avoid too many words such as "Love, Baby, Girl etc". If used too often they can sound shallow and cheesy. Keep your rhyme patterns equal and intuitive. Too many rhyming words can be off putting. For example:

"Looking at you, I see the truth, baby it's true, there's only you"

This sentence is smothered in rhymes and sounds clumsy.

The following would work better:

"Looking at you, the truth I see, there's no one else, you're all I need"

If using this rhyme pattern with the second and fourth lines rhyming, you should keep the same pattern in verse 2 so that your song lyric has a continuity throughout.

Another popular rhyme pattern is to match the 2nd and 4th lines, along with the 1st and 3rd lines:

"Read my mind, and you will know, the love inside, will never go"

A good place to start your lyric writing is to scribble down lots of words and phrases that are relevant to your song theme. Use this as a kind of pallet from which you can draw ideas from at a later date.

For example, if my theme was about feeling like a star, I might start by writing everything that comes to mind about being famous or rich ...

celebrity, fame, money, limousine, jewelry, car on cruise, back at the pool, diamond, gucci etc etc.

Anything at all to get brainstorming. These can then be mixed up and called upon when you are forming your lyrics, just like you would use colours when painting a picture.

A good tool to use is a rhyming dictionary. There are many good ones on line and can be found via search engines.

Step #4 - THE VOCAL MELODY

The vocal melody is extremely important as this is usually what the listener will remember and hum whilst in the shower!

The idea is to create depth and interest whilst keeping the melody simple enough that most people can sing along to it.

The hook must be 'catchy' or 'memorable'. Take Elton Johns song "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". Now if you know this song you will understand that just to read those words is enough to 'hear' Elton's vocal melody in your mind.

The vocal melody is simple and catchy enough to be memorable without needing to hear any music ... now that's catchy!

Always add colour: By this I mean create more than what is already there. If there is a D Major chord being played, try singing a note other than those in a D Major chord.

If the music has long chords, sing with a faster rhythm. If the chords are played low, try singing an octave higher to add more colour.

This technique of adding colour can be applied with the melody itself. For example, if the verse has long vocal notes, try switching it in the bridge to short rhythmic notes and change again for the chorus. Apply the principle of adding colour to your music and vocals to create a richer and more interesting melody.

Always ask yourself honestly, "do I lose interest at a certain point in this song?". If you do, rework the melody to give the listener something to keep their interest.

Step #5 - THE ARRANGEMENT

A lot of otherwise good songs are ruined by poor arrangement. In fact it can be the one area that is neglected and considered not important.

A good arrangement is very important and is more complex that one may first think.

You may want to have a standard three and a half minute song, and you'd be wise in doing so seeing as most hit songs run at this length ( Maybe it's the optimum length for a human brain to absorb information without getting bored?!)

let's assume your going for a three and a half minute song, that doesn't give you much time to squeeze everything in, and in what order should you place things? What good ideas should you leave out? These are tough questions and ultimately come under one heading "The Arrangement".

The average song will have the following arrangement (although this is only a guide):

Up tempo Song

Intro

Verse 1

Bridge

Chorus

Verse 2

Bridge

Chorus

Chorus

Middle 8

Chorus

Chorus

Slow Song

Intro

Verse 1

Bridge

Chorus

Verse 2

Chorus

Middle 8

Chorus

Chorus

Quick Tips:

*Don't make the intro too long, stick to 8 or 16 bars.

*Listen back to your song from the beginning and ask yourself if it flows naturally, or if there are sections that lose energy/interest.

*Get to the hook/chorus quickly to 'grab' the listener.

Step #6 - THE PRODUCTION

In some R&B and Pop songs the production has in some cases taken over in importance to the vocal melody. This is not surprising if you have been in a night club and experienced certain songs and the power of the production.

Times have changed, especially in R&B and Hip Hop. It is no good to send a demo to a label saying, "please imagine this with proper production", because the production is 50% of the song.

That is almost like saying "here's a great piece of music, please imagine it with a good chorus"!

The production is more than putting the right effects on the instruments and balancing them out, it is the overall mood of the track and determines how professional it ends up sounding.

Odd sounds that seem irrelevant to many people like for example, a vocal breath, can transform a song if used in the right context. A song that would go unnoticed can suddenly inspire interest if the right sound is used correctly ... A named 'super producer' commented that non tonal sounds, like hitting a table or ashtray can add a great deal of interest and energy to a song.

Most people will hear a song and make a judgment as to whether they like it within seconds based on the overall sound. They may get to love the song but unless the production is inviting they may never listen to it twice.

The biggest mistake people make is to present a song with a list of excuses. The plain truth is that a song is a combination of sounds and the listener will hear them all as one and no excuse will change their first experience of the song or how they emotionally respond. Get the production right!

Visit London Recording Studios for pro demo services and online recording facilities. Great prices and producers at Apple Beam Studios.

Learning How to Play Guitar Intervals Opens The Door To Writing Your Own Songs

2008-03-26T04:12:00.000-07:00

As you get further along with your beginner guitar lessons, you might decide you want to learn how to play guitar intervals. These are very important to learn at some point in order to be able to play music more efficiently and to be able to write your own music easily. In the simplest of terms, an interval is the distance between two individual notes when played one after the other. Songwriting article

Songwriting with the Electric Guitar

2008-03-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

The electric guitar is probably the easiest instrument to use for writing songs. This is due to the fact that it is played through an amplifier. Most amplifiers have many knobs to adjust for getting the sound that you desire. You can usually adjust the level of bass, treble, middle and gain. Some amps have other effects to use, such as reverb and chorus. Reverb is a form of very short delay and can be used to add depth to the sound. The chorus effect is odd but thickens the sound the amp produces. A few amps out there have built-in effects that may add delay, flanger and distortion. Even if your amp does not include these effects, you can purchase pedals that produce any of them and these = will make it easier to write a unique song. Another reason to use effects is to write a song using less effect because the effect will do most of the work for you. Some people prefer not to use effects but if you are attempting to write songs using a guitar as the only instrument, it would be a wise choice to have overdrive and delay effects on hand. Songwriting lesson

Songwriting Lesson: Breaking Out Of Writer's Block

2008-02-22T12:43:00.000-08:00

At one point or another in our songwriting, virtually all of us find ourselves suffering from writer's block or "uninspired music syndrome" (everything you write sounds the same). Here's some old tips along with a few of my personal favorites that might help you break through that songwriting block and get back to writing good songs again. Songwriting lesson

Songwriting tips: Don't wait for inspiration!

2008-02-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

You shouldn't always wait for inspiration, to write a song. Inspiration can sometimes take time to come. You should schedule some time to sit down and think of songwriting ideas. Sometimes it's good to just start writing whatever comes to mind and then pick out the best ideas. If you write a certain number of songs, chances are that one may be a great song. (Maybe a hit). Read more...

Song Writing: Is It Hard Or Easy To Write A Song?

2008-01-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

By Peter Edvinsson

Do you feel that it is easy to write songs? Can anyone be creative? A song is the end product produced by stimulating your song writing powers in many different ways. Let's take a look!

Here are some tips on how to stimulate and develop your song writing abilities:

Listen

An obvious tips of course! You have to listen to songs to find and develop your taste. But don't just listen to the music you usually listen to. Listen to things you don't normally hear on the radio. It will help your unconscious to create more interesting songs.

I recall that John or Paul in the Beatles talked about the music they heard on the radio when they were young. The radio channels in those days played many different types of music and they were inspired by the melodies heard on the radio like evergreens, jazz, folk music and classical music and so on.

On commercial radio channels nowadays you'll often find very niched music but I think it is important to find music that differs a lot from your normal taste. All these musical ideas will hopefully mold into interesting new melody lines. A form of fusion music.

Chord progressions

Sit down with your guitar or at your piano just playing chords that loosely seem to fit together. Don't worry about the quality of your progressions. It is important to have moments when you play without evaluating things, otherwise you will not dare to take the step into the unknown.

Song melodies

Humming melodies as you play chords on your guitar or piano in a relaxed manner will stimulate your creative powers. If you find it hard to improvise melodies, it might comfort you to know that it is a talent but also a skill that can be dveloped by practice. It can become a form of meditation that will clear your mind, stimulate your imagination and improvisational skills.

Lyrics

Well, what do you expect me to write here? Right, humming melodies with nonsense lyrics is a great way to stimulate and actually write a song. Nonsense lyrics might not be the apropriate term as every word you sing can trigger ideas that will lead you to a phrase that might be the beginning of a great song.

Documentation

A very boring and bureaucratic word indeed but somehow you have to find a way to remember all nice words and melodies. A recording device like an mp3-player, mobile, digital recorder or tape recorder might do. The simpler the better. You can of course do as I do, write sheet music and lyrics on scrap paper. However, this requires you to know sheet music notation unless you have invented your own notational system.

Using a computer

Personally I have discovered the advantage of using a word processor at this final stage of creating the song lyrics. I usually write down the text with a font size that will fill a printed page. This makes it easy to see the text on the screen and taste the lyrics with my heart.

This might sound a little weird but I guess that you want the listener to feel the same as you feel when you sing the song. You have to be touched by you own song first.

When you have the lyrics on your computer you can change a word here, a word there and and read the words over and over. One day you will realize that the song is complete and you can relax and be proud over your creation.

A song is not a song until it is sung

Well, this means that you have to give your song a chance to shine by singing it, working on your way to perform it and learning it by heart. By singing a song often, even in front of other people, it will most likely mature and the performance will develop and convey the message of the song better and better.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com

To Find Yourself In Your Song Writing

2007-12-22T02:55:00.000-08:00

Are you there somewhere? I mean in the music you compose. How can you be creative in your songwriting and leave the imprints of your heart in the music you compose?

Have you ever asked yourself what songwriting and composing really is? What is the difference between composing and copying?

It can be a very rewarding activity to write songs and you can write your songs in many ways.

The creative parts of you brain can be more or less activated or you can stimulate the more calculating parts of your intellect.

Maybe you have experienced the same things that I have. That the demands to produce a good song can be contraproductive. The pressure stops the creative flow.

Many times it is more rewarding to just sit down humming or singing with a guitar or piano without expectations.

This way you practice your voice in comfortable pitches and you can also practice the great art of comping. Yes, this songwriting activity helps you develop yourself as a musician.

Suddenly you find yourself with a wonderful melody in your lap. What to do?

Have you ever realized that you have forgotten a wonderful melody you have sung just a few minutes ago. It is a painful experience is it not?

It is better to be prepared for the wonder of finding a perfect melody. A recording device like an mp3-player or something else that will help you preserve your creative manifestations should always be handy.

Well, it could also be a piece of paper to write your lyrics and sheet music on.

It is a matter of faith. If you have faith that a creative wonder can happen you will always be prepared.

Another creativity trigging activity is to start your recording equipment and just start to play on your guitar or piano humming along.

The fact that you are recording what you do can help you do your best and if you actually create a fantastic melody it is there for you you improve upon and elaborate on.

Even if you do not create something fantastic you can sit back after having recorded this way and see if you can find something to spare for future use.

What about limitations? What is limitations and how can they help you be more creative.

Have you ever tried to write music to lyrics already written? sometimes this is easier than to start from zero.

The limitation of having lyrics already written consists of the fact that you have to write a melody that fits the lyrics and also recreate and maybe also enhance the mood of the song.

You can give yourself other limitations like deciding in which key to sing, what type of song you will compose, rock, ballad, waltz and so on.

Some people create the melody as the last crowning part of the song. They start with a rhythm, a groove, the chords, a nice bass part and so on. Suddenly it becomes easy to just put in a fitting melody on these backing tracks.

Triggering the creative parts or your personality may give results when you don't expect it. To find yourself in the music you create is indeed a refreshing mental and emotional experience.

Download your free sheet music at Capotasto Music

Tips For Songwriting Part One - Intro, Verse, And Bridge

2007-12-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

By Lynne May

INTRO

The Intro (introduction) is the first thing your listener will hear. It should be catchy and interesting. It might consist of chords from the CHORUS and an interesting guitar or keyboard lick. The reasoning behind making the chords the same as the CHORUS is that when the listener hears the chorus, it will sound familiar. People like things that are familiar.

The catchy little intro "lick" should be something that the listener will remember. Ideally, as soon as someone hears this lick, they will be able to identify the song. Think of the intro to "Smoke on the Water" or "Dream On". A good intro lick will become your song's "calling card".

This catchy lick is called a "hook", meaning that it "hooks" the ear of the listener. A hook is usually repeated at some time during the song and may be a line of lyric as well as a musical lick or riff. Many songs have more than one hook.

VERSE

The verse is the main building-block of a song. Verses are responsible for developing your idea and keeping your listeners interested. Each verse should take your idea to a different level or place. Each verse should describe a new aspect of your central theme (presented in the Chorus).

All verses should have the same basic melody and different lyrics. Small variations in the melody to accommodate the lyrics are acceptable.

The first verse is probably the most important. It should make your listeners feel that they can relate to the message--like the song could almost be about THEM. It also must stir some kind of emotion that makes your listener want to hear the rest of the song.

How long is a verse? Usually eight bars, sometimes twelve or sixteen--most of the time in multiples of four--but NOT ALWAYS. Listen to some of your favorite songs and notice the structure and length of the verses.

BRIDGE

The Bridge is a separate section of a song which acts as a break from the rest of the song. It provides a different perspective on your subject or adds a new dimension. The bridge usually occurs between two choruses, and should add a new level or perspective after the first chorus while leading the listener to the second chorus, on which the listener will now have a new "angle".

The bridge must remain consistent with the rest of the song--it must be about the same basic theme, but with a new "twist". The bridge is usually eight measures long. but could be longer.

You might make the bridge stand out by using chords that you haven't used before. You also might change the rhythm.

The next lesson cover the remaining components of a song: Pre- Chorus, Chorus, and Outro. It also includes a discussion of instrumental breaks and interludes. http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com

Visit this site for free (really--no trial periods, no tricks--just FREE!) guitar, drum, piano, theory and composition lessons.

Song Writing Tips For The Beginner Songwriter

2007-12-01T01:03:00.000-08:00

By Andrew Gavin Webber

Writing songs on the keyboard or piano.

As a song writer, you will always end up with a method that works best for you, whether or not you learn the art of songwriting from a professional songwriter.

I can only speak from my own experience as far as songwriting is concerned, so for myself, playing the guitar and a little piano has helped a lot in my own personal style of songwriting.

For someone just starting out with songwriting, I would suggest buying a small keyboard to help get ideas down.

The nice thing about the piano or keyboard is that if you stick to the key of C, the chords are very easy to play.

Another very usable feature for writing songs on the keyboard is the auto accompaniment function. Setting a good beat and style for a song before you write it can work very nicely towards getting inspired.

A note of caution though, is to remember not to use the one finger feature when creating chords, as you won't know what it is that you played.

Why I write songs on the guitar.

The main reason why I write songs on a guitar is because that's my main instrument. Many people who play guitar, even if they are novices at it, somehow, like myself, seem to prefer it as a song writing tool.

As a fairly advanced guitarist, and I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet here, heck, I don't even own a trumpet.

Okay, where was I now?

Oh yes, I can use guitar riffs, off beats and various other little music nuances to really get the song happening.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it really helps to have a good mastery of the instrument when writing songs.

Be that as it may, the essence of a good song, and I'm talking from a commercial appeal point of view, is good melody, chords that sit nicely on the ear (no funny pictures please) and a good beat.

How to write lyrics.

Now this is the real scary part, mostly because a lot of people thing they are good lyricists, when in fact they aren't.

I need to make a very clear distinction here between poetry and song lyrics. They are not the same.

The thing with song lyrics is that they don't have to be that good, they still need to be meaningful though.

Good song lyrics communicate a feeling or concept in easily understandable words that have a tendency towards rhyme.

Writing lyrics for songs is a bit of a black art, if you ask me. Listen to the greatest lyricists of our time, and try to get a feel for what they did that was so powerful.

One thing that they do very effectively is communicate. Listen to Bob Dylan, he's very clever and a natural.

I would love it if you payed a visit to my Songwriting tips page to find out how I approach song writing.

Song Writing: The Digital Songwriter

2007-11-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

By Dennis R. Sinnott

A whole new style of composing music and writing lyrics has arrived in the form of digital songwriting.

By using hi tech home studio equipment and software, you can now record your music and lyrics at the same time as you actually write your songs.

In the Sixties and Seventies, the most any young songwriter could have hoped for, would have been a 10/50/50 song deal with a music publisher - any music publisher. Whether or not the songs would have been published was another matter. At that time, the ratio of works accepted but not actually published, may have been less than eight in every hundred. In reality, most songs acquired by publishers were left on the shelf to gather dust. If any were eventually published, mainly because an artist had covered (recorded) his work, it would have made the average songwriter feel like he'd won a week in heaven - especially if they had printed his music. If you could go back in a time machine and reveal to mister Sixties songwriter/producer that today he could not only record, arrange and mix his own songs on a virtual home studio, he could also publish, release, distribute and, with the aid of midi, print off the sheet music (in several keys) all on the same day - he would probably have had a heart attack!

So what is this thing called digital music and why did it have such an impact on the music industry? Believe it or not digital was first introduced as a kind of "upgrade" to its older cousin ' analog. Actually, there are still some recording artists and producers today who prefer analog claiming there's a quality or originality to it that cannot be "captured" or reproduced using digital. Recordings in the Sixties, for example, are famous for having a distinctive analog sound of their own. Perhaps so - but most today, I would argue, prefer digital, not just for recording, but also for the advantages in transmitting, distributing, storing, retrieving, and even reconfiguring electronically.

You may get a better idea of digital if you compare it directly to analog. Think of analog as a speedometer on a car. The speed you're traveling is revealed by the arrow moving round the dial. Digital, on the other hand, can only function by using zeroes and ones (0 or 1) and may be restricted in reading the values to a tenth in between numbers. One of the many difficulties which have now been overcome ' is in changing digital to analog and vice versa. Interestingly, a compact disc functions by using both analog and digital. The audio sound exists initially in analog. Then, the disc is encoded digitally. In reading the disc, the player converts the audio back to analog when the sound comes out of the speakers.

By recording and composing music at the same time, the digital songwriter has neatly bypassed many of the obstacles faced by his predecessors including the prospect of publishing his own works on his web site. By adapting to new technology - he's also realized another great prospect: in recording the music he will also own the copyright in the masters (embodied performance). In doing so, he starts to cross into the producer/artist realm. Some may see this as an opportunity of reopening former days as an artist - and or promoting the name and product (new recordings) of a previous time. Whatever your reasons - if you're approaching digital music as a performer/writer with a view to self publishing, there remains two extremely important questions: Is the product commercial? How do I market it? Both points are as relevant today as they have always been.

Knowing what is Commercial is something anyone can achieve with great accuracy through simple, regular research - and yes, using your instincts. Check your niche of the market and see what and who is selling. In making judgments on what is commercial, you need to trust your instincts, too. It's not just what or who is selling the most, or in great numbers in a particular genre, it's also about what or who is going to be selling the most, or in great numbers in the next six, twelve and twenty four month periods from now.

Marketing your product is something you can also learn as skillfully as creating commercial songs. Remember also, it's not just a case of what is selling well in your own country (important as this is). You need to be thinking on an international level if you want to expand your selling rate significantly. The first thing, after publishing your product, is to start promoting your web site using lots of good solid links from other sites. Design the pages with one thought in mind: collect email addresses to build a sustained opt in fan base. Go all out to make your website appealing and well above the average looking site.

Have regular up to date articles, photos and data about you or your band with information on forthcoming gigs. Respond quickly and enthusiastically to people emailing you with any questions. The more interest you create the stronger your fan base. Anyone who is serious about this can use auto responders. I have lots of friends who love to write and produce product - especially other artists. This means they can publish lots of different artists. If this is the area that interests you be sure to have an updated digital agreement to cover non-exclusive master rights. Once you decide to start, aim to build two main catalogs, one for publishing, and one for record licensing then watch your catalogs, profits and success rate grow.

Dennis Sinnott is a music consultant in the entertainment industry. He was formerly Head Of Copyright at EMI Music in London and is now a leading music consultant in the entertainment industry. You can contact him today at:
dennis@musicenquiries.com
http://www.MusicEnquiries.com

Song Writing: Getting Your Song Idea Underway

2007-11-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

By Paul Warren

I had to write up a flow diagram the other day for the process I need to follow to get a song/lyric from idea to completion. You might find it useful:

1./ You are walking down the street thinking about nothing in particular. One thought leads to another and suddenly you are struck by what seems to be a great idea. A concept arrives waiting to be fleshed out. This is often called ' The Muse'. Any bit of inspiration or muse that passes by is worthy of pursuing. It might come from your walk down the street or it might come from an exercise such as object writing. Object writing is the process of writing from your senses about a particular object/thing/person/place or time, within a set time frame of 5 or ten minutes.

2./ If your great idea has not come from object writing then you need to do some; Find a quiet place to set yourself up with pen and notepad, or word processor if you're computer inclined. Set a stopwatch or timer, most mobile phones have one these days, and write for 10 minutes on your subject. For example this afternoon I came up with the concept of "losing altitude". This could be about a relationship running out of steam or taking a dip or going through a period of turbulence, so, the challenge is to get metaphors related to the concept and make them into useable phrases for our song. Here's some example writing;

Losing altitude, we're dropping down, my tummy is left up in the sky somewhere. Losing altitude, who's in control of this plane? I've got my hand on the controls, but you keep wrestling them away. While we're wrestling the plane is going into a dive and we're losing altitude. The ground is spinning up to meet us, I want to jump out of this plane and be free wheeling on a parachute, pulling my own cords, not be your puppet on a string. etc.

Usually you can find a few choice phrases from your stream of consciousness sense based writing that can be valuable to expand on, which is part 3.

3./ Pick key words or themes from your main idea and find rhymes. I am a great fan of the methods of Pat Pattison of Berklee Music college. In his book Writing Better Lyrics Pat advocates that we not just look for perfect rhymes, but also family rhymes, assonant rhymes and near rhymes. So, from our example we might look at the words altitude, dropping, sky, control, plane, dive, losing, spinning, parachute and cords, to find a database of rhymes we can use.

For "altitude" you might try: solitude, latitude, attitude, unscrewed, voodooed, argued, stewed, mood and feud. Now any of those combinations can open up a world of possibilities,but if you stick 'on theme' you might get a coupe of rhyming lines like;

Hey, I know we argued

and you're in a terrible mood

but, I'm reaching for my parachute, 'cos , [ I brought in one of the other key words which happened to be a near rhyme]

baby, we're losing altitude.

Not the greatest prose in the world but a starting point. What about dive? Drive, test-drive, arrive, survive, alive, real-life, jaws of life.

We're in a nose dive

this isn't a test-drive

if we're gonna survive

somebody's gonna have to go and get the jaws of life.

4./ Once you've got a few more ideas flowing try to story board your song and work out if there is a narrative flow. What will each part of the song say? To carry on the example, part one could be; boy and girl are going on holiday they are flying and he thinks that there are problems in the relationship. Part 2 could be the woman's perspective, what she thinks is wrong. Part 3, a bridge, might be them playing out disaster scenarios, and a final verse might be a happy ending as they are coming in to land at their destination, losing altitude, but in a controlled way. Could this journey be a plan to rekindle the romance?

5./ Rewrite the main idea using new lyrical/rhyming ideas within the story board

6./ If you're stuck for a rhythmic idea try to extract it from the working title of the song. Our working title of "losing altitude" could be broken up to represent he following; Loo-zing-al-ti-tude or, ta Tum ta ta Tum. Try ta Tum ta ta Tum at different speeds to see what matches the 'feel' of the song.

7./ Start speaking out loud some of your rough prose and rhyme to see how it might fit against the rhythm and start trying out melodic ideas

8./Hit the "record" button on your tape recorder or computer and get writing, and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until you're done!

For more information on home recording and songwriting visit Paul Warren's websites http://www.objectwriting.com and http://www.myhomerecordingstudio.com

Song Writing Tips For The Beginner Songwriter

2007-11-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Make Your Songs Better with These Songwriting Tips

2007-11-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

By Gary Ewer

Do you write songs? If occasionally they seem "ho-hum" to you, take a look at these suggestions for writing good melodies and chords:

MELODIES:

i) A good melody has to be memorable. It's no good if your audience can't
remember it. So make sure your melody has repeating elements. If you can get a
repeating rhythmic idea working for you along with a repeating melodic idea (like in
"Born in the U.S.A"), you've got something that will snag your audience for good.

ii) Is your song in the right key? You'd be surprised what moving it up or down
even by one note will do. Don't fall in love with the key of your song unless you're
sure it's going to work for you. Moving a song up will generally build tension, and
moving it down will allow it to relax. Put it where you need it.

iii) When should you add vocal harmonies to a melody? Chorus melodies should
feature more harmonies than verses. When lyrics are personal observations or a
recounting of events (like in verses), these will work better unharmonized. If the
lyrics are "conclusive" like the kind often found in choruses, they accept harmonies
more readily.

iv) Let your chorus melody feature the "key note" more than the verse. If the song
is in A major, let that note A occur more often in the chorus, especially at the end of
structurally important spots, like the end of the 8th bar or 16th bar. Let that key
note be more of a focus. For verses, try letting the third (C#) or the fifth (E) be more
of a focus.

__________

CHORDS:

Sometimes, just getting chord progressions that sound interesting can be a
problem. Want some chord progressions to try out? Here are some samples. Each
progression has a little harmonic "twist" which you may find interesting. Try two
beats for each chord, but also try experimenting a little. There's no copyright on
chord progressions, so feel free to use them in your songs if you wish:

i) A A/C# D D/F# F G C E
(Note: A note after a slash means that it should be the lowest sounding note in the
chord. So A/C# means play an A major chord, but have a C# note as the lowest
sounding note.)

ii) D Gdim F#m B7 E9 A7 D

iii) Cm7 Fm7 Cm7 F Eb Ab Fm Gsus4 G (Note: Play each chord for two beats, and
one beat each for the final two chords.)

These are just some ideas that will hopefully get your creative juices flowing.
Beyond these tips, the best advice is to write every day. As author Ernest Newman
has said, "The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but
becomes inspired because he is working."

Gary Ewer is a Canadian composer, arranger, clinician and music teacher. He has
written for a variety of professional ensembles. His music has been performed by
various groups, including Symphony Nova Scotia, the Elmer Isler Singers, Rhapsody
Quintet, the Cape Breton Chorale, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and
others. Presently Mr. Ewer is a full-time
instructor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, teaching aural perception, music
theory, choral techniques and orchestration, as well as conducting the Dalhousie
Chorale and the Dalhousie Chamber Choir. He is the author of "The Essential Secrets
of Songwriting" and "Gary Ewer's Easy Music Theory."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Ewer

SONGWRITING - Inspiration or Perspiration?

2007-10-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

By Kathy Unruh

Songwriting is one part inspiration and one part perspiration. It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of ideas and catchy phrases floating around in your head. Unless you get them down on paper, they won't do you any good at all. I suggest you buy yourself a small pocket notebook and keep it with you at all times. That way you can easily jot down any creative thoughts you have during the day. This should provide you with plenty of material when trying to write a new song.

Developing your listening and observational skills is another important aspect of songwriting. The gold nuggets are out there, sometimes you just need to dig a little deeper in order to find them. They are lurking in the conversations you hear, the road signs you pass, the T.V. commercials you watch, the newspapers and magazine articles you read. John Lennon wrote the Beatle's song, "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" after seeing a gun
magazine sitting on a coffee table with that headline written on it's cover. Likewise, The first lines of Roger Miller's song, "King of the Road", were written after seeing the words: "Rooms To Let 50 Cents" and "Trailers For Sale Or Rent" on two separate road signs and then reversing them.

As you have probably noticed, people love to tell stories and talk about themselves. As a songwriter, you can use these tendencies to your advantage. Try putting yourself in someone else's shoes when they're talking to you. Listen for any repetitive statements they make. Take mental notes. What stands out? What do you remember most about the person? What impression are you left with? Write it down. Fictionalize, exaggerate or minimize the information to suit your lyric.

Real life stories offer great material too. Consider Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane" for instance. It's woven around the true life story of a black prize fighter by the name of Hurricane Carter. Carter was falsely accused and then sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder he did not commit. This event sparked a protest movement involving some celebrities who made several unsuccessful attempts to secure his release. Years later, when a major motion picture staring Denzel Washington was created about the story, Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane" became a natural choice for the background theme.

Words tend to create their own rhythmical pattern according to how they are placed within a sentence or phrase. So, after you've collected some good ideas in your songwriting notebook, try to use the material to create a "hook" for your song. Be willing to experiment with different ways of saying something. Listen to the melodic structure as you speak. Take note of where your voice rises and falls. Try singing what you hear. Sing the lyric high, low, fast, and slow. Try it with a country twang, or a bluesy feel. All these things can help spark the intuitive side of your brain.

Even after you've tried all these methods however, many songwriters will tell you their best songs come when they aren't even trying! Now why do you suppose that is? I believe it has something to do with being relaxed and open enough to receive what your subconcious mind has to offer. All your past feelings and experiences are stored in there somewhere. But these resources are often blocked from your conscious mind as a result of tension and stress. And it is commonly understoodthat when a person's songwriting efforts become strictly mechanical, the results will be generally poor.To prevent this from happening to you, go for a walk, listen to music, or do something else you enjoy for a while. Taking a break can work wonders to refresh your creative spirit!

Becoming a good songwriter will require time, dedication and effort on your part. Learning to listen to others, follow your intuition, and being open to trial and error are some of the things you can do to cultivate your skills. But many gifted songwriters give up as soon as they encounter difficulties. They become discouraged when they hit a mental road block and feel their creative juices have stopped flowing. While other, less talented individuals, go on to have successful songwritng careers simply because they learn to persevere. Do you see problems as stumbling blocks or stepping stones? How you respond to obstacles will make all the difference in becoming the songwriter you dream to be.

FREE Reprint Rights - You may publish this article in your e-zine or on your web site as long as you include the following information:

Kathy Unruh is a singer/songwriter and webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar. She has been writing songs and providing guitar lessons to students of all ages for over 20 years. For free guitar lessons, plus tips and resources on songwriting, recording and creating a music career, please visit: http://www.abclearnguitar.com

Join A Songwriting Forum - It's A Good Idea!

2007-09-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

If you are a songwriter looking to get "plugged-in" to where the action is, consider joining a songwriting forum. This is a great way to meet other songwriters, share your ideas, promote your songs and/or lyrics, find resources and much more!

Songwriting tips

Songwriting Idea - Building An Ideas Archive

2007-09-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

Most songwriters I know write with an acoustic guitar but I am amazed at how many of them don't record their ideas on tape but rely on their memory.
I set aside some time each day to just pick up my guitar and noodle. I just play whatever comes to mind and I always have a tape player handy so when I get a hint of something to develop I simply press record and play and put the idea down.

Songwriting tips

Songwriting with the Electric Guitar

2007-09-19T03:35:00.000-07:00

The electric guitar is probably the easiest instrument to use for writing songs. This is due to the fact that it is played through an amplifier. Most amplifiers have many knobs to adjust for getting the sound that you desire. You can usually adjust the level of bass, treble, middle and gain. Some amps have other effects to use, such as reverb and chorus. Reverb is a form of very short delay and can be used to add depth to the sound. The chorus effect is odd but thickens the sound the amp produces. A few amps out there have built-in effects that may add delay, flanger and distortion. Even if your amp does not include these effects, you can purchase pedals that produce any of them and these = will make it easier to write a unique song. Another reason to use effects is to write a song using less effect because the effect will do most of the work for you. Some people prefer not to use effects but if you are attempting to write songs using a guitar as the only instrument, it would be a wise choice to have overdrive and delay effects on hand.

Songwriting tips

How To Write A Song

2007-09-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

Did you ever wish that it was your song playing on the radio? It could be. It is not that hard once you know the formula. With a little creativity, a little knowledge, a little luck and a good formula to follow, your song could be one of the next biggest hits.

Songwriting comes easy for some, and is very difficult for others. I have actually written songs in my sleep, and immediately upon awaking, written it as quickly as I could get the words on down on paper.

Songwriting tips

Song Writing: Why Is Completing Your Songs Important?

2007-09-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

By Peter Edvinsson

Do you find it easy to write songs? Too easy? Well, I at least have had a problem with this.

If you would visit our home and my garage you would find a lot of unfinished songs and a lot of manuscript paper with some notes on them showing that I wanted to say something with music but never finished it.

Maybe you always finish your songs, record them or have well documented lists with your songs for easy access. That's the way I work now but obviously didn't work before.

Nowadays I have started to realize the importance of finishing songs that I have found enough important to start writing in the first place.

I think it is important for you and me to complete songs we have started to write for the following reasons:

1. It is when songs are complete that other people can benefit from them and you can feel that you have contributed something to the benefit of others and to yourself.

2. It has a positive effect on your subconsious mind to take your composition the whole way to completion. It will give you the realization that you can write songs. It's that simple!

3. As I mentioned before you will avoid having a lot of unfinished songs hanging around. It can be unfinished recordings or pieces of paper with a few words on them indicating an attempt to create something that probably meant a lot then but now is just words.

If you are signed to a recording company you will be more or less forced to produce things. The product will hopefully be a CD with maybe twelve songs on it and a show for your promotion tour.

It seems like slavery to be forced to produce a product like a CD. But having this obvious goal to work towards and the pressure involved can actually promote creativity.

If you are not signed to a record label you can benefit from working with your songs in a similar way.

1. Set a goal to produce for example three songs and set the prerequisites like writing one love ballad, one uptempo song and a waltz.

2. When you have made the songs record them and burn them on a CD.

3. Learn the songs by heart and sing and play them for your friends.

Doing this will increase your faith in your ability to produce songs and I think you will feel a greater joy and satisfaction in your great enterprise to write songs for the benefit of mankind and, of course, yourself.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Songwriting Tip - Give Yourself Permission To Write

2007-09-10T04:42:00.000-07:00

By Corey Stewart

I know a few people that will spend their lives doing something they hate because their friends won't approve them being an artist. How very sad.

When it comes to songwriting you can look at it this way.

Some songwriters are so scared of writing something "bad" that they don't write at all (or as much as they would like to). They just don't give themselves permission to be themselves.

Its amazing what we tell ourselves about ourselves.

"This is no good, that is no good"

"This song is not a hit"

"I have nothing to say"

"I don't know what to write about"

How are we expected to write songs with all of this going on in our heads? What we need to do is to give ourselves permission to create.

How do we do that?

A few years ago my writing was at a very low point. Well, I wasn't writing anything.

I had this huge block as big as the Aswan Dam stopping any form of creativity coming out and because of that I was very sad, to the point of being very, very depressed.

For some reason I was allowing myself to not create and then sitting back and blaming everyone and everything for it. How silly was that?

I eventually realised that for anything that I do I am totally 100% cause in what happens so I gave myself permission to create and I slowly started to put songs down onto paper again.

People in general are so obsessed about looking good or avoiding looking bad that all risk is taken out of life leaving a mere existence in its place. Putting this in the context of songwriting we become so caught up in the end result that we forget to actually write.

How many times have you sat down to write only to talk yourself out of it? Or all of a sudden vacuuming the carpet seems to be a better thing to do? It seems that we would rather not write at all than write a so called 'bad' song.

If this is you then take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. I have been there and I would love a dollar for ever other songwriter in the world that has been in the same position.

Julia Cameron in her book "Walking In This World" (the sequel to her bestseller "The Artist's Way") says that in life we need to "always be willing to be a beginner". What this means is that we need to be able to be venerable, to be willing to make mistakes, to be willing to learn again.

Every song that you write has the potential to be a powerful learning experience about yourself and the world around you. Don't deny yourself the opportunity to learn just because the end result might be 'bad'.

Always remember. You do have something to say, your opinions are important and you do deserve to be a creative being. Give yourself permission to write. Learn from it and make mistakes.

I guarantee you the results will be amazing.

The creative process in general shouldn't be motivated by fear and ego but from joy. An almost childish joy of wanting to do something that you love doing.

Once fear and ego are put into the equation, songwriting blocks start appearing.

Corey Stewart is a published Singer/Songwriter from Australia who has his own songwriting blog and his own website.

He also has a FREE eReport for you to download. It's called "11 Ways To Eliminate Writers Block FOREVER!" and you can get it HERE