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Read MoreTravis Meadows “Pontiac”
If you want to start with something that’s true, one of the best songwriting mentors you can look to is Travis Meadows. He has a way of writing about his experiences that brings others in and not only reveals a bit about himself, but also creates a perspective for how people’s lives can shift, change and become new. One of his best at pulling in memories and connecting images to a life lesson...
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Read MoreLucinda Williams “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road”
Lucinda Williams is a songwriting super-shero. Yes, most successful women who have to deal with a male-dominated industry often are. But, she was one of the first women, no – songwriters, to raise Folk and Americana music to a “maybe Nashville needs to grab a little piece of this” status. She writes songs that don’t conform to an industry. She’s also managed to forge a...
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Read MoreJason Isbell “Cumberland Gap”
Having worked in the Cumberland Gap area back in the day, I’d drive up 25E through Tazewell TN, past the Mustang Lounge, and wind my way through the gap toward Middlesboro Kentucky. Why do I remember these places so well? I was standing in the back room of a grocery store in Middlesboro the day my grandfather died. It’s funny how a place can become an integral part of life’s most...
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Read MoreGillian Welch & David Rawlings “The Way It Will Be”
If you’ve followed the folk and Americana genres, or read Pat Pattison’s books on songwriting, you know who Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are. Since Revival, their first album in 1996, Welch and playing partner David Rawlings have become Americana legends. One of the primary reasons for their success is their song craft. Gillian Welch is an object writer. She’s a chronicler of...
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Read MoreBrandi Carlile “The Eye”
I got a direct message through twitter asking about a Brandi Carlile song called “The Eye” (thanks Helen!). While I’ve listened to Brandi Carlile since her first album, I now realize I haven’t mentioned any of her songs on the site, so now’s the time! “The Eye” is a cautionary tale that doesn’t really come off as giving advice. The speaker focuses on how...
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Read MoreEric Church “Record Year”
We’ll deconstruct Eric Church’s “Record Year” to discover the songwriting devices that made this song a #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart and #44 on the Hot 100 Chart, and garnered three CMA nominations. Written with band mate Jeff Hyde, who also co-wrote “Cold One,” “Springsteen,” “Kill A Word” and “Smoke A Little Smoke”...
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Read MoreChris Stapleton “Parachute”
“Parachute,” written by Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers, is one of my favorite songs on Traveller. It delivers a universal message in a very economical package. For example, you’ll find a single chord progression repeating itself, sparse imagery and a few missing rhymes! We’ll take a deep dive on Chris Stapleton’s “Parachute”, detailing what makes the song work,...
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Read MoreLori McKenna “The Bird & The Rifle”
Lori McKenna’s “The Bird & The Rifle” is a lesson in song craft. And, she’s a great example of how writing first for yourself, growing your skills and then being able to write for a genre outside your own can result in commercial success. She’s one of the top songwriters in Nashville not because she focused on being a songwriting for Nashville or country artists, but...
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A Streaming Royalties Example
Janis Ian dropped an example of her mechanical royalties statement on FB, which gives you a great idea of what streaming pays out for your songs on their service. Keep in mind, the music modernization act will...
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5 Keys To Better Song Pitching
Song pitching, or writing songs you pitch to others to sing, is tough. Unlike singer-songwriters who can make sure their songs are heard by getting gigs or creating music, your prospect pool is much smaller. And,...
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Texas musicians, performers and singer-songwriters have some home state...
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Most songwriters want to write more songs, more often, but run into blockers...
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Giving Song Feedback Like A Pro
If you’re part of a songwriting group, one of your activities is...
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Story Streaming: Tell Songs Like A Movie
Story Streaming is very similar to object writing, and is the next step in the...
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Mary Gauthier “Between The Daylight And The Dark”
Mary Gauthier is known for her strong scenes and emotional context, and...
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Write From Inspiration But Need Discipline?
Waiting for inspiration to hit doesn’t always lead to a high volume, or...
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When To Stop “Finishing” A Song
Finishing a song is important, don’t get me wrong. But, not every song...
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Poetry As Lyrics: Using Anaphora
We’ve all heard it: poetry as lyrics just doesn’t work. But, as...
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Know Your Strengths To Create Goals
We’ve all heard it: “Set goals to achieve success.” But, for...
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Melodies The Same? Song Maps Create Variety
Song maps are a way to find patterns and tendencies that you often repeat....
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Object Writing: Quickest Path To Great Lyrics
Object writing is one of the best ways to quickly advance your songwriting...
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Partial Capos Help Create Variety
Partial capos sound complicated, but they can make your guitar playing easier...
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Melodies are one of the most difficult parts of songwriting, but you can...
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Who's Writing This Anyway?!
While I do have a corporate life as a marketing professional, I've been involved in songwriting for a number of years. Back in the 90's I performed in the successful Americana duo Amelia Earhart Returns in Knoxville TN and surrounding states, with airplay on one of my favorite stations - WNCW in Spindale.I'm proud to be a published poet and honored to be a recipient of the Bain-Swiggett Poetry Prize.
I've had the privilege of sitting in a church basement with Gillian Welch & David Rawlings talking about songwriting, sharing the stage with . . .[MORE]
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