We've all heard it: poetry as lyrics just doesn't work. But, as your songwriting skills grow, and you begin using...
Advanced
Melodies The Same? Song Maps Create Variety
Song maps are a way to find patterns and tendencies that you often repeat. Just changing a few of these items can...
Partial Capos Help Create Variety
Partial capos sound complicated, but they can make your guitar playing easier and add a unique quality to how your...
Can A Three Character Song Work?
A three character song doesn't work. We've all heard it, and if you haven't, you will. In song feedback sessions...
Personality Types: Who’s Coming To Your Co-Write?
We've all had stories of nightmare co-writes with people who had clashing personalities. Maybe it wasn't even you....
In A Point Of View or Perspective Rut?
It happens: sometimes you consistently write from a single point of view or perspective and can't seem to break the...
Point Of View (POV) Switch Exercise
One of the easiest ways to increase your understanding of point of view (POV) is to take a song you've completed and...
5 Steps To Song Creation Success
How can we make songwriting easier? Change your perspective before you start writing! Songs are really just scenes...
Co-Writers: Who’s Your Match?
Co-writing and finding co-writers can sometimes be awkward, if not down-right painful. And, songwriting is tough...
Even Dialogue Songs Need A Scene
Dialogue songs are songs that are really nothing more than direct address. Basically, a dialogue occurs whether the...
Similes As Song Ideas
Similes are great songwriting devices in lyrics. But, they have dangers that are amplified when you use them as a...
How To Evolve Your Song Idea
Just having a hook or title isn't enough. Songs include a story line, perhaps a twist, and most importantly, a large...
20 Questions Songwriting Exercise
One of the easiest ways to get your songwriting kicked off is to simply answer some questions. But once you start...
What Makes That Hit Song Tick?
Learn How to Analyze a Hit Song & Use What You Uncover This songwriting worksheet focuses on finding out what...
How Melody And Lyrics Work Together
Melody and lyrics play a key part in: (1) differentiating your song, (2) communicating your message, and (3) creating...
NPR Project Song Moby & Kelli Scarr
Despite being given only 48 hours to complete a song, Moby and his collaborator Kelli Scarr completed theirs in one...
Reba’s “Consider Me Gone” (II)
The "Consider Me Gone" Simile Concern Let's run through how the song gets us to Verse 2, where the problematic...
Reba’s “Consider Me Gone” (I)
A Weak Simile In Reba's Song? In fairness this isn't really Reba's poor simile. Because she's a great...