Simple Steps To Melodies

by | Jan 5, 2018 | Beginning, Melody

Melodies are one of the most difficult parts of songwriting, but you can become very proficient at it with some basic tools, meaning you spend less time with trial and error. For me, contrast is the key to giving yourself a guide for your melody. You can worry about...

Ghost Songs: Melody Writing

by | Aug 15, 2015 | Exercises, Melody

Stuck with a blank page and nothing is really inspiring you? Start with a song you like and build a new one! It’s called a “Ghost Song” and is a type of writing exercise that can move you into a new song, and sometimes a new sound that’s very...

Radiohead “Creep” Inspired By 1972 Song?

by | Jun 13, 2015 | Exercises, Melody

Wondering how “ghost song” songwriting exercises turn into  hits? Radiohead gave credit to the songwriter and song that inspired their hit “Creep”: Albert Hammond’s 1972 hit “The Air That I Breathe.” Basically, Radiohead used...

5 Tips To Better Melodies

by | May 9, 2015 | Melody, Song Craft

One of a songwriter’s biggest challenges is melody – especially if you consider yourself a lyricist! Original melodies, even if you are a melody writer, are tough to come by. Making them unique to everything else everyone is listening to is an even more...

Melody Writing For Pop Songs

by | Sep 2, 2014 | Melody

The below is taken from a chat board and it part of a much larger post.  I’ve broken it up to create an easier read and added a few embellishments here and there.  Thanks to Jason “The Millenial” for the great tips!   Melody Writing Tips   Keep It...

6 Essential Songwriting Books On Melody

by | Jul 27, 2014 | Intermediate, Melody

Melodies are the messaging highway of your song. They help maintain the interest of your listener (like scenery along the route), give your lyrics either winding winding road, super highway or country road to deliver the story, and much like a road system have turns,...

How Melody And Lyrics Work Together

by | Apr 11, 2014 | Advanced, Lyrics, Melody

Melody and lyrics play a key part in: (1) differentiating your song, (2) communicating your message, and (3) creating a compelling, memorable moment for a listener.  So how can you achieve all three each time your write? Pat Pattison takes a look at a song by Ann...

Melody And The Lyric

by | May 25, 2009 | Beginning, Lyrics, Melody

Your melody is one of the most important components of your song. It can separate your song from the sea of songs out there. It’s one of the things that make your song memorable – and with only about 3 minutes of it, it requires something special to be...