Holiday Songs – It’s A Gift!
Robin Frederick (author, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting) We’re heading into the holidays which is the cue for all of us songwriters to begin scribbling like mad. Holidays are a time of festivities and nothing brings out the festive spirit like songs and music! Beloved holiday songs are part of our holidays year after year after year. After a while, though, wouldn’t it be nice to hear a new “standard” or expand the old tradition to include something a bit more up to date? That’s where you come in! Get in the holiday spirit to write your song: Be on the lookout for...
Whose Melody Is It?
Robin Frederick (author, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting) From my email bag… Q: “After I write a song, how do I make sure I’m not copying someone else’s melody? Is there some kind of software where you input your music and it compares it to a database of music to make sure you are not replaying a song you heard from somewhere else?” A: That’s a good question! There is no software that I’m aware of. If the melody sounds familiar to you and it’s a nagging feeling that won’t go away, try playing it for friends to see if anyone recognizes...
From Inspiration To Finished Song
Robin Frederick (author, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting) Another great question from a songwriter… Q: “I find that I have an easy time finding a first verse and chorus (or rather, it finds me) but I’ll have trouble coming up with two more verses or a verse and bridge. The lyrics tend to sound forced and I feel trapped. Is that just how it goes when you’re trying to stick to a form?” A: For a lot of songwriters, this is how a song gets started. The first verse or chorus of a song may come to you full-blown, music and lyrics together. But...
Write Your Songs In A Genre
Robin Frederick (author, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting) Most of the time, when you start a song, you’re thinking solely about what you want to say, and that’s the best way to approach your songwriting. However, by keeping a little corner of your brain focused on the genre you want to write in, you can add strength to your song, the kind of strength that could help your song find its audience. Like ice cream, songs come in different flavors: strawberry, chocolate, peach, and rocky road. And, like ice cream flavors, there are very real differences between the four mainstream music genres...
Building Your Song The Hard Hat Way
Robin Frederick (author, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting) Let’s say that you’ve decided to build a house. You’ve gathered a big pile of lumber and you’ve got a hammer and some nails. Good, that’s a start! But if that’s ALL you have, your house is probably going to end up looking very strange. Without a saw, a screwdriver, a level, and the rest of the homebuilder’s toolbox, your house will look very odd indeed. If you try to sell this house, most buyers won’t be interested. For some reason, they seem to like solid construction, square windows, and a door that works. ...
Speaking Of Genres
Robin Frederick (author, “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting”) I recently read an article about Gracenote, the company that delivers info to your iPod and computer music player that tells you what song you’re listening to by which artist. The article offers an insight into something I wrote in a recent post about the importance of music genres. Here’s an excerpt from the Gracenote article… “Gracenote’s genre classification system enables listeners to get the most out of their music collections by enabling them to automatically select the type of music they want to listen to, whether it’s “Jazz,” “Rock” or “Dance.” Created using an...
Playing With Melody
by Robin Frederick (author of “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting”) Question: If I listen to a particular song I like, I feel inspired to write a song but when I sit down and try, I end up writing the melody I have just listened to. Do you have any tips? Answer: Melodies can easily get stuck in our brains. A hit Pop/Rock or Country song melody is very catchy; that’s a large part of the reason it’s a hit. But you’re right; this can be a problem for songwriters. Try this exercise to send your melody in a completely new direction: 1) Start...
Create A Development Path For Your Lyrics
by Robin Frederick (author of “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting”) It can be tough to find the balance between giving listeners too much information too quickly and not giving them enough or repeating information they’ve already heard. As you write your verses and bridge, keep the path through your song clear. Make sure things are moving forward, not going in circles or repeating the same thing over and over. Here are some development paths your song might take. Notice that each path leads the listener into and through a situation, keeping the momentum rolling forward and giving new information as it...
Writing Songs For Yourself And Your Listeners
by Robin Frederick (author of “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting”) What makes you write a song?– the desire to put your feelings into words?– wanting to reach out to others to express a thought or message?– the hope that eventually it will earn royalties? The truth is, a song can do all this if you keep all three goals in mind as you write. Write to express your own emotions. Stay connected with your initial reason for writing the song. What is it you want to say? What emotion do you want to convey? Even if your goal is to write...
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell
126 proven songwriting techniques that take you from inspiration to finished rewrite. 117 “Do It Now” exercises make this a hands-on book!