I Regret Not Knowing This Songwriting Tip Sooner

Maybe i missed it in the video, but I feel that it's important to mention that not all songs need a chorus.

This channel is really a cut above. So much creative guidance stuff on YT leaves you feeling more demoralised, like there's yet another thing you have to master or understand before you can start, plus loads of filler, intro, waffle and promotion. All your videos are concise, useful, encouraging and inspire me to actually get going with song writing rather than take another self-confidence slump. THANK YOU!

your definition of "the title" being equivalent to a thesis statement. i like this, this helps my academic brain a lot lol

Guys....never stop creating, we value you so much <3 Wishing you infinite peace and happiness

I like to think of songwriting as story telling. Tell me a story. Let me know why you need to tell that story. Tell me what can be learned from it. If there’s an aside, put it in a bridge. The story can be big or small. It can be about anything. But it should have a point. Use the common elements of song writing to shape the story and its conclusion. Remember. Writing is about re-writing. You rarely get it right on the first go around. Don’t be afraid to get rid of bits that don’t work. There’s always another way to say it. That’s my two cents.

It's all about the hook. The listener should be able to repeat it after hearing it just once. Keep it simple, familiar and memorable.

I can tell pretty clearly when a section of the song I’m writing isn’t working, but your videos have really helped me problem solve. So insightful and inspiring! I usually pause your videos to start brainstorming songs I’m working on!

I've been writing for 50 years and had a deal back in 1977. I love a chorus but there are songs that have no chorus that are great. Examples: Snowbird and Gentle on my Mind. For some reason these two songs work with no chorus. Personally I love a good chorus and it's generally where the hook lies.

One of the basic structure mistakes I've made in the past is go to the chorus too soon (after only 1 verse). It seems many pro songs have a full verse first (two sections) THEN the chorus. After that chorus sometimes the verses are half verses before the next chorus as the song develops. I think the reason I so often 'jumped' to the chorus too soon is I had the idea and wanted to get written down before I forgot it! haha True!

I think vague lyrics can be very powerful and beautiful, and resonate deeply with an audience. I'm surprised to hear you guys comment that vague lyrics bring a shallower experience for the listener! I think a mix of specific lyrics/message with vague lyrics is often the ticket.

There seems to be a million things not to do regarding songwriting— it’s harder and harder to focus on what TO do.

I got a question for people about music writing or theory. If everyone follows the same patterns are we not just creating variations of the same thing? I know is more pleasing in certain forms. But different can be bad or good. Sometimes I wish people would break the mold more.

David Bowie often repeated this one mantra “Swim against the stream.” to avoid a generic approach to creativity. We live in a time where commercial music is just about appealing to the lowest common denominator. Maybe some tutorials on how to avoid standard ideas and cliché. Sadly there are so many videos teaching people how to be other people.

I've watched several of you videos but this one is the first time I've heard your singing voice. SO GOOD!

This is very very useful. I’m instinctively resistant to any rules or formulas in music, but that can often lead to not being purposeful and deliberate about what choices you make. These tips basically say, think hard about all the elements in your song. What is its point? What are you trying to convey? How does each and every element fit in with that idea? It’s not just jamming. It should be more purposeful.

I think of the chorus as a thesis statement. And it tends to come first in the songwriting, much as you would not write a term paper and then come back later and figure out what it's about.

My favorite example of the subdued chorus is Neil Diamond's Cracklin' Rosie. It catches the ear with a low bouncing melody, before building and rising to the most triumphant note of the song. That chorus does some seriously heavy lifting in an already great song.

One take-away for me from this video is the use of a pre-chorus with no resolution to the tonic. That leaves the listener waiting for resolution in the chorus. And I tend to think of choruses from a utilitarian perspective--Bennie touched on this: what is the listener going to walk away humming or thinking about? What ideas do you want to plant in their heads?

Wow - great tips - thank you! And I love that you give so many examples! I've been reluctant to do "title book-ending" because it felt like a blatant attempt to make the title more memorable, but you made me consider that as a songwriter I am probably more conscious of this technique than a typical listener, and I could just be a bit paranoid. I especially love Tip #2 "the widest Interval" - what a brilliant idea - I never thought of that!!!

Absolutely love vague songs ❤