"We have seperated art from process into product" - Julia Cameron
Its amazing what we tell ourselves about ourselves. This is no good, that is no good, this song is not a hit, I have nothing to say, I dont know what to write about, my life is dull and boring and so on and so forth. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
How are we expected to write songs with all that going on? What we need to do is to give ourselves permission to create but how do we do that?
Archive for September of 2004
Songwriting Tip - Give Yourself Permission To Write
September 29, 2004Songwriting Tip - What To Do With It
September 25, 2004"Ok, so I've written a song, now what?"
I get this question all the time from songwriters who are just starting out and my answer is the same for everyone one of them. I just ask them why do they write? Knowing why you do things requires a plan, and having a that plan takes the guesswork out of your burgeoning songwriting career.
Songwriting Tip - There Are No Rules
September 22, 2004Rules are meant to be broken, aren't they?
In songwriting there are exceptions to every pretty much every rule you can think of. As soon as you have a formula happening with your own writing something else comes along that blows the theory out of the water.
Songwriting 101 - The Chorus
September 21, 2004
"Don't bore us, get to the chorus" - unknown author
This is the start of a number of articles that outline the anatomy of a song starting with the all important chorus. Think of these articles as the 'nuts and bolts' of writing songs. You have been refining your songwriting process and you've come up with some great ideas. Now you are ready to put them together. Your journey starts now.
This is the start of a number of articles that outline the anatomy of a song starting with the all important chorus. Think of these articles as the 'nuts and bolts' of writing songs. You have been refining your songwriting process and you've come up with some great ideas. Now you are ready to put them together. Your journey starts now.
Songwriting Tip - Lets Get To Know Each Other Shall We?
September 19, 2004Hello and welcome to my channel.
If you have been here before then you already know that this is a place where songwriting and all things musically creative is the paramount topic of discussion. If this is your first time here then please take some time out and explore, subscribe and enjoy.
Songwriting Zen - Let It Happen Naturally
September 17, 2004
"Get out of your own way!"
How many times have you heard that before?
It's a well known phrase that means that we should allow things to happen naturally rather than forcing things. When it comes to songwriting (or creativity in general) the principle is exactly the same.
How many times have you heard that before?
It's a well known phrase that means that we should allow things to happen naturally rather than forcing things. When it comes to songwriting (or creativity in general) the principle is exactly the same.
Songwriting Zen - Write Therapy Songs
September 14, 2004Therapy songs are good for you.
When life gets you down and you have no-one to talk to about how things are, instead of bottling up your emotions write a song about it.
Songwriting Tip - Never Trust Your Memory
September 13, 2004
The songwriting process is all about the flow of ideas.
Its important to realise that the more you write, the more you will want to write and then the more you will have to write. Once you get the momentum going it can be hard to stop even if you want to, but why would you want to do that?
Its important to realise that the more you write, the more you will want to write and then the more you will have to write. Once you get the momentum going it can be hard to stop even if you want to, but why would you want to do that?
Singer/Songwriter - Your Songs vs Other Peoples Songs
September 12, 2004
What! You're talking about cover songs?
Well, this is one of many articles for the performing songwriter either doing it solo or with a band. I believe that the question of 'playing your own songs versus other peoples' is as old as the 'what comes first, words or the music' question I mentioned in an earlier article.
Cover songs (if used properly) can be your friend not your enemy. Heres how you do it.
Well, this is one of many articles for the performing songwriter either doing it solo or with a band. I believe that the question of 'playing your own songs versus other peoples' is as old as the 'what comes first, words or the music' question I mentioned in an earlier article.
Cover songs (if used properly) can be your friend not your enemy. Heres how you do it.
Songwriting Resources - What Is Out There?
September 08, 2004You don't have to do this songwriting thing alone you know.
Songwriting Zen - When Writing Songs Is Like Pulling Teeth
September 07, 2004
"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans"
John Lennon 'Beautiful Boy'
There are going to be times when nothing is coming out, the journal writing has come to a halt and you really cant be motivated to do anything. If that does happen to you the first thing you should do is stop worrying about it.
John Lennon 'Beautiful Boy'
There are going to be times when nothing is coming out, the journal writing has come to a halt and you really cant be motivated to do anything. If that does happen to you the first thing you should do is stop worrying about it.
Songwriting Idea #2 - Building An Ideas Archive
September 06, 2004Your tape player will be your best friend.
Im not necessarily writing about home recording studios (although it would be lovely to have one ready to go) but I am writing about ways in which you can record your ideas and build up an ideas archive at the same time.
Songwriting Idea #1 - Word Associating
September 05, 2004From one idea many ideas form.
Word associating is another form of brainstorming in which you take a single idea and branch out from that in a visual way, similar to that of a mindmap.
By the end of the exercise the whole song is laid out in front of you and all you have to do is follow the paths that you have created.
Songwriting Zen - Songwriting IS Life Itself
September 04, 2004
Dont be afraid to experience life, choose it.
To increase you songwriting scope it's necessary to increase your life experience, and that means getting out of your comfort zone.
To increase you songwriting scope it's necessary to increase your life experience, and that means getting out of your comfort zone.
Songwriting Zen - Does Total Originality Exist?
September 02, 2004I doubt it very much.
Unless you go into Indian music scales or experiment with quarter tones, everything that has been done in contemporary music has been done.
So why are songwriters so concerned with trying to sound totally original?
Songwriting Tip - Collaboration With Other Songwriters
September 01, 2004
Two (or more) heads are better than one sometimes.
Writing songs doesnt have to be something that you do by yourself. Some of the greatest songs were written by collaborators.
Examples of these songwriting teams are Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Hal David/Burt Bacharach, Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Mick Jagger/Keith Richards and lets not forget John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Writing songs doesnt have to be something that you do by yourself. Some of the greatest songs were written by collaborators.
Examples of these songwriting teams are Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Hal David/Burt Bacharach, Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Mick Jagger/Keith Richards and lets not forget John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
