Free songwriting tips, tricks and articles

What´s to learn, do I need some songwriting tips?

No matter where you are on the learning curve, there are always some songwriting tips and tricks that makes you think "Hey, thats a good idea!". Here´s a collection of tips and articles dealing with practical information to help you become a better songwriter.

We all like to think that we got it, that we master the craft, but if you ask professional song writers if they "Know it all" they will probably answer that they are still learning. They´re in a lifelong process of improving their skills.

Even professional song writers are constantly looking for exiting new tips for song arrangements or new ways to construct a "hook".

Do I have all the answers?

Off course not, I am also constantly evolving and learning. I don´t want you to think that I know it all, far from it. What I am offering in this songwriting tips and tricks section is some of the knowledge I have developed from 20 years of experience.

I have done my share of reading books, articles and going to seminars. I have done my share of trying, failing and trying again. (For more about my story, click here). No-one knows everything about anything!

These songwriting tips and tricks have helped me on my songwriting road, and hopefully they will help you make some shortcuts in your songwriting career.

Enjoy:)

Songwriting tips #1: Song Structure
The structure of a song is the skeleton or the framework a song is built upon. If you want to write songs for other artists or publishers you should express yourself within the structure of today´s music. The most used structure these days is the A B A B form. Click here to learn more about this songwriting tips

Tip #2: Don´t make your songs to long
Airtime is more valuable than ever. If your song is too long radio stations won´t play it, which again means artists or publishers won´t sign it, (they want radio hits). The sweet spot is around three and a half to four minutes.

Songwriting tips #3: Repetition, repetition, repetition
One of the most important ingredients in a hit song is repetition. We all know that best way to learn something is to repeat it. The same goes for songs. Your goal is to make the listener know your song after they´ve heard it just a few times, so use, you guessed it; REPETITION.

Listen to your favorite hit songs and analyze how they repeat a melodic theme, an instrumental riff or the choruses. Then, use the same techniques in your song, but don´t repeat so much that you´re inducing boredom. Find the balance.

Tip #4: Don´t let the melody and rhythm be too alike in the verse and chorus.
This is one of the most common mistakes my students make in the workshops. Even if repetition is an important device in successful songwriting, don´t overdo it, it will induce boredom to the listener. Click here to read more about how to avoid this mistake!

Tips #5: How original should you be?
When you write hit songs, don´t try to make everything new and revolutionary. It´s important to be original, but most listeners wants things they are familiar with. If you want to learn more about this songwriting tips click here!

Tips #6: Be prepared when the great ideas comes
As we know, the great songwriting ideas comes when we least expect it. How can you capture them? Click here get some great tips!

Tip #7: Think about the image of the singer.
Are you wondering about how to make a song for a special artist or genre? Here are some songwriting tips you should take in to consideration. Click here to read more about this topic!

Tip #8: Don't be to hard on your self in the early stages of writing.
Here I'll talk about a common problem, being to hard on your self. Many of my students comes up with an idea, then they throw it away before the idea even get a chance to live. Why? They're trying to go directly from a blank paper to a finished product. They've forgotten that most songs becomes great after many, many tweaks and rewrites. (the Beatles famous song "Yesterday" started out as "Scrambled Eggs".)

If you're to judgeable in the early stages you're stoping the creative flow, so don't make this mistake. Let the creativity have a free flow and give the ideas some chances before you throw them away. Try it out from different angels and try some different approaches. Let your self explore some new territories and take some risks. That's where you'll find the great songs. Click here to learn more about inspiration and creativity.

If you feel your inner critic is to hard and your inner judge is screaming wrong before you even get a chance to write, you're not alone. Many writers experience this from time to time, and this state has different names like writers block and paralyzing self-criticism. If you can't get out of it, there are still help to be found. There's a group called: "Artists in Recovery through the Twelve Steps",( A.R.T.S.). Check out their website at: www.artsanonymous.org

Tip #9: Decide what kind of songwriter you are
How are you writing a song? Are you a country writer, country, folk or something else? To read more about this songwriting tips click here!

Tip #10 Use emotion to give your songs appeal.
The songs that we remember are the ones that resonate with us—that touch a chord so to speak with a feeing or emotional memory we have. That emotional memory will help the song ‘catch on’ or stay with us. It will float through our heads when we are feeling in the mood that the song has created.

We will want to listen to the song when we are feeling that way—or we will listen to a song to distract us from how we feel by giving us another mood. The song will hit dead on a certain way that we felt when we broke up with someone, when we are happy in love, or when we just want to party and have fun.

If you take your listeners on a memorable and pleasant emotional journey, either to somewhere they have been in their past or somewhere they hope to go in the future, they will likely realize they identify with your work and will want to hear it again in the future.

Tip #11 How to Approach Artists or Record Labels with your songs?
How should you approach artists or record labels? When you have written that "killer track", where should you go? Should you promote it yourself or should you get a publisher? To learn more about this topic click here!

Tip #12 New at songwriting? Use an existing song
Here I'll give you a quick tip to turn your motif idea into a complete song. Click here!

Tip #13 Be true to your character
Here’s a tip for all you beginning song lyrics writers out there. click here!

Tip #14 Write about things you know
What should you write about? I hope this free song writing tips will help you to select the theme for your song. Click here to read more about it.

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