How To Write Songs

Category: Lyric Writing

  • How to Use Song Maps to Finish Every Song

    Using Song Maps has been one of the most transformative tools I’ve ever learned to take any idea I have, and know how to find a pathway to finishing that song. What’s a Song Map? A Song Map is really very simple: it’s a plan for how your song will start, develop, and escalate. It…

  • Beyond the 4-Line Verse: Structural Techniques for Songwriters

    Writing emotional lyrics doesn’t have to be hard. Discover how lyric structure shapes feeling—and how to break free from 4-line verses.

  • Did You Know You’ve Been Writing Lyrics Backwards? Stop Now!

    Most beginners try to write their lyrics from the top down — first line, first verse, chorus later. It feels logical, right? Start at the beginning and work toward the end. But that’s actually one of the biggest reasons songs fizzle out halfway. When you start with the beginning, you’re guessing at what the song is about.…

  • Here’s the Solution to the Enormous Lie Beginner Songwriters Believe

    “Lyrics or music?”…Wrong question. If you’ve ever asked, “Should I start with lyrics or music?” you’ve bumped into the biggest beginner lie: that there’s a single right way to start a song—and a bunch of wrong ones that will “ruin” your idea. Today’s tutorial flips that. You’ll see how experienced writers actually begin: not with fear of doing…

  • What’s Your Song’s Focus? Find Out with The Campfire Test!

    What’s Your Song’s Focus? Find Out with The Campfire Test! Imagine you’re sitting around a campfire with a bunch of your friends. The sun is setting, and someone hands you a guitar. As you go through your list of songs trying to choose something to play, you’re also asking yourself the question “Which one of…

  • The Unexpected Secret Behind this Popular Song

    The Unexpected Secret Behind this Popular Song Many songwriters think that there are only a few traditional song forms which they can use to write with. However, the truth is that song form is modular – you can write a song arranged in any way you wish. To help you understand how to do this,…

  • Standing in the Spotlight: The Secret Power of a Song’s First Line

    Learn how to write song lyrics that stand out—using tension-driven first lines that grab attention and keep listeners emotionally invested.

  • Here’s How to Write Breathtaking Lyrics

    Here’s How to Write Breathtaking Lyrics  Every songwriter dreams of writing lyrics that resonate, tell compelling stories, and evoke deep emotions. Yet, even the most seasoned lyricists sometimes find themselves struggling to squeeze their story into a song. This often results in them overloading their song with multiple perspectives, thus muddling the clarity of their…

  • Uncovering Songwriting Techniques with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”

    Uncovering Songwriting Techniques with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” Joni Mitchell is a songwriting legend whose techniques continue to inspire musicians and lyricists around the world. In this article, we break down one of her biggest hits—“Both Sides Now”—to reveal six signature songwriting moves that you can incorporate into your own creative process. This article…

  • Make Your Songs Twice As Good with Power Positions

    Make Your Songs Twice As Good with Power Positions Every songwriter dreams of creating lyrics that not only tell a story but also resonate emotionally with the listener. What if a simple concept could take your lyrics to the next level, and make them unforgettable?  In this article, we’ll dive deep into the concept of…

  • How to Write a Song – 5 Simple Steps

    How to Write a Song – 5 Simple Steps Have you ever struggled to turn your lyrical or melodic ideas into a complete song?  Whether you’re an experienced musician or just starting out, finishing a song can be one of the biggest challenges in the creative process. In this post, we break down how to…

  • Write Stunning Lyrics And Melody With This Remarkable Technique

    One of the hardest technical and creative challenges for songwriters is creating a natural relationship between lyrics and melody. In our tutorial on our YouTube channel, I break down how to master the rhythm of your lyrics, so that writing lyrics and melody together becomes natural – no need to sacrifice one for the other!…

  • The Zoom Method: Secrets to Better Lyrics Under 10 Minutes

    What does the classic Joni Mitchell song, ‘The River’ (1971) have in common with neo-RnB song ‘Super Rich Kids’ by Frank Ocean (2013)? These are 2 songs from wildly different artists, genres, and eras. And yet, when we look into the inner workings of how the lyrics deliver the ideas and emotion of the song,…

  • A Songwriter’s Main Struggle and How to Fix It

    Every songwriter has 2 main struggles: Struggle #1: To consistently make work you are proud of. Struggle #2: To have lots of people listen to and love your work. One of these is something we have immediate control over (hint, it’s #1!). Let’s look at the one we do have control over right now: consistently…

  • Fast Track to Better Lyrics with One Easy Exercise

    In this article, I’m going to take you through a powerful lyric writing exercise, to show you that you can radically improve your lyrics if you have the following: Good lyric writing isn’t just for those struck by the lightning of the lyric-writing gods. It’s available to everyone. A Quick Story When I was 17,…

  • Songwriting is “Easy” According to John Lennon

    Songwriting is “Easy” According to John Lennon In a 1983 interview with Molly Meldrum, David Bowie talked about how much he admired John Lennon’s songwriting capabilities. He recalled a time when Lennon said to him, “It’s very easy…all you have to do is say what you mean, make it rhyme, and put a backbeat to…

  • 5 Practical Tips For Beginner Songwriters To Embrace

    5 Practical Tips For Beginner Songwriters To Embrace Over the years, a common question we’ve been asked by budding songwriters is “What are some of your top tips for beginners?”. In this article, we aim to answer that question with 5 practical, and actionable tips that we wish we knew when we started out. This…

  • Musical Onomatopoeia – The Secret to Writing Amazing Hooks

    Musical Onomatopoeia – The Secret to Writing Amazing Hooks If you’ve ever heard a catchy, relatable hook from a songwriter you like and wondered how you can write like them, know that you’re not alone. This is a common question asked by many songwriters. Fortunately, we can study these techniques, and emulate them to create…

  • The Secrets to Noel Gallagher’s Songwriting Success

    The Secrets to Noel Gallagher’s Songwriting Success Known to many as the primary songwriter, guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of British Rock band Oasis,  it’s undeniable that Noel Gallagher is one of the most prolific songwriters of his generation. As songwriters ourselves, it’s important that we take a step back to figure out the thought process…

  • 4 Exercises for Writing Unique and Creative Lyrics

    4 Exercises for Writing Unique and Creative Lyrics Many songwriters find themselves in a rut when it comes to lyric writing. Often, the issue is that the lyrics they write don’t match up with the lyrics they admire. This might be because they perceive their lyrics as boring, overly literal or too stale. To help…

Weekend Songwriting Intensive - January 4-5

Ignite 2025 with an immersive weekend of songwriting, led by Keppie and Benny.