Tag: song analysis
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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,…
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Paul McCartney’s Secret Technique for Beautiful Chords
Paul McCartney’s Secret Technique for Beautiful Chords Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, but it’s also a masterclass in how simple chords can create sophisticated sounds on the guitar. In this post, we dive into the secrets behind the song’s beautiful two-note chord voicings, explore the…
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Analysing Sting’s Songwriting Process
Analysing Sting’s Songwriting Process Studying the songwriting process of established songwriters is a great way to get an insight into other ways of thinking artistically. This in turn broadens our pool of creative knowledge to draw from. In this article, we take a close look at 17-time Grammy Award Winner Sting and discover some of…
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10 Essential Chord Progressions for Songwriters
10 Essential Chord Progressions for Songwriters If you’re a songwriter looking for inspiration then look no further! In this article, we take a look at 10 essential chord progressions and some classic songs that use them. This article is a summarised transcript of our video “10 Chord Progressions Every Beginner Songwriter Should Know”. Click here…
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Songwriting Tip #7 – Using Unconventional Song Forms
Songwriting Tip #7 – Using Unconventional Song Forms In songwriting, it’s common practice for most of us to adhere to common or popular song forms such ABAB or AABA. However, this doesn’t mean that these are the only song forms we should ever use. Through analysing Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, we’ll discuss how using…
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Chord Tips to Learn from “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
Chord Tips to Learn from “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is one of the Beatles most popular and well-known songs. Buried within this masterpiece are some truly amazing chord sequences! In this article, we’ll break down those chord sequences so that we can learn from them and use…
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Songwriting Tip #6 – Keep It Short
Songwriting Tip #6 – Keep It Short A common issue that songwriters often struggle with, is how to determine the length of their song. In this blog post, we’ll learn the importance of song length, by studying Queen’s famous rock anthem, “We Will Rock You”. This article is a summarised transcript of the sixth part…
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Songwriting Tip #5 – Listening to Your Audience
Songwriting Tip #5 – Listening to Your Audience As songwriters, we’re often focused on the details of our songs and the creative process. However, it’s important for us to remember that our audience deserves to feel like they’re a part of our songs as well. Through analysing Queen’s song “We Will Rock You”, we’ll discuss…
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Let It Go – A Lesson in Songwriting
Let It Go – A Lesson in Songwriting The song “Let It Go” from the Disney musical Frozen is a song that solves an age-old problem that songwriters face: how to repeat something, but make it get more interesting, not less interesting. So, whether you’re into Disney or not, take a moment to read this…
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Songwriting Tip #4 – Turning the Chorus into an Anthem
Songwriting Tip #4 – Turning the Chorus into an Anthem The goal in most songs is to shine a spotlight on the chorus, and really ensure that the hook sticks in our listener’s minds. In this blog post, we’ll analyse how “We Will Rock You” by Queen turns their chorus into a powerful anthem. This…
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Songwriting Tip #3 – Moving the Story Through a Timeline
Songwriting Tip #3 – Moving the Story Through a Timeline A common problem that songwriters face is not knowing how to structure our verses. Through analysing Queen’s hit song “We Will Rock You”, we’ll learn one of the ways we can develop the storyline of a song. This article is a summarised transcript of the…
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Songwriting Tip #2 – Using the Voice as a Percussive Instrument
Songwriting Tip #2 – Using the Voice as a Percussive Instrument Usually when we write songs, we focus a lot on using a good amount of variation between our verses and choruses. This is so that we can create a build-up of tension, followed by resolution in the chorus. However, it’s entirely possible to place…
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Songwriting Tip #1 – The Power of Simplicity
Songwriting Tip #1 – The Power of Simplicity As songwriters, we try hard to distinguish ourselves and create memorable songs. Unfortunately, many songwriters often feel as if things need to be complicated in order to stand out – this is inaccurate. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the power of simplicity through studying Queen’s classic…
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Songwriting Tips to Learn from Queen’s “We Will Rock You”
Songwriting Tips to Learn from Queen’s “We Will Rock You” “We Will Rock You” by Queen is arguably the greatest rock anthem of all time. In this blog post, we look at some of the songwriting secrets buried within its seemingly simple form. This blog post aims to summarise our video “How to Write a…
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Essential Songwriting Tips for Beginners
Essential Songwriting Tips for Beginners Amidst all the doubts and fears, it can be difficult to know where to begin when songwriting. All too many times, songwriters get stuck staring at an empty page in frustration. In this blog post, we’ll explore three essential songwriting tips for beginners that will help ensure that this is…
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Song Analysis – ‘You Oughta Know’ by Alanis Morissette
Song Analysis – ‘You Oughta Know’ by Alanis Morissette Alanis Morissette’s 90’s smash hit ‘You Oughta Know’ has three weird and wonderful musical moves that make it totally unique. This blog post, for songwriters and musicians, dives into the musical concepts, and shows you how to use them in your own songwriting. This blog post…