Posts by Clay Mills
3 Chords Every REAL Songwriter Should Know
Want your songs to sound more interesting with just a few simple chord moves? In this SongTown songwriting lesson, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down 3 chords every real songwriter should know — including songwriter chords, slash chords, and 6 chords that can help your songs stand out. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series:…
Read MoreWhy Most “List Songs” Don’t Work (Pro Songwriting Fixes)
What turns a clever list into a truly great song? In this SongTown lesson, Marty Dodson and Clay Mills break down how pro songwriters use list songs to create bigger emotion, stronger second verses, and memorable choruses. If you want better songwriting tips and real-world tools for writing better songs, this one’s for you. Clay…
Read MoreSongwriting Masterclass: 3 Skills Every Serious Songwriter Needs to Master
What separates a serious songwriter from the rest? In this SongTown mini masterclass, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down 3 essential skills every writer needs to master to grow in song craft and write better songs. If you want to level up your songwriting and start thinking like a pro songwriter, this lesson is…
Read More10 Major Focus Mistakes That Amateur Songwriters Focus On
by SongTown Co-founder Clay Mills Over the past 10 years of teaching thousands of students in SongTown, I’ve noticed that one of the biggest things holding writers back is what they choose to focus on—both during the writing process and in everything surrounding it. Whether it’s mindset, expectations, or industry myths, these distractions can seriously derail…
Read MoreWhy You Should Write Songs Even If No One Hears Them
Why should you keep writing songs even if no one hears them? In this SongTown lesson, Marty Dodson and Clay Mills share why songwriting helps you find your voice, grow your confidence, and connect with other songwriters. This is for anyone who wants to write better songs and live a more creative life. Clay &…
Read More3 Things Most Indie Artists Miss When Releasing Music
Clay Mills of SongTown chats with Clay Myers (Top Artist Development Consultant) about 3 areas every indie artist need to master to have a successful career. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown Press Books: Mastering Melody Writing : Check It…
Read MoreHow Publishers Know If Your Songwriting Is Good?
How do publishers know if your songwriting is actually good? In this lesson, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down the 3 instant tells… Plus, there’s a secret hidden audio track as a bonus. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! …
Read MoreWhere Great Songs Go to Die (Your iPhone)
In this episode, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down why song ideas get lost in voice memos and notes — and how professional songwriters organize their titles, melodies, and lyric ideas so nothing slips through the cracks. If you want better songwriting systems, stronger co-writes, and more finished songs, this one’s for you. Clay…
Read More10 Melody Mistakes that Peg You as an Amateur Songwriter
In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson, who’ve critiqued thousands of songs at SongTown, break down the 10 most common melody mistakes that peg a songwriter as an amateur. Correct these 10 simple things and you will be quickly writing your best songs! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video…
Read MoreThe REAL Reasons You Don’t Finish Songs!
If you’ve got a hard drive full of “almost done” songs, this one’s for you. Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down the real reasons songs stall—perfectionism, fear of failure, no process, and lack of focus—plus practical mindset shifts to help you finish what you start. Want better feedback and a clearer path forward? Come…
Read More