Songwriting is beautifully complex and yet simple... I am often reminded when teaching aspiring songwriters how simple, and yet complex, writing a song can be. It's a beautiful mix of emotions, wit, determination, and being in the moment. A very common obstacle I see to great writing is what I call...
I remember sitting in my small, cramped writing studio in Nashville 10 years ago chasing this crazy dream of songwriting... One day I was co-writing with my two best friends and co-writers, Sonny LeMaire and Shane Minor. We'd been writing together for two years, mostly because we loved...
The 9-Minute Songwriter Workout consist of three songwriting exercises designed to get you into the flow of writing without thinking. Your best ideas come from the subconscious, and you can tap into this with regular practice. Remember to do these exercises quickly, spending three minutes on each in rapid fire succession....
Songwriters... When you have those days of songwriting doubt and wonder why you are chasing your dream.... I wasn't exactly young that day I realized I wanted to be a full-time songwriter. I knew no professional songwriters. Also, I was in...
Throughout my pro songwriting career I have made it my mission to put together a home recording studio that accomplishes 3 things. 1. Sonically, it has to be master record quality. 2. Creative workflow that won't bust my groove! 3. Must be affordable! Co-writing in rooms with so many great producers and track guys...
For years I have heard the phrase “Poor Man’s Copyright” thrown around in songwriting circles. The term is often brought up as a cheap alternative to an official $55 copyright from the US Copyright Office. Mailing a song to yourself... Statements are thrown out like: "Don't bother to pay the money for...
Last week in a mentoring session I was offering tips to help a young writer understand a songwriter's Job #1. One of the demos had an extremely long guitar solo after the first chorus. I suggested that: #1- Guitar solos typically are after the 2nd chorus and not the first. #2- The solo...
Co-writing: The art of sharing your heart felt ideas with another person and trusting the two of you will create songwriting magic. This can be tremendously rewarding and often frustrating. But there are some guidelines to make this experience more often than not a great one. If Moses came down from the...
One of the top questions I get asked as a pro songwriter is "how do I beat writer's block. For many songwriters the worst part of the whole writing experience is just getting started. Those times when we sit down to write and nothing comes out. We feel like...
Songwriters, does this sound familiar? You start out with good intentions to write a new song today and then the phone rings, or you remember an errand you forgot to do, and there's that email you need to reply to. Before you know it you have spent the whole...