Songwriters: 5 Tips To Keep Your Songs On Track
Here are 5 simple tips that I use to make my songs better every day. Get in the habit of doing these things and your songs will be better than they have been before. 1) Map your song out before you write. Write a simple, one sentence summary of what you want to say in…
Read MoreMelody and The Power of Three
In storytelling, there is a principle called “The Rule of Three.” This principle points to the tendency for plays, movies, and stories to have three repeating or related elements. Stories and plays usually have three acts. In fairy tales, the hero is often granted three wishes. In the story, “The Three Little Pigs,” the big…
Read MoreWhy Do You Write Songs? And Why Is It Important To Know?
Almost all of the people I write with are trying to get their songs recorded and make a living by doing so. It is easy to get so caught up in the pursuit of something commercial that I lose sight of the reasons one started writing songs in the first place. Those reasons, if lost…
Read MoreYou Have To Be Born A Great Songwriter: True or False?
Clay & Marty talk about what it takes to be a great songwriter. Are you just born with it or can it be learned? 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 Out The…
Read MoreAre You Using The “Songwriter Chord”
Want to make your songs contemporary but also not lose that classic feel of great songs? Follow along as Hit Songwriter Clay Mills shares his secret weapon –the songwriter chord. This two-fingered major and minor 10th chord voicing has been used on many mega hits throughout the history of recorded music. So, Grab an instrument,…
Read MoreDon’t Fall For These 6 Urban Songwriting Myths!
1) I can write only 10 songs and have several hits in the bunch. Songwriting is a craft that takes years to develop. No painter paints a masterpiece within his first ten pieces of art. Most people have to write hundreds of songs before they write a hit. 2) I can move to Nashville (Or…
Read MoreSongTown: A No Guru Zone- Why We Created Something Real For Songwriters
SongTown – A no “Guru” zone for songwriters… At SongTown, we’ve been pretty protective of our songwriting community. It’s a private community of some of the best up and coming songwriters around. Marty Dodson and I started it 10 years ago to help grow aspiring writers into world-class writers. A lot of folks in the…
Read MoreSongwriters: Don’t Focus On The Songwriting Summit!
Songwriting can be a wonderfully, beautifully frustrating pursuit. But it can be especially maddening if your singular goal is something outside of your control like focus on the songwriting summit. So, let’s say your obsession and songwriting summit is a Bruno Mars cut… There are several reasons that you are going to likely spend the…
Read More10 Characteristics Of Highly Creative People
A different breed… Over the last 20 years of writing and working with artists, producers, and co-writers; I’ve noticed certain traits in myself and others in the creative community. We are wired differently than the other 95% of the population. We are the creative types. Is this you? 1. When inspiration strikes, they forget everything…
Read MoreThe Single Biggest Distinction Between Pro And Amateur Songwriters
In my mind, the single biggest distinction between pro and amateur writers is their way of thinking. Here are some of the most significant differences I’ve seen over the years in my day to day life as a full-time staff songwriter: 1. Amateurs think “Somebody is going to steal my song.” Pros think, “I’m going to…
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