Most songwriter work intuitively
so they can't explain it to you...
At EpicSongWriting,
I teach intentional strategies
taking the random out of songwriting
so you can write the songs you want to write!
What do you need to learn?
100+ articles are organized by category
Some articles are in multiple categories
Each category has multiple pages...
Table of Contents
Featured Content
Parts of a Popular Song
Learn how to write lyrics and music for a chorus, verse, pre-chorus and bridge, and how each part of a song fits together to create a popular song structure!
Songwriting Reference Tracks
Learning and improving your songwriting by studying the songs you love by using reference tracks… don’t ask the internet, figure out your own answers!
Daily Songwriting
Write songs consistently… no more “I don’t have time” excuses! Know what you’ll write about before you sit down, drop into the writing flow instantly and find the joy in songwriting again!
Songwriting Foundations
Worst Songwriting Tips Ever
The 5 worst songwriting tips ever, and my answers that will actually help you finish songs you’re proud of… don’t bother with these broken tips…
Focus Your Songwriting Super Powers
Learn to focus your songwriting super powers… it’s not enough to start writing, you need to keep yourself writing and stay on track to finish your songs!
The Number 1 Most Common Songwriting Mistake
Don’t feel bad, every songwriter’s made this mistake at some point…starting to write lyrics before you’ve decided on the big picture for your song!
Recent Articles
Why Your Lyrics Sound Cheesy
You’ve written lyrics but they sound cheesy and amateur. Listen, it’s normal and totally fixable, so let’s level up and fix your amateur lyrics.
Building Your Songwriting Superpowers
Discover and explore your songwriting superpowers because you can do things that regular people only dream about.
Setting Songwriting Goals You’ll Actually Achieve
When you’re creating goals to push yourself and your songwriting three common mistakes will cause you to fail… solve these 3 mistakes so you achieve and surpass your goals!
Lyric Writing
Songwriting in Self-Isolation
7 Activities to stay sane and keep songwriting during self-isolation… the world just went sideways but you can improve and thrive instead of just surviving
Brainstorming
6 Minutes that will change your songwriting forever. Want to have more song title ideas and song lyric ideas than you need? The struggle ends now…
Who is Premier McNeil?
A song by a music teacher from the perspective of a young elementary school student trying to understand why the Christmas Concert was cancelled… while teachers “work to rule” in Nova Scotia, December 2016, #NSTUnited #ReadyToTeach #FocusOnEducation
Songwriting Psychology
Seizing Songwriting Opportunities
Don’t miss out on or waste musical opportunities… seizing songwriting opportunities takes some planning. Learn how to be ready for opportunities before they happen…
Songwriter’s Block is a Myth
Learn to solve the real problems instead of falling for the myth of “Songwriter’s Block”… it’s not a disease you catch or cure… it’s an excuse to avoid solving your songwriting problems.
Songwriting: 7 Healthy Side Effects
7 Healthy Side Effects of Songwriting…exploring the healthy benefits of songwriting, including action steps to enhance the effects…
Songwriting Productivity
Avoid Lyric Fail
Avoid Lyric Fail… Fix weak lyrics before they happen! Edit properly instead of half writing your songs and calling them “finished”…
Using Songwriting Criticism Constructively
How to use songwriting criticism so it is constructive instead of destructive… and recognizing and dealing with negativity so it makes you stronger!
Song is Haiku
How to fix stuck songs… your song isn’t a novel or story, it’s haiku. Don’t get stuck by overwriting and trying to say too much in one song. Learn action steps to solve your stuck songs.
Video Lessons
Seizing Songwriting Opportunities
Don’t miss out on or waste musical opportunities… seizing songwriting opportunities takes some planning. Learn how to be ready for opportunities before they happen…
The Fastest Way to Memorize Songs
The Fastest Way to Learn Songs… how to learn and memorize songs so you can perform them or transcribe and analyze songs. I explain the entire process and then transcribe “Dig That Hole” by Ian Sherwood live on video
3 Easy Ways to Fail at Songwriting
3 Easy Ways to Fail at Songwriting, and how to avoid them so you can write the songs you want to write…
Songwriter Interviews
Songwriter Interview with Chris Kirby
Chris Kirby, songwriter interview: on co-writing, songwriting outside your comfort zone and building a solid songwriting reputation…
Songwriting Sprint
How to write more in a songwriting sprint! Ian Sherwood had more than 40 songs ready to record for his album… why he took time off to write more songs,,,
Collaboration Takes You Higher
Musical collaboration will get you to success faster than working on your own. Step outside your comfort zone to create great things…this story proves it!