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
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!
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!
Songwriting Foundations
Writing Better Song Rhymes
Stop writing boring and predictable rhymes… Stop fighting with rhyming and make it work for you so your lyrics sound more interesting and songs sound more professional.
Why Do Songs Rhyme?
Why songs rhyme, how your audience interacts with the rhymes you choose, rhyme’s effect on your listener’s experience so you take rhyming to the next level.
How to Finish Your Songs
How to finish your songs… why you lose interest and momentum with your songs and how to fix it. Understanding the emotional stages of songwriting, through the “Emotional Stages of Change”
Recent Articles
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…
17 Broken Songwriting Myths
Songwriting myths try to explain the confusing world of songwriting and the music industry. Learn the truths behind these 17 broken songwriting myths…
Reasons Why You Want to Quit Songwriting… and How to Solve Them
Songwriting seems like it should be easy… so, many people try to figure out songwriting on their own, leading to a struggle, either you figure out songwriting or you quit.
Lyric Writing
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 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!
When Are You a Songwriter?
When are you a songwriter? What do you have to do to consider yourself a songwriter… is it just songwriting or are there other things you need to do?
Songwriting Psychology
Accidental Songwriting Lessons
Songwriting lessons: mistakes happen, life gets in the way of your plans. It’s not the problems you face but what you learn from them that is important!
The Introverted Songwriter
“I’m an introverted songwriter” is an excuse that sabotages your songwriting career… don’t make music alone, learn to connect with others…
Improve Your Songwriting Workflow
Are you writing your songs as effectively as possible? Is there a better way to catch and edit your song ideas, so you don’t forget the great ideas you get?
Songwriting Productivity
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
5 Songwriting Exercises – Explained in 4 Minutes
5 Songwriting Exercises for specific songwriting skills to develop your craft and write better, more interesting songs your listeners will love!
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!
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…
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…
13 Songwriting Creativity Blocks
Solving 13 common songwriting creativity blocks… it’s not you, it’s how you’re thinking about songwriting and making it harder for yourself!
Songwriter Interviews
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,,,
Songwriter Interview with Shirley Jackson
Songwriter Interview with Shirley Jackson, including: songwriting as cooperation, being open to inspiration and songwriting as transformation and therapy.
Songwriter Interview with Ian Sherwood
Ian Sherwood talks about his ideal songwriting process, how to write better songs and his best advice for new songwriters…