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!
Create Your Songwriting Practice Routine
How to practice songwriting, learn to create your own customized songwriting practice routine to focus your efforts and maximize your songwriting results!
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
5 Destructive Songwriting Myths
Why make songwriting more difficult? Learn to recognize and solve these false and destructive songwriting myths!
How to Write a Song Bridge
How to write bridges in a popular song: what’s a bridge, why you need to write them and practical advice for writing song bridges that make your songs sing!
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!
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
What’s Your Songwriting Why?
Figuring out your songwriting why. Understanding the reasons you write songs and how it’s important for creating, achieving songwriting goals and self-motivation!
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 Inspiration
Looking for songwriting inspiration? Want to end the eternal “What should I write my song about?” dilemma. How to find the best ideas for your songs!
Songwriting Psychology
Songwriting Using the 80/20 Rule (the Pareto Principle)
How to improve your songwriting using the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 Rule)… What is it? How it works for songwriting & how to get more of that magic 20%!
Songwriting Tips You Know But Aren’t Following
Learn why you’re avoiding songwriting by searching for more songwriting tips you know. Kick your songwriting tips addiction and write more songs!
The Instant Song Myth
The Instant Song Myth is a dangerous lie… learn the truth about songwriting so you learn to finish your songs instead of throwing them out.
Songwriting Productivity
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…
25 Five Minute Songwriting Exercises
25 five minute songwriting exercises to sharpen your songwriting skills and inspire your songwriting sessions…
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!
Video Lessons
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
The Worst Way to Write a Song
Songwriting can be easier! Almost every songwriter starts writing songs in the worst way possible… learn an alternative way to write better songs!
Songwriting When You Don’t Feel Like It
How to write when you don’t feel like songwriting, stop struggling with your songwriting motivation… inspiration happens after you start: here’s how!
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,,,
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!
Songwriter Interview with Shirley Jackson
Songwriter Interview with Shirley Jackson, including: songwriting as cooperation, being open to inspiration and songwriting as transformation and therapy.