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!
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 Foundations
Why Songwriting Tips Don’t Work!
We all love songwriting tips… but most songwriting tips don’t work. Instead of wasting more time watching more songwriting tips videos, learn why songwriting tips rarely work and what you can do to actually learn how to write songs!
How to Write a Pre-Chorus
Learn how to write a pre-chorus so you build a bigger chorus they will sing along with you, and spin a story that keeps them listening right to the end…
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…
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
Finish More Songs
Finish more of your songs with this simple songwriting hack… learn how to complete what you start instead of starting songs that you never finish!
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.
Factory Fresh
My song Factory Fresh, with complete lyrics and an analysis to help you write better songs… Factory Fresh is a social commentary song about our relationship with food.
Songwriting Psychology
Why Songwriting Tips Don’t Work!
We all love songwriting tips… but most songwriting tips don’t work. Instead of wasting more time watching more songwriting tips videos, learn why songwriting tips rarely work and what you can do to actually learn how to write songs!
When Your Plan Fails
How to deal with songwriting setbacks and what to do when you plan fails, including 8 positive alternatives to complaining or getting frustrated…
Do I Have Enough Songwriting Talent?
Songwriting talent isn’t as important as you think! Find out what you really need to stop feeling overwhelmed so you can write songs you’re proud of…
Songwriting Productivity
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 Cross-Training
7 Ways to sharpen your songwriting skills without writing songs… you can do #1 & 2 lying on your couch, only # 5 & 6 involve sweating…
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!
Video Lessons
Do I Have Enough Songwriting Talent?
Songwriting talent isn’t as important as you think! Find out what you really need to stop feeling overwhelmed so you can write songs you’re proud of…
So Trumped Up
So Trumped Up is a song about how social conversation has degenerated during the Trump Presidency, includes my song analysis to help you write better songs!
Releasing Tense Guitar Arms
Stop hurting yourself playing your guitar. Play faster and easier by releasing tension in your freeing arm and avoid future injuries.
Songwriter Interviews
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…
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,,,