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SONGWRITING

SONGWRITING. For fun or for profit. WRITING A SELLABLE SONG. 1. Structure: Know the formula before before you break it 3:00 to 4:00 minutes 25 seconds to chorus; 20sec. Chorus better to go too short than too long. Basic structure. A verse B chorus A verse B chorus

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SONGWRITING

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  1. SONGWRITING For fun or for profit

  2. WRITING A SELLABLE SONG • 1. Structure: Know the formula before before you break it 3:00 to 4:00 minutes 25 seconds to chorus; 20sec. Chorus better to go too short than too long

  3. Basic structure A verse B chorus A verse B chorus C bridge A? verse B chorus

  4. MELODY • Repeat with variations • No large spaces between parts • Most in 4/4 time (octave plus 3) • Know your genre • Melody comes back to home • Chorus and verse different melodically • Often moves up scale/drops in last verse (creates tension)

  5. Melody is more important than words • Keep rhythms simple • Is the chorus memorable? • Do you have a great hook? • Exercise: pick a beat from a favourite song • Pick a chord progression • Then add words and melody

  6. LYRICS • Be conversational • Hook is crucial (often title) • Avoid too many words • Repeat • Use short syllable words/not too artsy • Symmetry is not necessary in words—line length with vary depending on how words stretch across rhythms

  7. Avoid heavy-handed rhymes for most genres • Use consonance, assonance, internal rhyme • The heat is sweet/you help me breathe • You sell your love but leave me some • I’d rather leave while I’m in love • I still believe in the meaning of the word

  8. PREPARING A SELLABLE SONG • Make it good before you spend money • If a word or a note bugs you now, it will bug someone else too • Make a demo--$100-1000 four songs max • Get local musicians or pay • Get evaluations on line: musemuse, songu • Go to writing workshops, writing groups • Join ASCAP or SOCAN (for royalties/courses)

  9. SELLING A SELLABLE SONG • Get local talent to play your songs • Use online matching services: Taxi.com Songbridge.com • Chase down publishers, producers, A & R people at labels • Hire pluggers • Have an electronic presence • Electronic press kit as well as print press kit • MySpace, YouTube, Blog

  10. And Persevere!!!!!

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