Learn Songwriting your way with a TakeLessons expert

Think you're ready to write your own song and record it? Songwriting can be an arduous process - but seeing the final product is an amazing feeling. Read on for a helpful pre-recording checklist from Perth Amboy, NJ teacher Jeff S...   Whether you're singing your own song or hiring a vocalist to sing on your demo or master, there are many layers of preparation needed to ensure optimum results. Some songwriters like to wing it and hope that things will magically work out because they

One of the most wonderful and rewarding things about the art of songwriting is that there are many different ways to approach making your own music. Arlington,TX music teacher Ric F. previously shared with us his tips on using rhythm as a guide to writing. Today, Ric would like to add another aspect to your understanding of writing songs, something he calls the "long-line" concept. Unlike visual art where you can see it all at once, music takes “time” to reveal itself. Today I would like

Earlier this week, Eddie Vedder announced the venues for his upcoming solo tour, stopping in 13 cities to promote his 2011 album "Ukelele Songs." The tour begins on April 11th in Las Vegas, and then works across the country, ending on May 16th in Orlando.  Pearl Jam embarks on its European tour just one month after. Vedder's passion-filled lyrics, ranging in topics from personal to political, have made him one of the most prominent songwriters of the rock-and-roll genre. Pair that with hi

What's in a name? If you're looking for songwriting tips as you pen your next tune, check out this advice from Perth Amboy, NJ teacher Jeff S...   There is not one "right" or preferred way to write a song. It's a very individual choice. Some songwriters start out with a patch of melody or a line or two of lyric as their creative catalyst. Others will initiate the songwriting muse with a unique and instantly-captivating song title or writing from their emotions. And in this ever-crowd

Have you been writing songs for awhile but are finding yourself stuck lately, lacking inspiration? Are you good at starting songs but struggle to finish them? Maybe you come up with great sounding chord progressions, but your lyrics are lacking in substance and rhythm. Or maybe the converse is true; you can come up with lyrics easily but your chord progressions all sound the same. If this sounds like you, read on for some tips to overcome writer’s block and get creative again! Change Your Min

Are you perfectly content performing the pieces of famous composers and lyricists... or do you want to make your own contribution? If you want to learn how to become a songwriter, check out this guest post by teacher Eric C...   The world of music is as vast as the world that we live in. Some genres have existed for thousands of years, while others are still being created today. This is all because music is constantly evolving. The evolution of music comes from songwriters and comp

Songwriting is a seemingly mystical process by which some universal truth is almost subconsciously dictated through you as an empty vessel on to a blank page. It often - but not always - takes a form. It often - but not always - has a rhyme schema. And frequently - though not always - can follow a formula. Whether you're just starting as a singer/songwriter, or you're a veteran musician, the songs that make their way onto our hearts are not written so much as they are discovered. Songs happe

richcano / E+ / Getty Images Want to get started writing music of your own, but you're not sure where to begin? Arlington TX music teacher Ric F. shares his secret to composing interesting and meaningful music: start with the rhythm. Follow Ric's great advice and start sharing your music with the world! Like any subject, songwriting has techniques that can be learned and mastered. Songwriting mainly involves these musical elements: Rhythm Melody (pitch applied to rhythm) Harmo

When you're learning how to write a song, looking at how other songs are structured can be a great place to start. Like looking at a map before you go on a roadtrip, checking out the basic elements of songs you love gives you a sense of how they were written and what you need to do to write a song of your own. If analyzing all your favorite songs sounds like a daunting task (it is), you're in luck. The Billboard Experiment wanted to know if there was a formula that could determine which songs

Are you curious about whether you have songwriters block - and what to do about it? Chances are, if you’re any kind of creative professional - be it a songwriter or a novelist - you’re going to struggle with writer’s block at some point in your career or another. Fortunately, songwriting writer’s block is something you can conquer - and once you know how to deal with it, you’ll be able to continue writing creative, inspiring songs many years into your career.  In this post,