Twin Cities Lyric Writing Workshop: March 23 and 24th – St Louis Park, MN

Posted on March 4, 2013 by chadshankmusic

I am going to be hosting and leading a Lyric Writing Workshop on March 23 and 24 at my home in St Louis Park. This workshop will be like a 2 session Lyric Writing Bootcamp. The sessions will be from 10 to 4 both days, with an hour break for lunch. You will leave the workshop with at least 1 written and rewritten full song lyric. You will also leave having new ideas and techniques you can use on future songs…

There is only room for 4 people in this workshop, so you will need to sign up quickly! Usually I charge $100 per person for this, but if you sign up by March 17th I am giving you a 50% discount, so it is just $50 per person!

We will focus on these and many other topics:

- How to make your listener connect with your song
- Ways to makes sure you are communicating the correct emotions

- What should my second verse say?

- How to use structure to make your song more effective

- How to rewrite your song effectively

- Story Development

- Rhyme Schemes

- 7 types of Choruses

- Common Verse types

- Writing a complete lyric from start to finish

- How to use Contrast and Prosody effectively

- Do I need a prechorus?

- Steps to writing when ideas just aren’t flowing

- How to start with an idea and end with a complete lyric

- Internal vs External lines and how to use them effectively

To sign up, please send me an email and I can get you signed up. I will send you an online invoice so you can pay the fee conveniently online.

What: Lyric Writing Workshop

When: March 23 and 24 – 10am to 4pm (hour break for lunch)

Where: Chad’s Home – off of 394 and 169 in St Louis Park

Price: $50 per person if you sign up by March 17th

This is a great opportunity to spend a couple of days focused on improving your songwriting, and completing a full song lyric.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to having you join this workshop!

ChadC-Sharp Productions:
Songwriting: Demos.Coaching.Seminars
http://www.sharpmusic.com
612.454.0926

Songwriting Day 5: Bringing My Verse and Chorus Together

Posted on February 10, 2013 by chadshankmusic

I hope that the last few days have been somewhat helpful in helping you find new ways to write songs. The process I have been showing you is just one way I write songs, but I do find it to be very efficient and helps my songs get better the more I do it.

Today I am going to start making my verse and chorus work together before I start writing the rest of the song. As you know, I already have a basic story set up, and I have the rough versions of the verse and chorus. Here is what I gots so far…

Verse 1:
He’s got a stylish look
With jeans showing off his goods
They’re not too tight or super baggy
Yeah they’ve been washed many times
But they fit him just right
He’s natrual, calm and sexy

Prechorus: still need to write it

Chorus:
Ok so now you notice me
You used to pick on me in Gym class
now you want to talk
Now that I may actually have abs
Back in the day you would have Picked Me Last

Now that I am looking back, I see some changes I want to make to the verse. I want to flip the first and second lines. I feel like the second line above does a better job of setting up a scene, and the 1st line then supports it….so I am changing that. Also, I have a huge point of view issue between these sections, so I need to pick one. I think I am going to try 3rd person, because singing about how hot “I am” seems weird, and if someone else is going to sing this, they may not want to sound conceited. So I’m changing it….see below

Verse 1:
Worn blue jeans showing off his goods
He’s got that stylish look
They’re not too tight or super baggy
been washed many times
But they fit him just right
He’s natrual, calm and damn he’s sexy

Prechorus: still need to write it

Chorus:
Ok so now you notice him
You used to spit on him in Gym class
You treat him differently
Now that He actually has abs
Back in the day you would have Picked Him Last

*as you can see, I changed some lines in the chorus as well. I wanted to use a couple more lines from my free writing, and the phrases I got from that. Also the title of the song has now changed from PICKED ME LAST to PICKED HIM LAST. I think it still works.

Tomorrow I will go into how I can start writing the other sections of the song.

My Jeans Song Day 3

Posted on February 8, 2013 by chadshankmusic

Yesterday I came up with a storyline for my song that started with the word, JEANS.

Today the steps for writing the chorus come into play.

Step 1: write about what the character is feeling. Write from 1st person point of view to make it more personal.

This song is about someone who lost a lot of weight and changed their life:

I was never someone who got noticed for anything besides being fat. I was picked on, they called me names. They spit on me, they picked me last in gym class. I hated school. Everyday someone would do something that made me cry. I was never like the other kids, I never felt good enough. Even my teachers would say things and say names that weren’t meant to hurt, but they did. Now today I am not that shy kid anymore. I took the bull by the horns and worked my ass off. I made the changes I needed to make. I found my energy. I found myself. Unfortunately people started treating me differently. They saw me now. They wanted me now. I am the same person, but I am on their radar now. I hate it but it’s true. But I have made myself with no one’s help but my own.

Step 2: Find lines and possible titles

Never Someone
Noticed for Anything
Picked On
Picked Me Last
Spit On Me
Something That Made Me Cry
Never Felt Good Enough
Meant to Hurt
Shy Kid
Bull by the Horns
Worked My Ass Off
Made the Changes
Found Myself
Treating Me Differently
Saw Me Now
Wanted Me Now
Same Person
On Their Radar
Hate It But It’s True
Made Myself
No One’s Help but My Own

As you can see I was able to write for a short time and find lots of cool, possible lines. In tomorrow’s post I will show you how this will be turned into my chorus, and how my verse helps me get there.

Practicing What I Preach: Jeans Song Day 2

Posted on February 7, 2013 by chadshankmusic

Yesterday I started to write a song and I got a verse from a random word. So today I continue to work on the song…

What I have so far:

He’s got a stylish look
With jeans showing off his goods
They’re not too tight or super baggy
Yeah they’ve been washed many times
But they fit him just right
He’s natrual, calm and sexy

Next step: decide on where I can take this song. What could the story be? What will the character be feeling or thinking?

Now I will make a kind of story line or outline of the song.

Verse: he is in jeans and sexy (establishes the problem or situation )
Prechorus: it wasn’t always this way
Chorus: he used to weigh 100 pounds more and decided to change
Verse 2: he is never going back, he has his confidence
Prechorus: it wasn’t always like this
Chorus: he used to weigh 100 pounds more and decided to change
Bridge: he’s gonna show everyone who said he couldn’t do it that he did it
Chorus: he used to weigh 100 pounds more….

So now I have the storyline for my song that started from a random word. I have nt been sitting here wondering what to write, I kind of use my logic and creativity.

Tomorrow I will work on writing the chorus….

Should You Change the Lyrics Each Time You Get to the Chorus?

Posted on January 31, 2013 by chadshankmusic

I get asked this a lot by songwriters…”Is it OK if I change the lyrics each time my chorus comes around?” Well…it is really OK, if you really want to. There are no real ‘rules’….but there are trends and tendencies.

My personal opinion is that you should try to NOT change the lyrics in your chorus…sometimes it makes sense…but many times it makes your songs sound amateurish. Now I know some of you will scream that X, Y and Z songs change their chorus…..again, it is not a rule. I just think that your song will be more powerful if you can have the same chorus. Having the same chorus means that your audience hears it more, and can learn to sing along. Also, if you can keep the same chorus, but make it mean something different every time it comes around, then that is songwriting skill. At Berklee College of Music Pat Pattison calls this, “Recoloring the Chorus.”

Recoloring the Chorus means that you set up each verse so it makes your chorus mean more each time it comes around. One great example that I like to listen to is the song by Steve Seskin called, Use Mine. Google it. Listen to it. Pay attention to how Steve Seskin added emotional weight to the chorus each time, even though the words in the chorus stayed the same.

You want your songs to be remembered. Don’t mess with your chorus lyrics throughout the song. Give your listeners something they can sing along to. Verses and Bridges should say something different….choruses should be the same. That is my 2 cents

What do you think?

Steps to Songwriting from a Chord Progression

Posted on August 20, 2012 by chadshankmusic

Many of us are musicians and songwriters…..we are composers and lyricists. Songs are created when lyrics, melody and harmony come together….great songs result when the content of all of those 3 work together to communicate emotions. Songs can be born from any starting point….what comes first….the music or the lyrics? It can be lyrics, melody or harmony that start bringing your song into the world. Today we are starting with chords and chord progressions…..also know as harmony. Give these steps a shot if you need an extra little boost to bring your song to life….

10 Steps to Writing a Song from a Chord Progression:

1. Listen to your chord progression. — record it, play it, feel it

2. What does it make you feel? — write down the emotions you feel. Really describe what it feels like

3. Write down as many situations that you can imagine that would cause the emotion from Step 2. — What could happen that would make you feel that way? Write down anything that comes to mind until you have to try to think of something….then think of 1 more.

4. Choose the most interesting and original idea from Step 3 and free write about what you or the character is feeling about the situation. Do not edit. This is writing down any ideas that flow from your mind. Do this for 5 minutes.

5. Underline, select, write down or circle phrases and words from Step 4 that stand out as great titles lines, or ideas.

6. Use lines from Step 5 to write a chorus. — The Chorus is the emotional center and the Big ‘Why’ of the song.

7. Set the chorus lyrics to the chord progression.

8. Write the first verse using a contrasting rhyme scheme and number of lines to the chorus. — The First Verse should set up, describe and establish the Who, When and Where of your song. Set it to music. The verse melody is usually lower and contrasts to the chorus melody.

9. Write the second verse and set to music — Second Verse can describe how we got to where we are now. The melody here is the same as verse 1.

10. Write a bridge and set to music — your bridge can describe or explain, ‘ where do we go from here? Or How do we get there?’ The bridge is usually higher than the chorus and contrasts with the verse and chorus.

These steps are very simplified, but I hope they inspire you to get writing. Many times all it takes to get unstuck is to simply begin. Starting from a chord progression is a very efficient way to start. Need a chord progression that works? Use one from a hit song. You can’t copyright a chord progression, and millions of hit songs use the same progressions….so start with one that works. Just make sure your melody doesn’t copy other songs.

Chad

Songwriting: What Jobs Song Sections Do

Posted on April 27, 2012 by chadshankmusic

In the world of songwriting there really are no rules…there are just trends and tendencies….and tools. Our jobs as writers is to practice using as many of them as possible….and writing on a very regular basis, so we improve. It is really like working out. At first your muscles ache and you can’t do as many reps, but as you go on, you get more in shape and you can do more. Songwriting is the same. So that is what I try to do….write alot using the tools I learn as I go along.

One problem I hear in many writer’s songs is that they do not set up their ideas in a way that makes sense to the listener and in return, the listeners don’t really care. So here is a loose guide that I like to follow to help guide me as I am writing so my songs make a bit more sense. These are kind of like ‘jobs’ that each song section performs….or questions they answer….

VERSE 1: Sets the Who When and Where. Establishes the idea or problem of the song.

Prechorus: What could be different, what would different look like?

CHORUS: WHY? What are the big feelings and grand idea?

VERSE 2: More about the problem or topic, maybe How did we get here?

Prechorus: What does different look like, how could things be different?

CHORUS – Same as First Chorus

Bridge: Where do we go from here? What do we need to do next?

Chorus – Same as others

This is a basic guide, but can be very helpful if you do not know where to take your song next. Many times if I just have a title, I will try to answer these questions and map out the story of the song….before I actually work on the lyrics.

How do you plan your songs?

10 Hit Song Traits You Should Start Using in Your Songwriting Now!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by chadshankmusic

If you are a songwriter that is trying to write for the commercial market, there are some qualities or traits that your songs should have. I know some of you do not want to write with ‘formulas’ but there really is a reason this stuff works. It is not so much a formula, but more of a framework. So next time you write a song, try to incorporate these things into your tune….

1. The Verses should have the same melody, different lyrics – Too many writers don’t take the time to match their verses melodically. This is not boring to the listener, in fact it helps them connect with the song.

2. Your Choruses should have the same melody and same lyrics – Many writers try to be ‘creative’ and change up the lyrics in the choruses. This only confuses the listener, they want to know the words and sing along every time the chorus comes around

3. Your verse melody should be lower than your chorus. – Song energy should build as the song progresses. Start your verses as the floor and work up into the chorus

4. The Verses should have more descriptive and imagery words – Your first verse should help establish the Who, When and Where of your song. The second verse should expand the story

5. Your Chorus should contain the Emotional words – Your chorus is the Why of the song. Here is where you explain the emotions behind the ideas or situations you describe in your verses. It puts both the emotion and concrete details into context.

6. The Bridge is the highest energy part of your song. – As mentioned above, your song should build energy as it progresses, so make sure your bridge is a high energy part of the song

7. The Bridge should be different than the verses and choruses – Build in contrast between the other sections. The bridge is the ‘What happens next’, ‘Where do we go from here’ part of the song

8. Contrast your note lengths between sections – Contrast is very important between song sections. If you have long notes in the verse, try shorter notes in your chorus, or vice versa. If you get stuck on what to do in the next section, look at what you have already done and do the opposite. Listeners like contrast, it keeps them listening.

9. Don’t get too creative with your chord progressions. – People like to listen to things that are 80% familiar and 20% original. By all means if it sounds cool, do it, but there is a reason that many common chord progressions are used over and over. They work! Feel free to take chord progressions from songs you love. You can’t copyright chord progressions….Just make sure your words and melody aren’t ripped off. This is a great way to expand your musical vocabulary and start some sweet songs.

10. Prosody – Does what your lyrics are saying match what is happening in the music?

I hope these 10 things give you a little kickstart on your next song. Let me know if you have questions or comments below….

~ Chad

Songwriting Tip: Don’t Start Your Verse Too High

Posted on March 12, 2012 by chadshankmusic

Have you ever had to sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ in front of a crowd? Accapella? Well, as you may know, it is NOT an easy song to sing. The words can be tricky….just ask a ton of pro singers who boffed it…but also the song has a very wide pitch range. If you start too low, you are screwed. If you start too high, you are screwed. You have to know your sweet spot to get it just right. Then it uses words we don’t say on an everyday basis, so it becomes quite a bugger to belt out.

When you write songs, you need to be careful with pitch ranges, too. The obvious thing regarding pitch is make sure it is in a singable range for you, or someone who is singing your song. That is only one side of the story here. You also have to make sure that the song starts at a good range, so you can still build in energy and contrast.

One of the most common ‘rules’ of songwriting is that your chorus should be higher in pitch range than your verses. Almost every song does this….I say almost….I know there are exceptions, but not many. You want to have contrast between sections and usually the chorus is higher than the verse, and the bridge is sometimes even higher! Yep, sing it girl! Belt it out. But what happens if you start with guns blaring in the verse, belting out some line you labored over for hours to get just right? Well, if it is too high you have nowhere to go when you get to the chorus. Uh OH!!! You may still be able to pull it off with some fancy chord modulations and changing note lengths, but it probably won’t have the same oomph as having your chorus higher than the verse. You may have a bad ‘Star Spangled Banner’ moment waiting to happen.

So what do you do as a songwriter to NOT have this happen? The easiest thing to do is to figure out what the highest note in the chorus is that you can sing…..then make sure the verses are lower than that. Pretty simple. So if you just wrote this smoking chorus, just walk down some notes and make the verse lower. Listen to Lady Gaga’s ‘Pokerface.’ The verses hover around a low B note. The prechorus moves up little bit, like a 4th or 5th….then WHAM! when we get to the chorus….the “Can’t read my, Can’t read my” is a full octave above where the verse was. Brilliant!! It opens up the song, and adds a huge amount of contrast between each section. If she started the verse on the same note as her chorus, it would not have worked the same.

So the bottom line is if you start writing a song and the verse is too high for you to sing….then you have to lower it. You need room to grow into the chorus. Sometimes even just a few notes is all it takes….or you can pull a Lady Gaga and go up a full octave. Listen to songs you love and figure out the basic note ranges of the verses and choruses and how they create contrast through pitch, note length, rhythm, etc. Use those ideas in your next song.

Let me know how it goes! ~ Chad

Using the Same Chord Progression in Your Verse and Chorus

Posted on March 9, 2012 by chadshankmusic

Have you written a song that has the same chord progession in the verse and chorus? I have. So have many hit songwriters. Using the same chord progression in the verses and choruses is a solid option when writing songs, but you have to be careful. You have to insert contrast in other aspects of the song, so it doesn’t get boring.

So let’s look at ways that you can make a cool song using the same chord progression in the verse and chorus.

Let’s say our progression is the popular, I, IV, VIm, V progression. For those of you that are not familiar with the roman numerals, it is the 1, 4, 6, 5 degrees of whatever scale or key you are playing in. For example in the key of C, the chords would be C – F – Am – G. So that is the progression we will use: C-F-Am-G.

One trick I like to use is to play with the harmonic rhythm of the progression between sections. Harmonic rhythm is how frequently the chords change. I would say the most common harmonic rhythm is one chord for every measure, or bar. In 4/4 time, that means the chord would change every 4 beats.

So let’s say our verse looks like this:

||C |F |Am |G || *each vertical line is a measure line. This example is one chord per 4 beats….

One option for our chorus would be to change the harmonic rhythm to 2 chords per measure. This increases the harmonic rhythm and adds some forward energy, and most importantly, contrast. So the same progression would now be…

||C F |Am G |C F |Am G || - – Same chords, but it adds just enough contrast and energy to work.

You could also keep the chords and rhythm the same, but you would then need to create even more contrast in your lyrics and melody. We will talk about melodic contrast later. Back to chords…

If your song has a bridge, you would probably want to start it on chords you haven’t started on before. You could still use a combo of the same chords from the verse and chorus….

Like maybe ||Am |C |G |F ||

This is a fun, simple way to add harmonic contrast to your songs. The key, as always is to make sure you change things up in each section, so your song takes us on a journey and doesn’t get dull. There are other ways, but I will talk about those in future posts. Follow this blog to get emails when new articles are posted.

Let me know if you try this out….how does it work for you?