Videos with these titles are usually just content fluff pieces with general common sense-type advice, but this was insightful, the explanations on point... Great video guys. Thank you!
I dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb lost the password. I love any tips you can offer me!
@Ismael Alessandro I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
great video however, he could also mention that _melody_ is the MOST important key when writing a song, you can add some lyrics on the chorus like _oohhhlalalalababababluhh_ with the right melody/scale behind that shit, you have yourself a HIT!!
Thanks for this video. I am a veteran of the military and I am getting started in my songwriting career late in life. I am looking forward to your future videos.
As a musician and songwriter myself, I really appreciate this! The content in this video is pretty much gold in the music industry now a days. Thanks so much, Graham!
I just watched my first video with Martin, and I just wanna give this dude a hug. I have been writing songs since age 5, and still do it. It is a fantastic journey.🐰❤️🎸🎶🤝✌️
I’m deaf myself and just got out of a 20 years of bad relationship. I’m starting to open up more and found out that I truly LOVE music and dancing. I need tutoring. TY
I love this guys. Those were amazing tips… and I love how he carefully puts his words together and the examples he gave. It’s just perfect. He’s obviously a brilliant songwriter and a great teacher too. 💯❤️🙏🏾🎶
Absolutely would love more! Fun fact, if I had to pick only one topic to watch for the rest of my life it would be songwriting actually lol, so you can't have enough videos about it in my opinion ☺ This was so great, thank you and that gentleman for your service to humanity!!
I believe God is happy to see us, human sharing knowledges to improve all of us. Sharing like what you just did on this video is the goal of any religion to improve humanity. God bless you. Thank you! Cheers from Indonesia.
I think it's a nice thought to have this information, but to live by it is a terrible idea. If you really want to write standard pop songs than this is great advice, but really I would encourage you to break all of these rules as often as you can. Keep the listener on their toes. The climax isn't always in the chorus. There's a song I really like that has a good chorus but the actual climax is the guitar solo in the last like 20 seconds of the song. Don't be afraid to put some real thought into a chorus. It doesn't have to be 1 or 2 lines repeated. Even using different lyrics in your choruses. Modern pop songs are all very similar and this is the kind of mindset that contributes to that. Just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's good. Who am I to talk though? I can't even get my friends to download my music for free. :P
LADDERLAD Music Agreed. This is a decent roadmap, and some good concepts to keep in mind. But yeah, absolutely, we can and should break these rules any time it feels right to you as the artist. I’m personally a huge fan of subtle changes in the lyrics of choruses, especially when they enhance the progression and story arc of the song.
It's strange because I never really knew the rules. I wasn't taught how to write a song, I just did it. I started with rock when I didn't know how to play my guitar properly yet. Then joined a metalcore band and started writing that style which has absolutely no rules so I think that's where I got it from. Just stringing together random parts in hopes that it will sound good. Then a number of years later, a friend asked me if I wanted to start a band, and I knew he was into classic rock. So really by that point I had never written a good rock song but I tackled it anyway and things went well. Now just from experience I know what I like to write and I know that I can delay a chorus until 2 minutes into a song, skip the second verse, blur the lines between Punk and Metal, etc. It's just something that comes with time.
LADDERLAD Music good on ya, man. I’m not at all disparaging the merits of those who go about songwriting in a more tried and true fashion (there is a LOT of merit to it, and much to be learned from), but I definitely want to emphasize with you that in some ways it is beneficial to come at this art from a place of greater freedom, and less rigidity and boundaries. I learned music from TH-cam tutorials about how to play exactly the songs I was interested in playing. I didn’t care much about proper technique, or what equipment is best. Back then, I just relied on my ears. I wish I would depend on them more nowadays like I did back then. I urge anybody watching this video and reading these comments to explore music creation as the unique artist they are, and trust yourself more than you might feel comfortable with. If you’re the kind of musician who spends enough time to read these kinds of comments, you owe it to yourself to have faith in your inspirations, your curiosities, and most importantly YOURSELF, to be willing to break from tradition anywhere you see fit. Whatever comes natural to YOU as the artist, will most assuredly resonate with someone else on this planet. Honest self-expression is rare, and difficult, but we all have it in us.
This video is really helpful. I noted down everything he said and then found out there's a free guide from him too! Excellent content Graham and YES please talk more about song writing! You ROCK!
Thanks Graham. This is great. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a hand in persuading or tipping Martin over the edge to start a TH-cam Channel. Thanks for helping us make connections too (Ill Factor, Jordan Valeriote and now Martin). And yes it would be great to learn more about songwriting. Subscribed to Martin's channel and downloaded the PDF. Thanks.
Hi, would Chorus like below be sufficient to make a statement? Verse 1 Falling We know we are falling But neither is sorry It’s always so sad It came without warning This gold gloomy morning We’ve finished the story There’s nothing to add
And through the clouds slowly
Chorus: Drip-drip-drop Falling down from the skies Washing off all the lies Comes final rain No matter how hard we’ve tried With nothing else left to hide Leaving us both behind It came to the end
Verse 2 Maybe We’ll meet again maybe Both happy and carefree It happens sometimes… …But rain keeps on pouring And there is no turning When light is not burning And souls do not rhyme
You seem like a genuine guy who is passionate about what you do, I will definitely check out your content. Graham, YES!! Definitely more song writing content, Thank You!!!
TheErow44 hey man, if you’re new to Graham’s stuff, let me just say welcome, and that you’re about to dive into some of the most legit audio related content out there 👍🏼
This was simply beautiful you can see and feel the excitement in you both. There is no question why he is where he is because he loves what he does!! By the way this is my first time on here!!!!! Subscribed☺
I'm having issues with songwriting lately. When I get to my computer I'll be downloading that 7 step PDF. I've heard some songs that have been engineered great that do nothing for me, and I've heard songs where the audio quality isn't the best but I love the song. Keep up the videos
Songs often also have a "bridge"; where would you place the bridge in relation to the chorus? Would it be the peak of the mountain or something else? How about a chorus on a modulated key?
Jesus, this guy is amazing! Not only is he giving away amazing info, he’s giving his 7 step method info out FOR FREE??? Wha?! And this guy’s tips were freaking amazing! I have never thought of songwriting that way, and I have been writing good songs for quite a few years now. I’m joining that channel, and grabbing that PDF! Thank you for posting this video here!
This is really interesting, the thing about melodic contour, and having choruses as being higher than the verses, I think this advice is more how to keep in with most other classic pop songs - if anybody has heard of the recent hit 'girls like you' by maroon 5, their chorus is way lower than the verse and pre-choruses. What you can use that isn't mentioned here (although it's great) is rhythmic contour. So taking this back to 'girls like you', the chorus hear mostly falls on beats 1, fairly consistently. Ed Sheeran uses this a lot in his hits, take 'Galway Girl' or 'Lego House'.
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I'd been questioning myself about the use of questions or direct action in some of my lyrics of late and this video resonated. I have so much to learn while loving the process. So thank you from my Muse & I here in the tropics on a cool n breezy night 😊🎶
The lyrics to Bowie's Life on Mars are poetry. Simplistic hit making recipes don't apply to it. I dare you to explain "the point" of that song. I fear the days of that kind of writing leading to major hits are over.
I can't believe how many hit songwriters are criticizing this video. On a serious note. I cannot seem to load the songwritingacademy.com, it pings, but nothing loads.
Video start from a good idea but the advices here can be easily broken : - Verse low / Chorus high : Nope : The Pixies - Where Is My Mind. It' not the fact that it is low or high that makes a chorus stand out, it's the contrast. Something more modern : Taylor Swift - Look What You Make Me Do. The Chorus stand out because it has a huge contrast with the verse. And it's way lower. But it catch listener attention. - The Verse low / Pre chorus climbing / Chorus high is soooooo overused nowadays that it can sounds generic and boring. - Use interrogation in a chorus - call to action - a statement. Okay this is like maybe 90% of the entire language expression... So use almost whatever you want in chorus... Writing hits songs is being innovative by still using stuff that are common enough to not loose the listener into confusion. But it's all about making new with old and being really clever about words and vocal placement. IMO.
Interesting. Though I think about songs like Message in a Bottle or Where is my mind, Karma Police... where the chorus might be the lowest point in the song. Yet it creates something fantastic. I guess writing a song can be about forgetting the rules sometimes.
Hey, I'm going to buy a microphon for recording vocals, I have seen your video from a year ago were you say an audio tecnica AT-2020 is great, buuuuuuut, should it be the XLR or USB version? And What audio interface should I use?
I would absolutely love more videos about song writing. I get writers block and lose interest a lot lately and it's killin me.
Videos with these titles are usually just content fluff pieces with general common sense-type advice, but this was insightful, the explanations on point... Great video guys. Thank you!
Martin is the real deal!
I dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account??
I was dumb lost the password. I love any tips you can offer me!
@Houston Vihaan instablaster ;)
@Ismael Alessandro I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Ismael Alessandro It worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D
"Simple music for simple people."
You have to ask yourself if you really WANT a chorus like this.
great video however, he could also mention that _melody_ is the MOST important key when writing a song, you can add some lyrics on the chorus like _oohhhlalalalababababluhh_ with the right melody/scale behind that shit, you have yourself a HIT!!
😊👍👍
Thanks for this video. I am a veteran of the military and I am getting started in my songwriting career late in life. I am looking forward to your future videos.
As a musician and songwriter myself, I really appreciate this! The content in this video is pretty much gold in the music industry now a days. Thanks so much, Graham!
Songwriting is definitely an area I kind of struggle with. So, I'm definitely interested in seeing more videos on it.
I just watched my first video with Martin, and I just wanna give this dude a hug. I have been writing songs since age 5, and still do it. It is a fantastic journey.🐰❤️🎸🎶🤝✌️
That great man.
When I was 5 year old I didn't even know how to wipe my nose
Good video. Absolutely right, got to trust the process. It works for a reason.
I’m deaf myself and just got out of a 20 years of bad relationship. I’m starting to open up more and found out that I truly LOVE music and dancing. I need tutoring. TY
I write rap music and this video was more helpful than I expected 👍🏾
I love this guys. Those were amazing tips… and I love how he carefully puts his words together and the examples he gave. It’s just perfect. He’s obviously a brilliant songwriter and a great teacher too. 💯❤️🙏🏾🎶
This is an eye opener. One phrase and you are already a winner .PDF file no more available sadly.
Absolutely would love more! Fun fact, if I had to pick only one topic to watch for the rest of my life it would be songwriting actually lol, so you can't have enough videos about it in my opinion ☺ This was so great, thank you and that gentleman for your service to humanity!!
One Love!
Always forward, never ever backward!!
☀☀☀
💚💛❤
🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼
Jheez! Not even a song writer, but this hits hard. This is is so powerful. Mind blowing ! 😊👍
You are both great guys, God bless you
I believe God is happy to see us, human sharing knowledges to improve all of us. Sharing like what you just did on this video is the goal of any religion to improve humanity. God bless you. Thank you!
Cheers from Indonesia.
Even for a non-songwriter this is gold. Thanks!
I think it's a nice thought to have this information, but to live by it is a terrible idea. If you really want to write standard pop songs than this is great advice, but really I would encourage you to break all of these rules as often as you can. Keep the listener on their toes. The climax isn't always in the chorus. There's a song I really like that has a good chorus but the actual climax is the guitar solo in the last like 20 seconds of the song. Don't be afraid to put some real thought into a chorus. It doesn't have to be 1 or 2 lines repeated. Even using different lyrics in your choruses. Modern pop songs are all very similar and this is the kind of mindset that contributes to that. Just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's good. Who am I to talk though? I can't even get my friends to download my music for free. :P
LADDERLAD Music Agreed. This is a decent roadmap, and some good concepts to keep in mind. But yeah, absolutely, we can and should break these rules any time it feels right to you as the artist. I’m personally a huge fan of subtle changes in the lyrics of choruses, especially when they enhance the progression and story arc of the song.
At least if you know "the rules" you can choose to step away from them. :)
It's strange because I never really knew the rules. I wasn't taught how to write a song, I just did it. I started with rock when I didn't know how to play my guitar properly yet. Then joined a metalcore band and started writing that style which has absolutely no rules so I think that's where I got it from. Just stringing together random parts in hopes that it will sound good. Then a number of years later, a friend asked me if I wanted to start a band, and I knew he was into classic rock. So really by that point I had never written a good rock song but I tackled it anyway and things went well. Now just from experience I know what I like to write and I know that I can delay a chorus until 2 minutes into a song, skip the second verse, blur the lines between Punk and Metal, etc. It's just something that comes with time.
LADDERLAD Music good on ya, man. I’m not at all disparaging the merits of those who go about songwriting in a more tried and true fashion (there is a LOT of merit to it, and much to be learned from), but I definitely want to emphasize with you that in some ways it is beneficial to come at this art from a place of greater freedom, and less rigidity and boundaries.
I learned music from TH-cam tutorials about how to play exactly the songs I was interested in playing. I didn’t care much about proper technique, or what equipment is best. Back then, I just relied on my ears. I wish I would depend on them more nowadays like I did back then. I urge anybody watching this video and reading these comments to explore music creation as the unique artist they are, and trust yourself more than you might feel comfortable with.
If you’re the kind of musician who spends enough time to read these kinds of comments, you owe it to yourself to have faith in your inspirations, your curiosities, and most importantly YOURSELF, to be willing to break from tradition anywhere you see fit. Whatever comes natural to YOU as the artist, will most assuredly resonate with someone else on this planet. Honest self-expression is rare, and difficult, but we all have it in us.
Well said!
I’m going to write a song based on this. This is like the opposite of cliché! The tips are so unique!
Love this and would love to see more content on songwriting!
8.00 "Give me some more milk" hahhaa XD
If a baby said that in a deep voice like that then I'd definitely take notice!
I laughed out Loud at this part! 😂
These 2020 babies will say that. 😆
This was great! I really appreciate the introduction to Mr. Sutton, thank you!
I love this video thanks for the help
This is a great crash course in choruses.
This video is really helpful. I noted down everything he said and then found out there's a free guide from him too! Excellent content Graham and YES please talk more about song writing! You ROCK!
Wow thank you
I have learnt so much from this
I believe this will improve my songwriting.Thank you so much and God bless you 🙏
Fantastic Video! Thanks for posting.
love this! just wrote a song today & i naturally used a few of these tips!
Really excellent explaination for using a series of tools that will help us creative volcanoes focus things a bit. Thanks 🙏
Excellent teaching!
Thanks Graham. This is great. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a hand in persuading or tipping Martin over the edge to start a TH-cam Channel. Thanks for helping us make connections too (Ill Factor, Jordan Valeriote and now Martin). And yes it would be great to learn more about songwriting. Subscribed to Martin's channel and downloaded the PDF. Thanks.
Martin Sutton is a legend! Just coming down from the high after doing the SongWritingAcademy 555 Challenge, one of the most profound weeks of my life!
Great video! The link to that website and 7 step planner is directing to a webhosting site though.. Cheers and thank you!
Great tips
would love to see more songwriting workflows , this will be very helpful to everyone on getting ideas to create
That was an awesome video!!!! Thanks!!!
Hi, would Chorus like below be sufficient to make a statement?
Verse 1
Falling
We know we are falling
But neither is sorry
It’s always so sad
It came without warning
This gold gloomy morning
We’ve finished the story
There’s nothing to add
And through the clouds slowly
Chorus:
Drip-drip-drop
Falling down from the skies
Washing off all the lies
Comes final rain
No matter how hard we’ve tried
With nothing else left to hide
Leaving us both behind
It came to the end
Verse 2
Maybe
We’ll meet again maybe
Both happy and carefree
It happens sometimes…
…But rain keeps on pouring
And there is no turning
When light is not burning
And souls do not rhyme
You seem like a genuine guy who is passionate about what you do, I will definitely check out your content. Graham, YES!! Definitely more song writing content, Thank You!!!
TheErow44 hey man, if you’re new to Graham’s stuff, let me just say welcome, and that you’re about to dive into some of the most legit audio related content out there 👍🏼
Great Tips and Sound Advice. Simultaneously, there is and isn't a formula.
Love this type of video, more on songwriting please :)
This was simply beautiful you can see and feel the excitement in you both. There is no question why he is where he is because he loves what he does!! By the way this is my first time on here!!!!! Subscribed☺
Awesome Graham! Thanks for focusing a bit more to songwriting videos. Your main area is somewhere else but as you say - these are the basics...
I love this video! Excellent! Unfortunately, the link for the 7 step method PDF doesn't work. Where can I get this?
I'm having issues with songwriting lately. When I get to my computer I'll be downloading that 7 step PDF. I've heard some songs that have been engineered great that do nothing for me, and I've heard songs where the audio quality isn't the best but I love the song. Keep up the videos
Very nice tip Graham. I subscribed to your TH-cam channel because of mixing. Now you've given me a new road to look at. THANKS VERY MUCH
Excellent advice. Thank you for sharing your expertise. The key words as stated., " Don't complicate things. "
Regards,
songwriter
John Pucilla
Songs often also have a "bridge"; where would you place the bridge in relation to the chorus? Would it be the peak of the mountain or something else? How about a chorus on a modulated key?
I learned a ton from this video. I can already sense it in some songs that I know and love. Thank you.
Thank you
Thanks for giving this video! It's really helpful!
Very informative. I think one still has to be careful to stay original, but this is definitely a huge help.
This is really amazing
Thanks for teaching thia amazing topic
need more of this!
Martin is awesome!! Thanks Martin and Graham for this video.
Really excited for this new channel by Martin and really great vid graham !!
Great video, no songwriter is too big for these tips.
Yes i want to know more about it! Thanks you Graham Teacher
Lovely man with a giving heart. Excellent content & advice! Thanks for promoting Song Writing Academy! :-)))
Always enjoy this channel. Most helpful
Thanks great info !!
Jesus, this guy is amazing! Not only is he giving away amazing info, he’s giving his 7 step method info out FOR FREE??? Wha?!
And this guy’s tips were freaking amazing! I have never thought of songwriting that way, and I have been writing good songs for quite a few years now. I’m joining that channel, and grabbing that PDF! Thank you for posting this video here!
Thank you Graham. Another great one.
Thanks so much for this tips. I did searched for the 7steps song planner on pdf but didn't get that showed up
Awesome, thank you!
Yes I just picked up some very helpful songwriting skill.
This is Amazing information. Thank you
Thank you so much for what you give to us on every video. (and yeah we want more of these kind of videos !!!)
This is really interesting, the thing about melodic contour, and having choruses as being higher than the verses, I think this advice is more how to keep in with most other classic pop songs - if anybody has heard of the recent hit 'girls like you' by maroon 5, their chorus is way lower than the verse and pre-choruses. What you can use that isn't mentioned here (although it's great) is rhythmic contour. So taking this back to 'girls like you', the chorus hear mostly falls on beats 1, fairly consistently. Ed Sheeran uses this a lot in his hits, take 'Galway Girl' or 'Lego House'.
Hi there, only just come across this excellent video. I would love the 7 step PDF, but the link is no longer working it would seem. 🤷♂️
Been writing for over 25 years. Can I send you some of my songs to see if it's worth it?
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I'd been questioning myself about the use of questions or direct action in some of my lyrics of late and this video resonated. I have so much to learn while loving the process. So thank you from my Muse & I here in the tropics on a cool n breezy night 😊🎶
The lyrics to Bowie's Life on Mars are poetry. Simplistic hit making recipes don't apply to it. I dare you to explain "the point" of that song. I fear the days of that kind of writing leading to major hits are over.
That's good point
EXACTLY THANK YOU
Excellent points here..Thanks
A very good lesson.Keep up the good work sir.
Great video very helpful I would love a copy of the planner but the link appears to be locked
I think this is great advice that can be used in all genres. Thanks.
I can't believe how many hit songwriters are criticizing this video.
On a serious note. I cannot seem to load the songwritingacademy.com, it pings, but nothing loads.
Brilliant! Thank you guys for bringing this content. 👍👍
love this video great tips
Great video. Thanks for sharing!
thank you!
7:31 wonder where bridge, and guitar solo lay in this metaphor
I can't access the pdf
Nice video- sure, keep em comin
Video start from a good idea but the advices here can be easily broken :
- Verse low / Chorus high : Nope : The Pixies - Where Is My Mind. It' not the fact that it is low or high that makes a chorus stand out, it's the contrast. Something more modern : Taylor Swift - Look What You Make Me Do. The Chorus stand out because it has a huge contrast with the verse. And it's way lower. But it catch listener attention.
- The Verse low / Pre chorus climbing / Chorus high is soooooo overused nowadays that it can sounds generic and boring.
- Use interrogation in a chorus - call to action - a statement. Okay this is like maybe 90% of the entire language expression... So use almost whatever you want in chorus...
Writing hits songs is being innovative by still using stuff that are common enough to not loose the listener into confusion. But it's all about making new with old and being really clever about words and vocal placement. IMO.
Please I want the 7 step song planner from the song writing academy.
Great! Please tell us more about song writing theme.
Interesting. Though I think about songs like Message in a Bottle or Where is my mind, Karma Police... where the chorus might be the lowest point in the song. Yet it creates something fantastic. I guess writing a song can be about forgetting the rules sometimes.
Thanks for the video man! I'm actually writing a song and it has all this great tips, and I totally agree with them!
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!
This is great
This is very helpful, thank you!
Hey, I'm going to buy a microphon for recording vocals, I have seen your video from a year ago were you say an audio tecnica AT-2020 is great, buuuuuuut, should it be the XLR or USB version? And What audio interface should I use?
Anyone have the pdf??? Please link me!
Great video as usual Graham🙏🙌 and I just subscribed to that channel sounds awesome to me 🎶
Love it !
Yes i NEED more content on songwriting please :)
I can’t access the planner, can someone please help me out?