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 C bridge A? verse B chorus

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)

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

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

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

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--$ 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)

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

And Persevere!!!!!