It sometimes helps to go back to basics. So here’s a useful cheatsheet taken from writer Ed Bell’s latest book...
Touring musician’s survival guide
Review: BBC Maestro Gary Barlow Songwriting course
Where do songs come from?
The creative process
Writing team dynamics
10 components of a Christmas classic
Four chords that changed the world (and how to use them)
8 things to know about co-writing
3 key production tips for collaborating online
8 ways to resolve songwriting conflict
16 song starters
Prinz Grizzley: 5 ways exploring different genres can add something new to your style
Using scales to write songs
Jenna Andrews’ tips on getting the most out of a publishing deal
Principles Of Modern Songwriting
How to come up with 100 new song ideas
Judith Owen: how to find your own truth in other people’s songs
Dear songwriter (are you in a boredom funk?)
When ‘Airy Met Fairy on the art of emotions
Solomon Grey’s 5 top tips for writing music pre-picture
Emily Keener’s 5 top tips on connecting with your creativity
Songwriter’s guide to home recording: acoustic guitar
5 top tips on entering songwriting competitions
Fink’s top 10 songwriting tips
How to overcome writer’s block: 10 top songwriting tips
The importance of developing a standout brand in the music business
Tips & Techniques
Articles
Nashville-based songwriting coach Mark Cawley provides some vital co-writing advice, with an extended extract from his best-selling book ‘Song Journey’...
Square Halo’s Minnesota-based producer Treyvonce Ambers-Moore shares some advice for lockdown music-makers after working with co-writers in London and Tokyo...
‘Staying Sane In The Music Game’ author Brett Leboff outlines a number of ways to handle creative differences and disagreements...
We pick a selection of kick-off ideas The Song Foundry founder Ed Bell’s book ‘The Ultimate Book Of Song Starters’...
The quintet’s multi-instrumentalist and Ed Sheeran collaborator knows a thing or two (or five) about coming up with great ideas...
An Austrian singer-songwriter whose music is informed by blues, country and Americana teaches us about how to subvert different genres...
Our guitar and production aficionado Dave Chrzanowski shows how different scales can be used to write riffs, melodies and solos...
As a songwriter, producer and publishing company head, we can be pretty sure Jenna knows her way around a deal....
Experienced session guitarist Jake Gakovik takes us through the basic elements of song craft: form, lyrics, melody, harmony and rhythm...
Author of ‘The Art Of Songwriting’ Ed Bell suggests how to decide what to write about and become more prolific...
The Welsh piano-playing singer-songwriter explains how learning to perform cover versions can help you discover what really matters to you...
How I wrote 'I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)' by The Moody Blues' John Lodge
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How I wrote ‘Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst
2
How I wrote 'Luka' by Suzanne Vega
3
Song Deconstructed: 'Repeat' by Sapphire
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How I wrote 'Food For Thought' by UB40's Robin Campbell
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16 song starters
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Shelf help: 10 of the best books for songwriters
7
How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
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Interview: Colin Macleod
9
How I wrote 'Enola Gay' by OMD's Andy McCluskey
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Comments
I'm going to keep songwriting by reminding myself that overflowing emotions can be relieved when I write them down or sing them out.
I’ve kept writing songs all through lockdown and have just released currently have 4 tunes waiting for me to find the right words. The songs
My best mate and I have been writing songs together for just under a year and we've just released our 1st single! I am so
I have been writing songs now for over 40 years and I am not about to stop.
Notebook writing even day
I wrote 'Start a party' for Freedom day and the nightclub scene. It all started with Gary Barlow's course, I am now on the TSA
I have plenty of ideas and try to get one end product at one time! Focus, making, listen to it until I am satisfied with