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The WORST (but most helpful) Exercises for Songwriting

SongTown

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Hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down The Worst—but Most Helpful—Exercise For Songwriters. Learn how pro writers sharpen their skills with tough melody and lyric workouts that build your rhythm vocabulary and make your songs more hooky. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same patterns, this exercise will help you unlock fresh ideas and level up your writing.

⭐️ Level up your songwriting with real-world training by real-world pros. GET YOUR MUSIC HEARD at https://songtown.com

More from SongTown.com:
🎶 Advanced songwriting techniques
🎶 Pro songwriting tips from Clay Mills & Marty Dodson
🎶 Songwriting mastery for beginners and pros
🎶 Hit songwriting tips, melody writing, and lyric writing lessons
🎶 Online music education & songwriter podcast episodes

📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒

⭐️ Songwriting Books:
►Mastering Melody Writing: https://amzn.to/3wC5ipE
►Song Building: Mastering Lyric Writing: https://amzn.to/36t3kMy
►The Songwriter's Guide To Mastering Co-Writing: https://amzn.to/2Idev3R
If Amazon is sold out, grab it here:
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/maste...

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20 Comments

@SongTownUSA Creator 1 year ago Pinned

⭐ Level up your songwriting with real-world training by real-world pros. GET YOUR MUSIC HEARD at https://songtown.com

@seamusn1 1 year ago

Lovely day Bill withers

@mfsumption 1 year ago

I like the "blueprint" method, which is good for using both sides of my brain while writing a song. It's the same technique that authors use when outlining a book.

@Studio_940 1 year ago (edited)

I have been blueprintintg from time to time without knowing what to call it. I called it I Have A Working Title, then I'd come up with a scene, story, or whatever. Maybe 2 scenes or verses, different people same scenario, right? Bind it together with the same Prechorus and Chorus. I write alone as there are no really dedicated writers in this area and I haven't reached out online to find collabs. Thanks for the great tips, this one is excellent. I gotta harness that drum fill from IN The Air Tonight!! lol that is perfect.

@johndrewitt 1 year ago

One thing I've done on occasion, though I've hated even the thought of doing it, is scrapping a piece or a section of something I'm working on and starting over. Often I get attached to my writing and start to feel protective of it, and unwilling to make changes. There are always other ways of expressing a feeling, idea, or message though. The exercise of trying to come up with alternate lyrics, melody, etc. to achieve the same goals can lead to a better version of the song or maybe increase my confidence in version A. Either way, hardly a waste of time.

@leelane9929 1 year ago

I call that finding a groove.
From noodling around on a guitar. But also finding it inside a chorus.

@fearthebald 1 year ago

exactly what I needed. have more ideas for words than I do for cool sounding rhythms

@elkigirl123 1 year ago (edited)

Great episode. The “Never gonna give you up + Stairway to Heaven chords” was beautiful. That other chord progression was so familiar!

@johnschofield2968 1 year ago

I find mining for titles is pretty tedious but when you find a nugget it makes it all worthwhile.

@mixphantom0101 1 year ago

Chord progression made me think of "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers... ?

@LytestheDJ 3 months ago

H.E.R. and daniel ceasar - best partn:)

@ZavierwitaZ 1 year ago

I just used these on a new song i made and it definitely makes the whole song feel organized and really thought out. And as somebody that is quick to lose track of the direction of the song these help me alot!

@Jeremy-hx7zj 1 year ago

Great video! I heavily agree with the point about rhythms. I find so many choruses in popular music dull and unmemorable because of a lack of distinctive rhythm.

@sharkh20 4 months ago

Heavy by Collective Soul reminds me of that ringtone.

@brothermcdudebro 1 year ago

the brothers dude 👉📈🔥 burning up the charts ☝️

@PiercedHeartLyricist 1 year ago (edited)

Been doing this and didn’t even realize it. One of my favorite ways to write is by title. Almost every song I’ve written starts that way. I’m on the lyricist side of things for the most part (I play guitar but I’m still learning) but rhythm/cadence and what I now know is blueprinting are the fundamentals of how I write. Someday I’m going be able to afford to join you all on Songtown. These videos are so insightful in the meantime❤

@1camjam 1 year ago

Blueprinting is new to me and is really helpful. Rhythmic sequencing is not new to me but it's very helpful to hear this as an exercise angle. Thanks!

@hattleysengineroom 1 year ago

That's a great mash up!

@HarryHarrison5392 9 months ago

I never thought about blue printing, it is a great idea. For me it may be too methodical, and I guess as a job probably vitaly important. Anything I can learn I'll take, it has to be an extra string to my bow. A few years ago I stumbled on a way to write different songs, lyrics and melodies, everytime, maybe that is my own blue print? Thank you once again guys, this certainly gets the creative juices flowing again.