From the course: One-Minute Songwriting Tips
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Make each verse line further your story
From the course: One-Minute Songwriting Tips
Make each verse line further your story
- Make each verse line further your story. Often in the songwriting process, we get in the flow and write quite a bit before we stop and reflect. This is often a wonderful thing and should be honored. The risk though is that we might not notice that we've been saying the same thing in a slightly different way over and over. While I would never suggest slowing down the creative flow, I would highly recommend being ruthless after the fact, and revising any line in your verses that doesn't further your song's story in some way. You've got a very limited amount of space in a song to say what you need to say. Don't dilute it by saying something more than once.
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Contents
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If you write songs, then you're a songwriter39s
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Make your lyric easy to sing50s
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Don't wait to sit down and write25s
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Your chorus is the song's main message45s
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Set up a place at home to write44s
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Try using nonsense words in your lyric46s
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Write down a song title every day25s
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Make your metaphor's imagery consistent1m 4s
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Write more and edit less48s
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Try the hook at the end of the chorus1m 1s
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Keep a file of unfinished songs34s
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Try using the first line as the last line, too40s
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Commit to writing for five minutes48s
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Keep your rhyme scheme the same1m 16s
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Write like you have a publishing deal52s
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Use imagery and details in your verses1m 5s
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Try switching your verses around36s
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Think of songs as having three parts1m 5s
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Learn your songwriting strengths39s
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Make sure your melody isn't too rangy1m
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Don't reject a cowriter's suggestion41s
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Use repetition in a melody33s
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Keep a recorder running while writing41s
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Ensure your bridge takes a new angle on your theme41s
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Make a rough recording of your song49s
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Everything points to the hook39s
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How songwriting is a muscle27s
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Don't chase trends27s
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Reach out to a new cowriter30s
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50/50: The simplest and best split48s
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Try learning a new instrument38s
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Read poetry43s
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Write based on the day's conversation55s
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Join or start a songwriting group52s
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Set a regular time of day to write26s
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Give yourself a writing assignment41s
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Do one business thing every day43s
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Make one song pitch every week58s
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Catalog your lyrics and demo recordings1m 7s
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Make each verse line further your story42s
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When in doubt, say less43s
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Write a song based on the structure of one of your favorites51s
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Make your bridge an instrumental31s
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Similar sections should have similar structures50s
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Cut your song’s intro in half46s
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A song under 2 minutes is fine if that's all you have to say21s
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Make sure your song isn't too long40s
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A lyric is a start, but you’ll need a melody before you can call it a song38s
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