Impossible to watch videos on this channel without taking notes. So many gems in this one. I recently took 2 songwriting classes at Berklee Online (Harmony and Melody). Both were wonderful but they were all about the music, and I needed guidance on crafting lyrics. Keppie’s videos have provided the much-needed missing piece. Many, many thanks to you!!
Just finished...." Two by five" Robbie Russell. Finally a song with sections.......With your help , I'm closing in on better songs.Thanks for all your help . I can't....not finish ....a song, I just keep at it. Two by five took me 5 months and probably 4o lyric changes. I'm ok with it if I can prove growth in my choices. Of course I'm too close to it, but even I, can see growth and progress at least in the right direction. This channel is so helpful. The more I learn though , the more I see is involved in creating a good/great song. Now I need to be less wordy :) Write On !
So helpful. One of my main tips that I use to finish songs, even though I've only got two done in my short career, is to... Get away from the song! If you have the ability and time, let your subconscious work on it. Come back and hear it fresh. Then get to work. Then stop. Eventually, though, you Then need to really sit down and polish. As part of this process, I really try to edit out anything that is superfluous and get to the CORE of what is happening. A fresh ear is really good for finding when you're doing way too much
Thank you so much H.T.W.S. I find you truly inspirational in my song writing and song writing ideas, sometimes it's easy to start a song but a bit difficult to conclude and finish. I love going for a walk in the park where I reside here in So-Cal and find that to be very useful, again I'm grateful for all the things you do for us all in teaching the craft.
I've been "winging it" my whole life, and I am so glad that I have stumbled onto you and your amazing processes. I have gone back to some of what I have already created to find where I might have actually used your techniques unknowingly, as it helps me solidify it in my brain...concept worked=concept good=use again! What I struggle with a lot is how to edit ideas. How do you narrow down 7 minutes of lyrics that you feel work down to an acceptable consumable 3 to 4 minutes? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
One factor I definitely use is having an angle, theme or concept when writing. So if I want write a song about Christmas, I would write all the ideas, colours and emotions that come to mind. That way, if I write two verses and a chorus and want to add to it 6 hours later, I still have all the ideas in front of me or in my head to play with. Saying, "I want to write a song about love" is too broad, so you have to narrow down each of the angles e.g. new love, cheating, desire, waning love, etc.🙂
I like the funnel analogy. I often come up with parts of a melody or a chord progression that sounds like it might be the basis for a great song. (But, and I can tell what the rest of the analogy will be...) But, I never take it to the end, and complete it, putting all the finishing touches on it. When I first started playing guitar I was much younger, and I could write good lyrics. Then I would come up with a few basic chords (actually, I didn't find out until MUCH later how complex they actually were, lol), and make a song. When I performed it for friends, they always liked it! (Surprised me!) Nowadays, I don't bother, because I can't really sing all that great, and don't have great lyrics any more! But, I'm learning!
This video is so useful, at the moment I’m really struggling with the fear of failure. I think that’s what it is. I don’t want to start a new song because I don’t want to find that I can’t finish.
The challenge for me is overthinking the process. I watch videos like this and it doesn’t help me as much as it actually makes the whole thing seem too daunting and complicated. If anything, it’s a deterrent rather than a motivator. I think some of my best songs have been ones that I didn’t think about. Or at least I didn’t feel like I had to think about to any degree. They just happened. All I know is, I certainly did not sit there and think about song maps, structure, lyrics, title etc.
Thanks for all the helpful tips and resources, definitely will be using them going forward. As you said, it does feel like im searching through the dark aimlessly when writing 😂
The immersive listening tip is really interesting. If I kept a song in mind and listened to artists I love I think I’d end up consciously or subconsciously taking parts of that song 😂 how do you avoid that?
Hi Keppie! I purchased your course in Udemy,,,how to write songs start to finish, is the song form template there? The different structures for bars etc you mentioned in this video?
Yes ,I always witness that,as I speak now, am stock with a song am writing now, titled Laura,am done with the first verse ,the pre_chorusbot am having issues at the chorus,am trying to put down something that will match the chorus but it doesn't fit ,I don't know what to do now ,am stock at the chorus,pls can I get help pls 😢
What if finishing my songs fails upon struggling to find a proper melody finish for the chorus? I always come up with a great hook melody but it's mostly only part 1 of something that sounds like a phrase, and everything I come up with for part 2 sounds lame
She has a lot of videos on her channel, I'm sure you can find more than a few there. This video's tips are pretty "powerful" if you have issues completing songs or get stuck along the way. Cheers!
Bill Withers, worst lyric ever, total b.s., " ..for if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow." crap, stupid, lie,. Tomorrow is promised to no one, stay real.
Do you really need all those sound effects? Very distracting, and they get in the way of listening and understanding the very important things you have to say. Also, would it not be easier and simpler for you to edit your videos without them?
Impossible to watch videos on this channel without taking notes. So many gems in this one. I recently took 2 songwriting classes at Berklee Online (Harmony and Melody). Both were wonderful but they were all about the music, and I needed guidance on crafting lyrics. Keppie’s videos have provided the much-needed missing piece. Many, many thanks to you!!
Just finished...." Two by five" Robbie Russell. Finally a song with sections.......With your help , I'm closing in on better songs.Thanks for all your help . I can't....not finish ....a song, I just keep at it. Two by five took me 5 months and probably 4o lyric changes. I'm ok with it if I can prove growth in my choices. Of course I'm too close to it, but even I, can see growth and progress at least in the right direction. This channel is so helpful. The more I learn though , the more I see is involved in creating a good/great song. Now I need to be less wordy :) Write On !
You are brilliant - no one else makes the theory of songwriting so do-able, so clear so … ‘right I’m going to go and do that now !’
Since getting a dog, my creative juices have soared. I’m convinced that the rhythm of walking and “zoning out” are amazing exercises for songwriting.
So helpful. One of my main tips that I use to finish songs, even though I've only got two done in my short career, is to...
Get away from the song! If you have the ability and time, let your subconscious work on it. Come back and hear it fresh. Then get to work. Then stop.
Eventually, though, you Then need to really sit down and polish. As part of this process, I really try to edit out anything that is superfluous and get to the CORE of what is happening. A fresh ear is really good for finding when you're doing way too much
you never make a bad video 💖
Love you dear 💕
You are an excellent teacher - thank you!
your enthusiasm inspires me. your smart, well thought out videos provide me with tools. which I will now go and put to use. thank you!
Finishing my first original album, just realised I needed your video like blood, many thanks for huge help, specially lyrics❤😊 from Hamburg
My no. 1 key to finishing songs is: Have a hard deadline.
Thank you so much H.T.W.S. I find you truly inspirational in my song writing and song writing ideas, sometimes it's easy to start a song but a bit difficult to conclude and finish. I love going for a walk in the park where I reside here in So-Cal and find that to be very useful, again I'm grateful for all the things you do for us all in teaching the craft.
Great advice, tools and strategies Keppie.
I've been "winging it" my whole life, and I am so glad that I have stumbled onto you and your amazing processes. I have gone back to some of what I have already created to find where I might have actually used your techniques unknowingly, as it helps me solidify it in my brain...concept worked=concept good=use again! What I struggle with a lot is how to edit ideas. How do you narrow down 7 minutes of lyrics that you feel work down to an acceptable consumable 3 to 4 minutes? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I love this channel so much, I’m always growing cause of this channel.
I love when you give us this kind of material 🥰 thanks a lot guys 🖤
Your help has allowed me to complete some of the lyrics that I have been tooling around with for several months, even years in some cases. Thank You!
thanks 🙏
One factor I definitely use is having an angle, theme or concept when writing. So if I want write a song about Christmas, I would write all the ideas, colours and emotions that come to mind. That way, if I write two verses and a chorus and want to add to it 6 hours later, I still have all the ideas in front of me or in my head to play with. Saying, "I want to write a song about love" is too broad, so you have to narrow down each of the angles e.g. new love, cheating, desire, waning love, etc.🙂
I like the funnel analogy.
I often come up with parts of a melody or a chord progression that sounds like it might be the basis for a great song.
(But, and I can tell what the rest of the analogy will be...)
But, I never take it to the end, and complete it, putting all the finishing touches on it.
When I first started playing guitar I was much younger, and I could write good lyrics. Then I would come up with a few basic chords (actually, I didn't find out until MUCH later how complex they actually were, lol), and make a song.
When I performed it for friends, they always liked it! (Surprised me!)
Nowadays, I don't bother, because I can't really sing all that great, and don't have great lyrics any more!
But, I'm learning!
Yes, I have this key song, nebulating in my head & heart, and it needs a map! :D
This video is so useful, at the moment I’m really struggling with the fear of failure. I think that’s what it is. I don’t want to start a new song because I don’t want to find that I can’t finish.
2 last strategies ...
Listening again.
Great tips! Thank you!
Yay. I always struggle to finish a bunch of songs so this is helpful 😁🙌
The challenge for me is overthinking the process.
I watch videos like this and it doesn’t help me as much as it actually makes the whole thing seem too daunting and complicated. If anything, it’s a deterrent rather than a motivator.
I think some of my best songs have been ones that I didn’t think about. Or at least I didn’t feel like I had to think about to any degree. They just happened. All I know is, I certainly did not sit there and think about song maps, structure, lyrics, title etc.
Thanks for all the helpful tips and resources, definitely will be using them going forward. As you said, it does feel like im searching through the dark aimlessly when writing 😂
The immersive listening tip is really interesting. If I kept a song in mind and listened to artists I love I think I’d end up consciously or subconsciously taking parts of that song 😂 how do you avoid that?
I got sparkles when you said corpus collosum
Hi Keppie! I purchased your course in Udemy,,,how to write songs start to finish, is the song form template there? The different structures for bars etc you mentioned in this video?
Where do I find the "show notes"?
Excellent!
Yes ,I always witness that,as I speak now, am stock with a song am writing now, titled Laura,am done with the first verse ,the pre_chorusbot am having issues at the chorus,am trying to put down something that will match the chorus but it doesn't fit ,I don't know what to do now ,am stock at the chorus,pls can I get help pls 😢
What if finishing my songs fails upon struggling to find a proper melody finish for the chorus? I always come up with a great hook melody but it's mostly only part 1 of something that sounds like a phrase, and everything I come up with for part 2 sounds lame
I finish on about the 7th or 8th song.
Is it possible to join your group of songwriters if I am brazilian and only write songs in my native language?
Where can we hear songs you’ve written
Unaeza ongea kiswahili plz
I can't believe you just stole my song "happy in the morning happy at night"! And as a bad example! 😭
Oh good. I thought I was the only one who fumbles around at the end to get enough lyrics to finish the song.
first like then watch
It’s 1% creativity and 99% work.
not really
@@milalaracx well lucky you then
im in the middle of it right now lol
Hello can you do a video with simple but powerfull tips?
She has a lot of videos on her channel, I'm sure you can find more than a few there. This video's tips are pretty "powerful" if you have issues completing songs or get stuck along the way. Cheers!
*Time to stop procrastinating mate* good tips tho
Bill Withers, worst lyric ever, total b.s., " ..for if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow." crap, stupid, lie,. Tomorrow is promised to no one, stay real.
He should have stuck with plumbing, but maybe he was crappy at that too.
@@zesvoWhere are your hit songs?
@@williamk6605Don't worry, I've got lots of great songs!
Do you really need all those sound effects? Very distracting, and they get in the way of listening and understanding the very important things you have to say. Also, would it not be easier and simpler for you to edit your videos without them?