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20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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Professional songwriter Cliff Goldmacher reveals 20 unofficial songwriting rules that can make your songs more engaging and memorable.

Syllabus

Introduction
  • Welcome
  • What you should know before watching this course
  • Using the exercise files
1. Ten Rules for Lyrics
  • Introduction to lyric writing
  • Rule #1: Make your lyric conversational
  • Rule #2: Emphasize the natural syllable
  • Rule #3: Use concrete details in your verses
  • Rule #4: Show 'em, don't tell 'em
  • Rule #5: Make sure every line of your verses and bridge provides new information
  • Rule #6: Make certain your chorus is the main message of your song
  • Rule #7: Putting the hook at the end of your chorus gives it extra punch
  • Rule #8: Give your song a title that references the hook
  • Rule #9: Keep your chorus lyric the same in each chorus
  • Rule #10: Keep your rhyme schemes the same in similar sections
2. Five Rules for Melodies
  • Introduction to melody
  • Rule #11: Make your melody simple
  • Rule #12: Make your melody unique
  • Rule #13: Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus
  • Rule #14: Repeating melodic figures makes them memorable
  • Rule #15: Keep your melody's range singable
3. Five Rules for Song Structure
  • Introduction to song structure
  • Rule #16: Three commercial song structures
  • Rule #17: Keep your song's introduction short
  • Rule #18: Only use a double verse before the first chorus
  • Rule #19: Think of songs as having three parts
  • Rule #20: When in doubt, make your song shorter
Conclusion
  • Breaking these rules on purpose
  • Next steps

Taught by

Cliff Goldmacher

Reviews

4.6 rating at LinkedIn Learning based on 108 ratings

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