How to Write a Song Without an Instrument: 5 Key Tips!
Look, I'll be the FIRST to admit that it's really helpful to play a musical instrument while you're writing a song! However, when I first got interested in making songs, I only had my singing voice, a trusty G4 iMac, a headphone mic, and GarageBand... and that didn't...
When to Use 7th Chords: A Seventh Chord Guide for Songwriters!
There's something special about the seventh chord. It feels like that warmth in the back of your throat when you sip hot chocolate on a cold winter night... Or the jolt you get from a REALLY good jump scare in a slasher flick! via GIPHY The seventh chord adds a little...
Lyrics or Music First: Which Works Best for Songwriting?
Some debates are truly for the ages: boxers or briefs? Chocolate candy or sour gummies? Deadpool or Wolverine? via GIPHY Well, in this article, I'm going to address perhaps the BIGGEST debate of all time (at least for songwriters): do you write the lyrics or music...
![What is a Bridge in a Song? [And How to Write One!]](https://improvesongwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/What-is-a-bridge-in-a-song-1080x628.jpg)
What is a Bridge in a Song? [And How to Write One!]
Virtually ALL genres of music follow some kind of structure, from pop music to EDM (and even jazz, though admittedly that genre can get pretty out there!). But as I explained in my epic guide revealing the 7 parts of a song, the majority of song structures basically...
How Much Do Songwriters Make in 2024? (Plus How to Get Paid!)
So you think you can write songs... And you want to make money doing it? Well, I’ve got some good news: if you’re hard-working and talented, there are more avenues than ever before to make money in songwriting! On the other hand, there’s a ton of competition out...
![How Long Should a Song Be? [Radio, Streaming, and Social!]](https://improvesongwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/How-Long-Should-a-Song-Be-1080x628.jpg)
How Long Should a Song Be? [Radio, Streaming, and Social!]
Are you a musician or songwriter trying to answer the question, "How long should a song be these days?" Well, I'll tell you! In 2023, the average song length is... drumroll please... 3 minutes and 15 seconds! But before you take that number as the whole...
7 Parts of a Song: The Ultimate Song Structure Guide for Songwriters
When it comes to writing a new song, you obviously need to know about musical elements like chord progressions, rhythm, tempo, and so on. But at a deeper level, your first task is to understand the 7 different parts of a song that can make up its structure. Why?...
13 Unconventional Songwriting Exercises to Boost Your Skills
Let's face it: You've probably tried a LOT of typical songwriting exercises before... "set a timer," "replace the lyrics to another song," or even just "listen to a song you like." And I'm not going to lie – those can be really helpful! But when you're...
9 Lyric Writing Tips for Songwriters (Improve Your Lyrics Instantly!)
If you’re looking for ways to improve lyric writing, we've got 9 tips that should help you out, broken down into the areas of lyric inspiration, technique, and structure. There are so many different types of music out there today that it would be impossible to...
How to Come Up With a Song Title: 5 Song Naming Tips to Try!
Shakespeare once wrote: "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It's an interesting idea on the surface, but does it apply to songs as well? Would Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" sound just as sweet by any other...
