8 transformational songwriting tips used by professional songwriters around the world!
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ABOUT KEPPIE
Hi I'm Keppie! I'm a professional songwriter, and songwriting teacher. I've been teaching song and lyric writing for over 10 years now for some of the best contemporary music colleges in the world- Berklee Online, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music's Open Academy, as well as for the Australian College of the Arts. At other times, I've taught for the Australian Institute of Music, as well as the LA School of Songwriting.
My goal is to help people write better songs! My experience in the classroom, with thousands of students at this point (many going on to find careers and success in music), is that your songwriting, like all things, can get better with meaningful, deliberate practice. My intention is to share the skills, knowledge, information, and ideas that I've gathered with anyone who wants to improve their songwriting.
Keppie's music is here:
www.keppiecouttsmusic.com/music
#songwriting #howtowriteasong #songwritingtips #howtowritesongs #taylorswift #harrystyles
"Don't write the music, let the music write itself" -Michael Jackson
I dare you to write something every morning and every night. Its given me soooooo much material to work with.
I write for the bin. Write everything and don’t be afraid to throw it in the bin as it frees up the the brain for good ideas as it’s no longer clogged with all the rubbish ones. I -should- need to go back to writing every day.
00:56 Tip 1: Find the title at your earliest possible convenience 04:11 Tip 2: Whatever your title or hook is, repeat it at least twice inside the chorus 06:20 Tip 3: Amplify reality 07:48 Tip 4: Focus a disproportionate amount of time on the first line of your song 11:04 Tip 5: Choose the right point of view for your song 13:36 Tip 6: Save the highest note of your song for the chorus 14:52 Tip 7: Quality in songwriting is a factor of quantity 15:20 Tip 8: Do not mistake generic lyrics for universally relatable lyrics
P.S. great use of examples in your teaching :) another video idea: great songs that totally break each of these songwriting rules, so we can see both sides of the equation? (after all, the exception makes the rule!)
ty! :)
Thank you for this shortcut
I really struggle with tip 7 and here's why. It's often been said that a songwriter's songs are like his babies. Each one has a special meaning and is a labour of love to create. It's always been difficult for me to let go of a song that isn't working or that I'm stuck on. Should I stop and start a new song? Should I start from scratch with the same song? Should I leave it alone for a while and come back to it? Should I completely scrap it? Songwriting is a grueling decision making process for me because I approach every song I write wanting it to be special in it's own way and wanting it to be of a good quality.
Each is different like your kids. Often leave and later use fresh eyes, and ears. Try the song lyrics matched to a melody in your head, or one that just appears from a situation or moment.
Focus on the “why” in the song (the most important part). We can talk about the “what” the “who” the “where” ect, but the most important part is the why. That part alone is the most important part of a song.
K. Cobain seems to have broken the lyric rules. Although his lyrics gave the feeling of being personal, they were so cryptic that nobody REALLY know wtf he was talking about. YET they have shown to have universal appeal. 😊
Exactly. I like that form of lyricism. Where it doesn’t make ANY freaking sense but to the artist it does. It makes no sense yet FEELS like it does somehow
Wish all channels had even a quarter of the content you put across. Your enthusiasm and logic and love for your craft is inspiring lass. More power to you. Thanks.
Great advice. Narrow and deep. It’s too easy (for me😂) to get distracted by the second verse!
I have to say that I was blown away by the intelligence, insights and lyrical innovations advocated by Keppie. These deeply knowledgable tips are first class and the generosity in sharing them is much appreciated. I’ve always wondered what the key differences are between writing rhyming poetic couplets (which I can rattle off easily) and crafting creative lyrics. What a world of difference there is; I have much to learn, even after six decades. 🎉🎉🎉
Qualifier follows ……
Tip number nine: Ignore the rules. Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional "wisdom". Going against the rules, that is what invention is about. That is how art is born. That is how breakthroughs happen.
What rules are these? There aren't any. Certain things tend to work most of the time, like getting to the chorus in less than a minute, having a song length less than 3:45 etc. Sure do a ten-minute song where the chorus comes in at nine minutes. Break the mould! Let us know how it goes!
@@MrMikomi - Sure. Rules can be useful but can also be just like a wall of fog that prevents you from creating something original and outstanding. Below an example of a song 9 minutes long without a chorus which have done great, by many considered to be a piece of art. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is another example. However not following the rules is just a tip - not a rule. If you prefer the run of the mill scheme it's your choice. There are many ways to make a good song, and creativity can be used on many different aspects in many different ways. kzhead.info/sun/psOnk5WBjaGDq5s/bejne.html&ab_channel=Ren
A good first step to invention is to stop being so suspicious of advice from others, otherwise you never learn. These aren't 'rules' they are tips.
@@pseudonymlifts2 - I know. My tip was to not let tips becomes rules. I appreciate tips and advices, and may use them sometimes when I think it's appropriate, but I refuse to let them become rules to follow. I do not feel obliged to follow the rules of the run of the mill scheme in songwriting. “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” - Pablo Picasso
Ultimately. But good to know the reasons behind the rules.
Thank you so much for this amazing advice and the time you put into making the video!
I really struggle with tip 7 and here's why. It's often been said that a songwriter's songs are like his babies. Each one has a special meaning and is a labour of love to create. It's always been difficult for me to let go of a song that isn't working or that I'm stuck on. Should I stop and start a new song? Should I start from scratch with the same song? Should I leave it alone for a while and come back to it? Should I completely scrap it? Songwriting is a grueling decision making process for me because I approach every song I write wanting it to be special in it's own way and wanting it to be of a good quality.
bro i’m the same but from my advice start other songs try other beats switch when you bored of that beat write at least 8-16 bars once you have enough and some kinda similar piece them together pick witch one is the chorus n boom you got a song bsafe
Guys this is sooo brilliant! Thank you so much for taking the time to create this.
Brilliant, another practical guide. Thanks. I’ve got my Chorus sorted and now getting actual progress with the opening line!
Awesome. Thank you so much for this valuable content, we really appreciate your work!
Thanks Keppie ! all great advise :)
Love what you're saying about choruses, so nice
Excellent lesson, thank you. Looking forward to learning more...
Great channel!!!! I love the content!!! Been binge watching for days!!! Subscribed!!! Cheers from Florida!!!!🎉🙂🙃😉😁
love these so much, thank you for the tips!🖤
Tremendous content! I have finally found a great songwriting resource. Thank you.
These tips are great, thanks!
So Very Cool, Thankyou. Amazing Lesson. You are such an Amazing Teacher. Much Respect. Cheers
Thank you for sharing your knowledge ❤
Thx! I always thought that my lyrics were always judgemental and angry, i like it when u suggested to write in another point of view… i get it! Didnt think that it would change it that much, but it does! Awesome!
Great video, lots of wonderful tips !
Wry nice! I needed this instruction and timing was perfect. It’s like I knew all this but had never put it into action on purpose, just danced around it for years.
I learned something here. Excellent explanations, thank you!
SO HELPFUL THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
amazing, very timely and helpful tips. thank you
What a great video ... thank you.
This was lovely and extremely helpful. Thank you.
Direct advice that works. Really well done. thanks
This is a great video. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks again for the wisdom. 😊
Thanks for the video. Very helpful.
Honestly thank you so muctj for every video you make its given me such great direction and has helped me not feel so lost in teying to learn how to write songs so thank you!!
What an incredibly helpful and enjoyable video. Thanks so much !!
Great tutorial!!!!!
''writing is refined thought", and "songwriting is amplified reality" - lots of opportunities for improvement just there! Also the section "save the highest note" cleared some confusions I was personally dealing with for last few months, never thought about it like this! This entire video is helpful in so many ways, Thank you!
I would also say, melody is about contrast - I wrote a hit song where the chorus was the lowest part melodically. And by the chorus it feels new and different
You do such an amazing job
You're amazing! 👏
great info. thank you.
This is the most helpful song writing video i've ever watched!
Thank you for this! It immediately cleared up so much for me by breaking the whole process into bits of arrangements and concepts! Been scared of writing my first song for a long time.
Another fantastic, uber-educational video. Thank you.
Good stuff. Thank you.
When the music comes first - which is my process most times - I enjoy just listening to the music and wait for imagery to come to me. And the concept/story/idea forms as a visceral reaction to the music. Really enjoyed these tips. How do you feel about productivity? I am a fan of and dedicated to producing songs on a weekly basis, forcing myself to keep moving and not labouring on all ideas. I wrote and produced 100 songs last year and learned so much from that process...now its just part of my practice to write and produce at a fast pace. I go back and rework stuff sometimes.
Through osmosis, Steve Kilbey’s work has changed the way I write lyrics completely. His lyrics are so epically imaginative and yet also a seemingly effortless flow of words. So concise, simple, and yet novelistic. “Hotel Womb” is one of my favorites. If inclined to look them up, beware of inaccuracies posted on various lyrics sites; they read like AI dictations as they are often so poorly transcribed. It’s best to hear them in context.
This is all priceless advice and it took me from, I'm not going to write lyrics because my lyrics suck, to I'm going to write plenty of lyrics so that these tips become my natural approach and THEN I can start producing higher quality songs more frequently.
I just watched this after spending a week or so on your - The 5 Most Powerful Songwriting Exercises, the course has made this so much more understandable. Thank you for the breakdown in this video, excellent information.
super content! Subscribed!
Fantastic video thank you!
keppe, thank you so much for your AMAZING tutorials. i've been writing for a long time and i feel like i'm discovering a new dimension to the craft since i came across you. please keep them coming you are so full of wonderful tips and ideas...thanks so much!!!!! - janelle
Ive been stuck on a song I'm writing for about a year cause I couldn't decide on my first line. After watching this I finally finished that first couple of sentences Ive been missing. Can't thank you enough. Amazing tips !
I'm luv'n all your you tube lessons. Just discovered these today, and am binge watching through these. I have written a lot of songs, and so I have a lot to think about and refer to as I listen to all of this.
Oh my gosh these videos are really helpful. Thank you so much ❤
Thank you for the inspiring videos, your enthusiasm for writing and teaching really comes through and makes me want to start practicing immediately. It's all about joy!
Strongly agree with tips 6-8. Excellent advice. I have never tried tip 1. I think I will now.
Truly great tips!
… you were my teacher!! thank you ♥️♥️♥️
I have that book! Mmm I really should find it and read it.
love this channel
this lady has a gift, I love these videos
Thanks!
Thank you so much! I've always wanted to write songs but never knew where to start. Subscribed. 💖💖💖💖
Nice analysis
As a musician and producer who struggles with topline, this was incredibly helpful and clear. Thank you!
Awesome thanks 🙏
Thank you! I have absolutely no song writing knowledge or experience. Recently I'm coming up with all these words and lyrics and I'm not sure how exactly to arrange them. Thanks again for taking time to do this. ✌️
Thanks for the great tips
Wow, I truly love this educational. I have nothing to say but thank you, Keppie. I've written about 20 songs, yet none of them seem to align with the second concept. Conversationally, I feel a bit off in that regard, but I adore the overall essence and melody of the songs.
Great tips! I had not thought about that quantity gives quality in the long run.
this video is very helpful thank u
Thank you for all you do 🌍🙏🌄🎨❤️🕊️ IAM grateful for you and these videos
Love your channel; am new here! Thank you for your guidance.
Some good tips. With the passing of Mr. Lightfoot, I find myself going back and listening to his songs, and the brilliantly crafted lyrics and storytelling. His well-known songs, sure, but digging deep into the more obscure is where I think he really shines. Thank you 🙏🏻
Will do.
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you Carefree highway, you seen better days The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes Carefree highway, let me slip away Slip away on you
You give me great advice
Very good content here. I found it really useful
Great video and tips! Hey I was there in the same room with John Mayer, good times!
This video is awesome.
Thank you! Also saw these in Pat Pattison's book too, so you know these are great tips. :) Subbed and will watch more!
Intetesting tips! An exception I noticed thought is that lots of timeless songs don't have their highest note in the chorus, or they will often be the same as the highest in the verse (Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine" for example). What seems to matter more is introducing a wide range within the first 10-13 seconds of when the vocal starts, usually between 9-12 semitones in the melody
What I prefer is the high note at the end of the pre chorus. It just builds it up for a big chorus.
Even when you don't have the high notes in the chorus, you can introduce them by putting higher harmonies on the lead vocal. And there are tons of great songs without the high notes in the chorus, as you say. I was just listening to the Police, and Sting's high notes are so often on the verse or even on the bridge.
@@RiffMusic1970 definitely a good option, and it's just that, an option yeah. What happens often with writers is if they are told to think about the chorus too much, they put less attention to the other sections of the songs. By thinking of high points and climaxes that reach at least 9 semitones in all sections aside from the chorus, that's more likely to create interest through the whole song. But yet again, there's always exceptions
Thank you, this is the kind of help people that can't afford to go to Berkley need.
"when everything sparkles nothing shines" incredible quote
I am a proficient writer. Really wanted to hate on this at first but I have to say you did exactly what you said you would. You helped me conceptualize things that took me a long time to figure out. This is a gem for us writiers just trying to get an edge direction motivation. Cheers!!
Oh please don’t judge and hate , then you say this is a gem for us writers trying to get an edge , hypocrite , please don’t make me laugh .
@@fishmut clearly not everyone is as basic as you.
the cadence of your voice and your pace with explaining things completely tickles my brain. You could be changing a tire and i'd still watch your videos haha
Yes, really good tips and thoughts. Concisely put and neatly summarises some of the main problems with what I write, I’m too generic (trying to be relatable), too wordy (dazzled by my own lyrical cleverness) and make the verses/bridges very, very melodic. Thanks for all of the tips…. Recommend! Right, now off to rewrite my song about a tree. It’s an oak, btw….
I heard Jarvis Cocker say that it was good to really belt out ideas for chorus melodies. Be loud. Push yourself to the point of over extending. This might be helpful?
Ooh! Nice. I hadn't heard that advice, but now that I see it in writing, I realize that this is actually one of my favorite songwriting techniques. A lot of my best songs started with a chorus hook that just begged to be belted out at the top of my range. Heck, I ended up having to work to extend my upper register, just because a particular hook was so hook-y that I couldn't bear to rewrite or transpose it. Totally worth it! Been singing that one for 12 years now, and neither I nor my listeners seem to get tired of it. :)
I freakin love your passion for songwriting. :)
Brilliant. I would just modify #6. Save the high note for the chorus or the emotional peak of the song.
Definietly maybe!
Good video 🤙
I have no idea how I stumbled on your channel- like no clue because all the algorithms ever send me are self help crap to like the 1000th power. But this turned up and I am so fuqing grateful to be literally DEVOURING your knowledge. I wish I’d had KZhead as a kid, I’d be a light years ahead in my life. You are MAGICKAL Ms Keppie. Thank you 🙏🏻🤘🙏🏻🤘
best songwriting video ever
thank you
Thank you...
Narrow and Deep is such a good tip
Thank you. Very useful. Many good tips. I am especially grateful for tip 7 as I have been particularly prolific recently and had begun to worry about it. I will still worry about it but now I will do so with a sense of permission granted. 😉😂. Once again thank you.
Okay. Just found you. I'm an instant new subscriber and a fairly good songwriter.
You say save the highest note for the chorus. I typically, (almost always) put it in the "shift(?) after the 2nd chorus. This is the pat where the music, maybe even the key, changes just for this part. Typically just before the guitar solo, or instrumental section, this is the part where the very essence of the song is defined. The exact word that is the focus of this section (and ultimately the whole song) is the high note. Maximum effort and energy is spent bringing this word, or phrase to the very front of the entire piece. Oddly, you mentioned of how the first line sets up for the chorus, which is (just by coincidence) what I have done almost every time in the last 47 years of writing. I had never thought about it until you, in this video, mentioned it. Even songs I wrote in 1976, (when I was in Jr High) were done this way. Repeating the essence of the first line in the chorus in the first and last lines of said chorus is something I have sub consciously always done. Quantity in writing has never been my thing. usually, I write when an idea hits that has a lot of meaning to me. I cannot just "sit down and write". When I'm hot, I'm hot, When I'm not, months may pass with no writing. If I'm not inspired, I simply cannot write. I was walking laps around my neighborhood back in the 80s, in wintertime, (early February) when brief flashes of several song ideas passed through my head. I walked home early, went to my downstairs studio, and jotted down ideas for roughly 8 songs. By the next morning, everything but those jottings was lost. June 10th that year, during another late night walk, the original ideas of 4 of those songs came back to mind (as I was in EXACTLY the same place they were originally conceived). I again rushed home, this time firing up the entire studio, and recorded rough ideas of all 4 songs. All lyrics were written and sang that night, and 3 of the guitar solos, and all of the piano work were too. Those songs are still performed the same way for the last 40 years. Moral of the story, I don't write in mass quantity, but frequently write in spirts, 4 or more songs in one night. It seems when I write multiples in one night, they all come out great. As for your "generic lyrics" line, I always write in reference to the main idea, thought I do meander sideways sometimes to explain myself better. Maybe if I ever start doing KZhead videos, I'll share my strange methods of song writing. I typically don't consciously follow any rules when writing, but subconsciously, I seem to follow many of yours by sheer coincidence ! I have not deviated from my style once in 45 years !