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LinkedIn Learning

20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

via LinkedIn Learning

Overview

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

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