“Songwriting” Article Table Of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.  Key Traits  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -1
a.  Definition
b.  Tuneful
c.  Hits Home
d.  Coherent
e.  Hook
f.  Groove
g.  Texture

II. Song Structure  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –    3
a. Components (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Hook,
Fill, Break, Turnaround and Ending)
b.  Forms (A, AA’, AB, ABC, ABCD)

III.  Inspirational Sources – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  6
a.  General Remarks
b.  Chords and Chord Progressions
c.  Hooks
d.  Rhythm
e.   Bass line
f.  Scales
g.  Existing melody
h.  Visual image
i.  Natural sounds
j.   Inner world
k.  Other instruments
l.  Other artists
m. Lyric character
n.  Style

IV.  Musical Aspects – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 10     a.  Rhythm (Instruments, Target Notes,
Grooves, Accents, Performance)
b.  Keys
c.  Scales
d.  Modes
e.  Intervals
f.  Chords
g.  Chord Progressions
h.  Extra touches
i.  Style

V.  Song Writing Strategies – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 19
a.  General Remarks
b.  Initial ideas
c.  Song type
d.  Title
e.  Song form
f.  Melodic and chordal structure
g.  Lyrics (General Remarks, Regarding Rhyme, Lyric Creation)
h. Review (General Remarks, Common Errors, Improvement Techniques)