20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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

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