INDIE Weekly

April 25, 2016

The INDIE Weekly is your source for news and creative ideas for independent artists and songwriters. This week we are providing tips on songwriting:

Writing Lyrics: 5 Basics All Songwriters Should Know

BY NICHOLAS TOZIER: As you know already, lyrics are the words to a song. Maybe you want to write lyrics of your own, but aren’t sure where to begin. Or maybe you’re a seasoned songwriter who’s brushing up on the basics before you start writing an album. Writing lyrics is different from writing poetry, fiction, or any other type of creative writing. So what makes a lyric a lyric, instead of a poem or something else? READ MORE

Why a Good Chorus Usually Surpasses a Good Verse in Importance

BY GARY EWER: Most songs, if they are one of several possible verse-chorus formats, usually start with a verse, and before the 1-minute mark will move on to the chorus. The timing involved with this — i.e., the fact that we usually hear the chorus at or before the 1-minute mark, as you hear in a song like Lady Antebellum’s “Just a Kiss”, which happens at exactly 60 seconds — is an important feature of popular songwriting. As you know, verses are often low-energy, story-telling elements, while choruses are higher-energy, emotional events. READ MORE

How to Add “Finishing Touches” to Your Songs

BY PAUL HARRISON: “Finishing touches” are options you can use to enhance the intended impact of a song and keep your listeners interested. Keep in mind, there are many unconscious decisions when creating songs, like the pace of a song, how you strum or pick (for guitarists), the way you voice your chords, when to sing or play or when to be silent. The Finishing Touches workshops I’ve facilitated have encouraged writers to become more aware of their options and to consider alternatives. READ MORE

We hope you find these articles helpful and informative! Please submit suggestions or contributions for this column to [email protected].

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About Christian Copyright Solutions: CCS’s quest is to help churches and Christian ministries “do music right.”  CCS is an expert on church music copyrights and our primary focus is providing licensing and clear educational resources to churches, as well as representation, administration and advocacy for copyright owners. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.

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