20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

Course details

While there are technically no limits when it comes to songwriting, here are 20 "unofficial" rules that songwriters employ to make songs more engaging and memorable. And it's not just commercial songwriters. These rules are used in many of the popular and GRAMMY-winning songs you hear today. In this course, Cliff Goldmacher reveals tips from the professional songwriter's rulebook, starting with 10 rules about lyrics: staying conversational, using concrete details, and keeping your rhyme schemes the same in similar sections. He then discusses five rules for melodies, including why you should keep melodies simple, unique, and accessible, and how to make them more memorable with repetition. The last five rules tackle familiar song structures and tips for shortening sections of songs.

Learning objectives
Writing lyrics that are conversational and natural
Making every line count
Putting your song's hook at the end of a chorus
Creating simple and unique melodies
Keeping song intros short and longer verses at the beginning of a song

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files

1. Ten Rules for Lyrics

04 - Introduction to lyric writing
05 - Rule #1 - Make your lyric conversational
06 - Rule #2 - Emphasize the natural syllable
07 - Rule #3 - Use concrete details in your verses
08 - Rule #4 - Show 'em, don't tell 'em
09 - Rule #5 - Make sure every line of your verses and bridge provides new information
10 - Rule #6 - Make certain your chorus is the main message of your song
11 - Rule #7 - Putting the hook at the end of your chorus gives it extra punch
12 - Rule #8 - Give your song a title that references the hook
13 - Rule #9 - Keep your chorus lyric the same in each chorus
14 - Rule #10 - Keep your rhyme schemes the same in similar sections

2. Five Rules for Melodies

15 - Introduction to melody
16 - Rule #11 - Make your melody simple
17 - Rule #12 - Make your melody unique
18 - Rule #13 - Melodies rise in pitch at the chorus
19 - Rule #14 - Repeating melodic figures makes them memorable
20 - Rule #15 - Keep your melody's range singable

3. Five Rules for Song Structure

21 - Introduction to song structure
22 - Rule #16 - Three commercial song structures
23 - Rule #17 - Keep your song's introduction short
24 - Rule #18 - Only use a double verse before the first chorus
25 - Rule #19 - Think of songs as having three parts
26 - Rule #20 - When in doubt, make your song shorter

Conclusion

27 - Breaking these rules on purpose
28 - Next steps

20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

Authors

Cliff Goldmacher