The best tools in the TOOLBOX

After writing and co-writing music now for over 12 years, having around 70 songs in my catalogue and co-written with approximately 40 other writers I wanted to list and share with you the TOOLS that I have used for getting the best version of a 3 minute sonic miracle down on paper:

1. Time Blocking - put a 2 hour timer on your phone and start writing with no distractions.

2. Deliberate practice - schedule a weekly or daily time where you consistently songwrite and practice your craft.

3. Rhyme zone - it's amazing, nuff said.

4. Hook book - I save an excel spreadsheet of all my song titles, ideas, phrases, music ideas and such in the cloud so I can access whenever I have a session.

5. Co-writing Session preparation - challenge each other to come to each session with 3 "song seed" ideas

6. No more courses, webinars or books - learn to write by actually sitting down and SONGWRITING. The best way to learn is through DOING.

7. Write bad songs - learn from your mistakes and bad paintings

8. Action creates inspiration - Don't wait for inspiration, just start writing/creating and through ACTION inspiration will then follow.

9. Google docs and sharing - Google is a great system for saving and sharing your workings files in the cloud

10. Song seed - the SONG SEED is the fire starter of any song - it's the magic song title that rolls off the tongue, the great drum groove, the killer guitar riff, a groovy bass hook, an awesome rhyme or anything else that plants the SEED for a great hit song.

11. Sweat equity and hustle - talent counts but it will never supersede hard work and hustle.

12. Creator mode and editor mode - identify when you're in either mode and don't let the 2 interfere with each other.

13. Know your market and genre - if you want to write for radio know that market and study it. Be tuned in with the current MARKET and move with it

14. The Fishing Theory – to catch a fish don’t think like a fisherman, think like the fish!

15. Have fun - if you have a good time and really enjoy making music, success is just a matter of time. 16. Contrast - use contrast in lyrics to emphasize your message and to set up the hook line

17. Melody - Linear melody in verse - soaring melody in chorus or vice versa.

18. Simple Production - an ear can only absorb 3 hooks at a time, keep production simple and use the sum of all parts theory

19. Internal rhymes - rhymes within a lyrical line can provide great rhythm, flow and cadence to a melody

20. 2nd verse sameness - Say something new and fresh in the 2nd verse

21. The SET UP - A mediocre lyric brilliantly set up (phrasing, rhyme, timing, melody etc.) will beat out a brilliant lyric poorly set up

22. iTunes charts and new music Friday's - listen and absorb all new music coming out on iTunes every Friday to move with the changes

23. The song is king - do what's best for the song and not for your personal agenda/ego

24. WIX - build yourself a free website

25. Strengths - Know your strengths as a songwriter and maximize them

26. Emotion - Create emotion in a song a listener can connect with and you will have them hooked.

27. Live show - Create a performance MOMENT in the song that would allow the artist to really make the song special and memorable in a live music environment ie: a breakdown after the guitar solo, big bass groove, intense intro etc.

28. 1st line - The 1st line in a song needs to grab the listener - most important line a song

29. Lyrics - Keep lyrics Conversational and relatable

30. Lyrical hook placement - Putting the hook at the end of your chorus gives it extra punch (like a good punch line in a joke)

31. Make it singable - make it so a 5 year old can sing it

32. Lyrics are for the head, melody is for the heart and harmony is for the soul.

33. Song radar - always have your "song radar" on for hook ideas ie: lines in a movie, billboard signs, the beat of the dumptruck, etc.

Best of luck!

Stay in tune and in touch.

-k