5 Mistakes Beginner Songwriters Should Avoid

These 5 tips are specific, actionable, and tangible—use any of them in the next 10 minutes, and your songwriting will get better today!

00:00 Introduction
01:21 Mistake #1 - Pronouns
06:02 Mistake #2 - Chords
11:16 Mistake #3 - Melody
14:35 Mistake #4 - Output
17:03 Mistake #5 - Titles

[officialWWM]

I’m not sure who first said it but I’ve never forgotten this. “Great songs aren’t written, they are re written”. This has helped me so much.

[pallasathena]

Something I’ve come to realise is that I can reuse my old ideas in new songs, it doesn’t have to be 100% original every time. I mean fleetwood Mac reused the baseline in the chain, and it makes that song what it is.

[LG-Musique]

Thank you! I’m writing a song right now and just realised I use “you” for two different people in the verse and chorus 🤦🏼‍♀️

[rodnyg]

songwriting is an art that one learns and gradually develops over a lifetime. There are no mistakes that beginners should avoid, because your actual unique voice in songwriting comes from everything you encounter in the early years of gradually developing your own style and sound. Mistakes are the necessary building blocks that, if you avoid, will render your songwriting skills generic, unoriginal, & quickly forgettable like the majority of songs out there

[PeterSykesMusic]

Also more first lines from Ed “when I was six years old I broke my leg”, “I took an arrow to the heart”, “it hit like a train”. Great stuff Keppie.

[mathtrixmusiclix]

I would add that if you’re starting the song on the relative minor, it is a useful technique to employ a pre-chorus which provides a greater “lift” to the tonic major chord.

[MrPotatoMind]

Songwriting tip: channel your subconscious, there are no rules. Technique and meaning are overrated. Make pretty sounds with syllables instead of trying to "say" something.

[kensnzbr]

Great video! I just wanted to make a comment on point number 2. You called it a mistake to start your sections on the same chord. I wouldn't call it a mistake cause it's a matter of taste and what you might feel that the song needs. There are great songs that use the same chord progression throughout the whole song and there's a clear distinction between sections because good songs and good arrangements don't only rely on chord progressions to create a journey.

[matthewsommerville]

I’ve been writing for 20 years, just decided I was going to when I was around 14. I’ve never thought to be analytical about how the process works. This was interesting, and thankfully the only rule I STILL break is the lyrical one. After my years of doing it I’ve realized one simple thing: EVERY MOMENT OF THE SONG HAS TO BE INTERESTING TO YOU AND THE AUDIENCE…IT NEEDS TO CONSTANTLY BE POPPING AND MOVING. Music is MOVEMENT 😊

[nedim_guitar]

Switching to "you" from "he/she" could work, if the song changes more dramatically for that part (say, a rock song that goes pretty quiet) and then moves back to "he/she". It COULD work even in the example, though it's not optimal.

The tonic chord and the same chord starting every section sounds very dull. Good thing I'm not using it.

Anyway, very helpful video!

[jeremiahalexander]

I loved this. It helped me a lot. I often hit the wall with a song idea because I go from the beginning. I find that if I start with a cool idea and write it as a bridge, whether melodically or lyrically, I can build out from it. It’s just a recent thing that I’ve done, but it works great!

[WWS]

Ray Davies is my favorite song writer. He said he teaches songwriting. But it may only be in England. He should have a YouTube channel, I bet it'd be popular. He is very prolific. I just got a book of Irish folk songs and it looks pretty easy for me and it is about my bedtime and I'll obsess over it all night.

[edwinbrown]

Thank you Keppie! Great stuff as usual.

[angerock]

Thank you for the tips specifically the one about landing always on the beat, hadn't thought of that!

[misberave]

Once again Soo good! Discovered your videos a week ago and it boosted my knowledge to a level i wanted it to be since like 2 years and never could archieve it. Im finally at a point where i can actually say i write songs and not just mess around with random chords in a Key and now i know how to built and release tention

[scobrado]

Mistake #4 is golden. Good one. Mistake #2 can be not just black and white. Start in third person then rope in the listener with second person. Best to do once in one direction to shift the perspective. 19:00 sums up the heart and soul of refrain-based writing. Good info.

[gerrithdutoit]

Again an amazing tutorial! I take notes and transfer it to a worksheet that remains by my side when I get stuck. Thank you so much for this channel.

[DaveDickens]

Wonderful tips, beautifully presented and demonstrated, thank you. Cheers Dave

[drummermomcjs]

Once again great information and encouragement. I have fallen into some of these avoidables, particularly overusing the tonic in my songs and starting verse and chorus on the same chord.

[suefauziyah]

Helpful tips. #4 and 5 spoke to me the most. Both are tips I’ve heard before, especially on this channel, but always helpful to be reminded again… and again. Thank you!