How to Finish Every Song You Start

In this video, I show you a song development method that will help you finish every song you start.

[HGProfit]

Hey I rap… but your videos have helped my song writing greatly. Thank you

[robertogarza]

Those example lyrics were frickin great. Thank you for this guide!

[MumMy-ko]

Holy, ground control to Major Tom. Super helpful info. Thanks.

[maxfieldstanton]

Another good trick to use in conjunction with this method is to give different context to a phrase upon the second or third round. Choruses can just repeat for emphasis, but sometimes changing just a word or two can give a completely different message. For instance, the phrase "not enough" could indicate one doesn't have enough to keep going, but within another round could be used to say that the opposition is not enough to stop you.

[highvolumepls]

Super, natural and honest delivery, many thanks❤😮😊 to the point, fir decades I have been under clouds in songwriting, you have opened up the flood gates, got your book last night😊

[thee.jhenry]

All of these videos are simple, easy to follow, and packed with solid tips. Thanks for sharing!

[mrelmoresmusiclab]

I'm like quicksand and I can come up with hundreds of riffs on the spot, but this is a major problem of mine. I have finished many songs for multiple artists, myself, tv and more, but I still needed this video. You are great and I love your vids. Keep on crushing it and it's so nice to meet you. My channel is growing so fast and I have mad respect for your hard work here on YT. I totally get it. Rock on!

[thelonerocketeer]

Map 2 immediately reminded me about Poor Man's Poison's song "Hell's Coming With Me"

[shoresaybow]

Thank you Keppie for all the input you are sending out to us. I love your positive energy that instantly sets me in the mood of writing. I rather finish any of your videos because I almost every time take a blank page and drop some lines and ideas for a new song. You and Ben have a gift and I am so thankful for both of you sharing your spirit and knowledge.

[brownin]

Thank you! This is the kind of guidance I need that I could not find anywhere else.😊

[-lv]

this video made me smile so much. like this song map just unlocked a whole new WORLD of possibilities for me! thank you so much for doing what you do!!!!

[nyrman]

So i had a problem with finishing songs. For a decade. In march i decided i will never again let 10 days pass without uploading a track. Aaaaand i never looked back. :) Also, nice video!

[YourFavouriteColor]

The term I like to use to distinguish between a lyric that's a narrative and one that isn't is "portrait." The core difference is, a narrative reveals through change, and a portrait reveals through exploration/description. "I don't care/I love it" is a really good portrait. "Happy" is another portrait. "It's My Party" might be my favorite portrait. "anyone know where my johnny has gone/Judy left the same time/why was he holding her hand/when he's supposed to be mine/It's my party and I'll cry if I want to/you would cry too if it happened to you." that's a really amazing lyric, and it "portrays" betrayal and deep pain, but doesn't contain a change/narrative arc.

I think most pop music is portraiture, and most folk/country is narrative, as stated in the video.

I've really loved these recent videos!

[skylar]

This makes me feel better to know this is a common thing. I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE We got this👊

[Guitar-Geek]

I've just spend all of my day playing around with 5 chord progression you've shared through "5 Out-of-the-Ordinary Chord Progressions" and we are definitely on the same vibe. It's a very complimentary for me to be on the same vibe with Berkeley College professor. =)

[JakeJLivingston]

Biggest issue for me is that the only lyrics that actually work are ones that just fall out of my mouth. If I actually try to sit down and “write” the rest of the song, it always feels contrived.

The songs I finish are ones where every piece of it emerged naturally from improvisation. Sometimes, it takes years for that last verse or bridge to surface.

[jaybone]

So incredibly helpful, thank you so much for this video

[liquidsolids]

Thank you for the clear explanations and concrete examples. This was very helpful, as usual. Well done!

[stephanofmunich]

I still can’t believe it. This became a song I couldn’t play or hear enough of after listening to it first time last sommer.

[loathsomewind]

I've been writing songs for decades but the past few years I have switched to writing comedy songs, like Flight of the Conchords or Weird Al. It was like learning to write songs all over again and I used a lot of what is talked about in this video to help me. Thanks for sharing all this great info!