Write Your First Song in 5 Simple Steps!

In this video we take you through the songwriting process, start to finish, in 5 simple steps!

ABOUT KEPPIE

Hi I'm Keppie! I'm a professional songwriter, and songwriting teacher. I've been teaching song and lyric writing for over 10 years now for some of the best contemporary music colleges in the world— Berklee Online, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music's Open Academy, as well as for the Australian College of the Arts. At other times, I've taught for the Australian Institute of Music, as well as the LA School of Songwriting.

My goal is to help people write better songs! My experience in the classroom, with thousands of students at this point (many going on to find careers and success in music), is that your songwriting, like all things, can get better with meaningful, deliberate practice. My intention is to share the skills, knowledge, information, and ideas that I've gathered with anyone who wants to improve their songwriting.

Keppie's music is here:

ABOUT BENNY

Hi I'm Benny. My passion for music and creativity stretches across multiple disciplines and art-forms. I am a founding member and songwriter / lap-slide guitarist for one of Australia's best and most bearded country-bluegrass-folk bands, THE GREEN MOHAIR SUITS. To date the Mohairs have released 4 full-length albums and tour both nationally and overseas.

I am also the Founder and Head Producer of SILAMOR STUDIOS, a boutique studio specialising in Composition for Film, TV and Interactive Media. I write extensively across various instrumental and lyric-based genres and has been commissioned for major projects by Adobe, Cathay Pacific and Audible. I currently release original songs under the name SILAMOR.

I am also passionate about education and have taught song and lyric writing as well as film composition for JMC Academy, Collarts and the Australian Institute of Music. I design and regularly facilitate workshops on creative process and innovation.

Links to Bennny's music are here:

The Green Mohair Suits

SILAMOR

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[alancrapo]

I've never seen such a complete lesson on songwriting expressed so succinctly. Brilliant. I will definitely be watching this multiple times.

[martinsavage]

I saw an interview with George Harrison once. He described how he was struggling for good song ideas so he picked up a book, opened it at random and read a few lines here and there until he came across the phrase "gently weeps".

[wesleyhowie]

I'm 66 and I love your perspective on approaching 40! LOL. Bad news...those lyrics will only become more relevant as the years go by. Your first verse sounded exactly like....this morning. LOL. Love it!!!

[ColinProcter]

This is the best, most compact and most inspiring video about songwriting I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen plenty!). Great work you two!
I’ve been writing songs for 45 years, but even though most of the techniques you present here are not new to me, they are communicated with such energy and clarity that it feels like a new and urgent call to pick up my guitar and pen again! Thanks!

[sofiam-]

you guys just saved my life. I was in complete despair from the fact that I had reached a dead end when I wrote my first song. tysm, I got a second wind❤

[hansy]

This right here is a crash course in effective songwriting. Thanks a lot, both!

[anthonybeers]

I am 39 and an organic famer and I totally feel you on the all the sudden everything hurts theme.

[carltonkidd]

Perfectly described my situation in the first 60 seconds! Bahahah! I can write a good poem or lyrics....I can play my acoustic guitar well enough to be I have been stuck trying to finish a single song for a year. I do both well but keep overthinking. I understand and can play a dozen progressions....but I can't get more than halfway through combining the two elements. I think I'm just overthinking but idk

[meeno_the_man]

Not only do you gots have great constructive ideas, you’re just plain fun to spend time with.

[gaz]

I’ve always been great at writing great hooks and I’d take them to the band and jam out a new song with it.
When it comes to writing on my own I have trouble joining up the parts and writing lyrics.
Hoping to change that.

I always found the bass was good for coming up with good hooks and grooves.

[Dennis-xscn]

What a terrific video. I am 74 I play drums ok and written a little poetry and know a little music theory. I want to learn music production and have got far enough with tutorials on Ableton Live and. Midi controller and am ready to start song writing. I have a massive drive to produce a song about my mum who committed suicide 45 years ago. Still miss her loads and I have a title ‘But she’s not there’. I have watched a few of your videos and have really learnt a great deal inspired by your ideas. Just wanted to say a big Thank You

[Sian_Brimms]

Thank you so much. I'm a broke guitarist who can sing and play pretty well, but I've always taken a very intuited approach towards song writing. With the tips in this video, I think I’ll be able to churn out a lot more songs! I’ll give y’all some credit if I come up with any bangers!

[MASAMEDIATV]

Wonderful video. A complete masterclass resumed in less than 30 minutes.

[mysticop]

"The Beginning of the End." I'm 48 and I get completely what you're saying.

[chinmayjadhav]

This is so useful! It's great to have the entire process from beginning to end. Thank you both!

[homesh]

Amazing. I love your videos so much. They are so structured and well places so much importance on following a structure. Plus it's so much fun to see you guys as well. One more thing, the song at the end was amazing!!! I keenly wait for your videos each week.

[preciousmousse]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Loved how this was accompanied by an example so that we can hear something good coming out of following the structure!

[rickpearlstein]

Thank you. I've been a musician for less than a year. Studying/playing mandolin and fiddle. Hadnt planned on songwriting but the more I progress the more I want to.

Thanks for the wonderful knowledge.

[michellebliman]

Great as always, and Keppie I looove your personality! So honest, fresh and wise. Thank you guys for this amazing team you make. Best wishes from Argentina

[BroLuap]

Wow!! That’s amazing to watch that happen in what seems such an easy way! You guys are truly pros!