5 Simple Songwriting Exercises to Transform Your Lyrics

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8 ай бұрын

🔷 FREE eBOOK: how-to-write-songs.ck.page/cc...
Tired of writing lyrics you just don't love? Fascinated how your favorite songwriters come up with such incredible lyrics? This video shows you 5 incredibly powerful exercises for turning ideas into lyrical gold, and crafting lyrics that'll make yer' mum proud.
Random word generator: perchance.org/useful-generators
🌶 Hot New Course! "The 5 MOST POWERFUL SONGWRITING EXERCISES... REVEALED" - 3 hours of perfectly sequenced learning, with demonstrations, examples, and 18 downloadable resources - all for LESS THAN $35 - www.udemy.com/course/the-5-mo...
🔶 Join our international Songwriters Community - get access to free workshops, live feedback sessions with Keppie and Benny, and more: howtowritesongs.org/community/
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:
www.keppiecouttsmusic.com/music
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
open.spotify.com/artist/7M3Zf...
SILAMOR
open.spotify.com/artist/5HOpa...
www.silamor.com/music
Work Flow Audio:
/ @workflowaudio-studymusic9916
#howtowriteasong
#howtowritesongs
#songwriting
#songwritingforbeginners
#writesongs
#johnlegend
#taylorswift
#writeasong
#howtowritelyrics
#lyricstips

Пікірлер: 151

@BJ-fj6jw 8 ай бұрын

"I get stuck in your rain." STOP! That's so beautiful!

@htws 8 ай бұрын

If it inspires you, feel free to use it :) Just make sure to build on it, and make it your own!

@vineethkumar6750 7 ай бұрын

May I know the meaning of that sentence. I didn't quite get it

@Nobddy 5 ай бұрын

@@vineethkumar6750 Rain is often considered to have a negative connotation in Western writing. It implies a lack of sunshine and thus a darkness and coldness. So the line is essentially saying, ‘(when I’m with you,) I get trapped in your negativity.’

@dickrichard626 2 ай бұрын

@Nobddy "western" writing 😅

@placebo5466 Ай бұрын

your love is like a storm i get stuck in your rain waiting on a feeling but all you give me is pain

@dopeljones 4 ай бұрын

Another great example of contrast is the song "running" by ibejii. With lyrics like Hell may turn cold, like a lava stone but my heart for you will never. Absolutely gorgeous.

@nicholasheal5925 6 ай бұрын

0:39 1. EXTENDING METAPHORES 4:08 2. UPGRADING VERBS 7:37 3. USE SPECIFIC IMAGERY THAT WORKS HARD 10:48 4. CONTRAST 11:48 5. POWER POSITIONS

@windmonarch 8 ай бұрын

Anger is a storm - metaphor The clouds of your mind gather, darkening in your eyes. Your words are lightening, striking out at the nearest touch point - your voice swells and spills, and I harden like ice. My dark glances rumble on the horizon of our days. - extended metaphor 👏👏👏👏👏

@dperez611 Ай бұрын

1) metaphors 2) upgrading verbs. Example you don't need to say the dog bark loudly as loudly is implied. She walk into the room."call to action" Automatically just cross out any adjectives or adverbs.that are inside the lyrics there might be some that are needed. Underlined every verb that is used. And pick one verb for one section. 3)Use specific imagery. Find a way to paint a picture instead of just saying sunday afternoon. 4) Contrast. 2 opposite ideas. Good/bad Hot/cold. 5) Last line pivot. The surprising element at the end.

@Sxlly-to1pe 4 ай бұрын

Is this good? "You may ruin my life, but you will never take my heart You may run away to not to admit that deep down, You don't like the truth that you drowned me in your storm"

@zalananevem 8 ай бұрын

this channel gives so much value with such great editing/story-telling.. i'm kinda speechless. most of the times other channels just keep bsing, beating around the bush and don't provide any actual value in much longer videos then yours, but your content is full of it and you don't waste any of our viewers time. how did i not find this channel earlier? i'm so grateful that i arrived here now. incredible work, keep up the quality content! i instantly subscribed.❤‍🔥

@randolphvillamer 6 ай бұрын

I should've thanked you before, but here it is. 30+ years of writing (radio and landlines then) At least I know now that your channel proves that music transcends time. Thank you

@const71 8 ай бұрын

many of these ideas apply to screenwriting ... so cool :)

@transformationgeneration 8 ай бұрын

Lyrics and melody are my strong point. They come so simple for me. My trick is "don't make them too difficult, make them clever". I am always complimented on my lyrics by nonplayer friends and my , melodies by my musician friends. But I live in the Midwest. There's no-ne hearing me beyond those folks.

@jeaniemarinella4746 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I often have some anxiety around writing the lyrics to my music causing me to avoid the process but this actually motivated me to get started!

@juliasmithoficial 8 ай бұрын

i absolutely LOVE this channel! thank you guys so much for the amazing tips! ❤

@moon_skeloton19-plays-on-ps4 7 ай бұрын

I have runaway stuck in my head was listenin' to the ocean I saw a face in the sand But when I picked it up Then it vanished away from my hands, dah I had a dream, I was seven Climbin' my way in a tree I saw a piece of Heaven Waitin' in patience for me, dah And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? Nobody knows, nobody knows And I was dancing in the rain I felt alive and I can't complain But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I can't take it anymore I was painting a picture The picture was a painting of you And for a moment I thought you were here But then again, it wasn't true, dah And all this time I have been lyin' Oh, lyin' in secret to myself I've been putting sorrow on the farthest place on my shelf La-di-da And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? Nobody knows, nobody knows And I was dancing in the rain I felt alive and I can't complain But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I can't take it anymore But I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home, home where I belong, no, no No, take me home, home where I belong, oh, oh, oh No, take me home, home where I belong, no, no No, take me home, home where I belong I can't take it anymore

@gofrankurdi 2 ай бұрын

this was so helpful! Thank you so much! I'm considering your course now!

@user-bc3bp7kg5e 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Great video and helpful exercises!

@Tjsarx 6 ай бұрын

I really appreciate you. This is really good. And straight to the point. Grateful!

@martoneill 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant as always- thank you!

@aaronlarsen7447 6 ай бұрын

You are such a good teacher.Thank you. I absorb all the best teaching. Everything you say is useful.

@anitacoffey 4 ай бұрын

I'm loving the information here. Wow. I'm so excited to get started! Thank you. I'm subscribing!

@cmdrando 3 ай бұрын

amazing advice, and I love that you've given 5 actions to take...Makes it way less conceptual and more pragmatic. now, I'm off to do these exercises!

@michelle-psl4441 8 ай бұрын

The tap's been on a while and the water's beginning to clear. Thank you Keppie & Bennie for all the wonderful tips and exercises to help clean the pipes!

@tonyharp2009 8 ай бұрын

I love your lessons!!

@markwhittaker6321 2 ай бұрын

I really love your lessons and style. So helpful!! Thank you.

@clivebarnett9673 8 ай бұрын

Excellent and inspirational! You are passionate about this and it makes all the difference!

@xraycreative741 3 ай бұрын

These 5 lessons shine in powerful simplicity. Thank you!

@tracypattin3746 7 ай бұрын

I LOVE your channel! And YOU are fantastic. I'm inspired on my new songwriting journey. Thank you!

@iamryan_inBits 8 ай бұрын

Another great video Keppie, thank you 🙏

@aspen-forest 8 ай бұрын

thank you so much! very helpful!

@giorgiobenedetti4116 7 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this extremely useful video. It helped me out a lot in the writing process! :)

@charleshyde3337 2 ай бұрын

Woah that song with the skyscraper and falling out the 25th floor saying her goodbye, gave me GOOSEBUMPS sooo beautiful

@joezagame5598 8 ай бұрын

Excellent video! This teacher knows her stuff!

@loganmorgan5145 2 ай бұрын

I really found the video helpful on my journey to make good lyrics. Thanks for your help.!

@MaBaKar 8 ай бұрын

Thanks, appreciate the tips!

@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj Ай бұрын

Thank you⭐🌹⭐

@hansvanlavieren7027 8 ай бұрын

I love this. Very useful and helpful ❤

@RBReZe 5 ай бұрын

Very Useful Information. Thank you so much!😉

@KL-xv5gj 5 ай бұрын

Very practical and insightful advice. Thanks 🙏🏻

@ranaghazzaly4115 8 ай бұрын

Thank you i’m learning so much from you ❤

@QuincyKane 8 ай бұрын

This is very helpful; thanks for sharing!

@franciscotamburri5146 8 ай бұрын

I love your content, you're an awesome teacher

@singsters9624 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for making this video it really helped and I liked and subscribed 😊

@MustafaBaabad 4 ай бұрын

Excellent lesson on song writing. Thank you. Cheers from Indonesia

@frombeginnertoband7973 8 ай бұрын

This is a great tutorial - thanks v much 👊

@pedromejia157 9 күн бұрын

Hello there, Thank you. I appreciate the time and effort put into this. Great stuff

@MrVuvu 5 ай бұрын

Such good advice. I also get anxious with lyric writing in my music, which leads to avoidance. Everything you said reminds me of Sade's song Pearls. Thank you. New subscriber here.

@GrooveMasterAcademy 4 ай бұрын

Gteat video, I used to attend the Harriet Schock songwriting workshop in LA off and on for a few years. You brought back a lot of knowledge and added a lot as well.😊. Thank you.

@RocheKlaase1 4 ай бұрын

I knew something when i saw you.. Thats beautiful!!

@rifatahmed6214 6 ай бұрын

By far the greatest tutorial ever!

@mazetoeden9334 6 ай бұрын

Very helpful, thanks!

@jenniferzuiff8517 6 ай бұрын

This is one of the BEST videos I’ve ever seen on lyrics

@fanievanrooyen9851 4 ай бұрын

Oh wow!, I find your knowlege and ease of your expanations very engaging. Thank you. I am Afrikaans speaking - I was lost in a desert of phrase and expression, I now rest in charming pastures of appreciation.

@halhamilton3234 8 ай бұрын

Just found your channel. I am starting to write and I am learning so much. Great content.

@htws 8 ай бұрын

Welcome aboard!

@izio4408 8 ай бұрын

This is amazing advice!!!!

@DJslifeisart 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this I am going to try the 5 metaphors

@PamelaKyeiBaffour Ай бұрын

I love this channel

@ConservatoryOzarks 8 ай бұрын

Wow thank you how useful 🎉

@user-vj7ub3pr6i 7 ай бұрын

This helped so much. Been listening to hella tool and Maynard Keenan’s writing is just so genius I wanted to make music heavily inspired by them.

@juliojrart3142 Ай бұрын

Beautiful🎉

@barrycoulter6951 8 ай бұрын

I felt i made headway on the last song i wrote (Desert) after a lesson of urs…. Now i see all of the imperfections in it after this lesson! Lol thanks for the insight!

@stgregorychildrenschoirgul3411 27 күн бұрын

I wish you could be my personal instructor. You are so good a teacher

@ghostbrains6 8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@gasparucciox9706 8 ай бұрын

super!

@Nancychosen 8 ай бұрын

Thanks alot

@isaacwu4995 5 ай бұрын

Thank you

@vernardvanhoute 5 ай бұрын

great advice

@brownin329 6 ай бұрын

Hi Keppie, do you have a video on how to match chord progressions to the metaphors in your lyrics to set a mood?

@ronwhitehouse23 8 ай бұрын

Great video thank you. I would love to hear your views on Marc Bolan's mystical lyrics during his pre T Rex days.The lyrics in these magical songs I still listen them today. His Unicorn album was a really special treat.

@tamzinwatterott1134 5 ай бұрын

My favourite lyrics is the lyrics of Serve the Servants. My favourite song that has bad lyrics is probably something like hysteria-muse

@danmanley2525 Ай бұрын

You already helped me. I've been writing for years and I read my work and hate when I can't convey my thoughts with out correct word imagery

@GnatGames Ай бұрын

Honestly, I’m just starting

@julianc.mcclain 6 ай бұрын

You just changed my world hahah tf! So cool

@Balluna 3 ай бұрын

My notes: 1. metaphors & describe them further. then pick out some parts 2. upgrade verbs & cross out adverbs/ adjectives 3. imagery is important (showing>telling) 4. contrasts - opposing things are spotlighting 5. power positions - 1st and last lines of every section are most important (last line pivot - surprise!) all songs that were mentioned: 2:53 School Night - Ani Difranco 4:01 Golden - Jill Scott 4:03 Circle Games - Joni Mitchell 4:05 She burns - Foy Vance 4:07 Take me to church - Hozier 5:46 Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers 6:49 Nothing - Bruno Major 8:23 The Bed Song - Amanda Palmer 12:54 River - Johnny Mitchell

@BJ-fj6jw 8 ай бұрын

Keppie how do you do that??? "Anger is a storm". It's magical how you conjured this extended metaphor. I get (slowly) how you arrived at this because you kindly explain, but it's so entertaining and awesome how it seems to effortlessly roll out of your creativity. It is inspiring. 1:42 into your video... cant wait to watch the rest!

@whatabouttheearth 6 ай бұрын

You're gonna have a brain hemorrhage if you hear 'Lungs' or 'Flying Shoes' by Townes Van Zandt or any of Leonard Cohen well known ones 😂

@robertourbino4392 Ай бұрын

Subscribed 👍

@tiffanystarling6749 27 күн бұрын

9:34 that's funny cause my interpretation of this sentence was that she faced the truth as something she was looking for. She says that she found her glasses, i think the use of the verb "find" here is kind of specific. If it was only the scene of a couple in the bed, she could have said "i took my glasses". And then I interprete the other part of the phrase "you turn the light out", as the fact that the other one lives in denial. So, it joins your interpretation, meaning they are not on the same page, but it can be interpreted in a stronger way. Maybe she faces the fact that they are not on the same page anymore, and the other one chose to ignore it, so, not only she has to deal with this disconnection in her couple but she also has to deal with being alone confronting the problem.

@nicostruppich 8 ай бұрын

“ Eating samosas that my neighbor dropped at my door” - oh yum, and now I’m distracted

@htws 8 ай бұрын

Yeah - my neighbour's the best ;)

@stestetsonmusic 3 ай бұрын

Word association is something I like to do

@TulsaMikeFloydd 3 ай бұрын

Loved this one. BTW, “litttle” at about 5:48 is an adjective, no?

@mo2cubing 7 ай бұрын

6:26 "hardly" and "little" are one such adverb and adjective respectively, but they're easy to miss so I see your point.

@user-zl2lv7eg4d 2 ай бұрын

superrrr

@suzetteemberton4368 5 ай бұрын

This is concrete advice, with real examples, and it’s incredibly helpful. Thank you! I’m a composer wanting to learn how to write good lyrics, instead of just the music. I can use this!

@hectorguzman8435 2 ай бұрын

I came here to get help too! I have an easiness of composing music but struggle with words for lyrics

@SQUiMTAROT 8 ай бұрын

Bro! Incredible content you guys I got the e-book a lil while a go and it 10xd my game IMMEDIATELY. Cannot describe hot grateful I am for youtube teachers 🙏will continue to come back for more! ❤‍🔥

@labyrinthwomb 8 ай бұрын

I know you're mostly right about adverbs and adjectives... but I wouldn't go to an extreme. Think of these classic songs: Isn't she lovely Tiny dancer Psycho killer Brown-eyed girl Beautiful Boy American Girl Purple Haze Comfortably numb Born to be wild And the most classic of all: We are never ever ever getting back together - 4 adverbs in one line! ;P

@labyrinthwomb 8 ай бұрын

Can't help it... More successful songs: Fast Car Killing me softly Despacito Single ladies Bad guy Just dance Used to be young Jaded High hopes

@whatabouttheearth 6 ай бұрын

'Nobody Home' by Floyd for a highly noun based song

@jimbeaux4988 7 ай бұрын

Have you done a video about how to check that you aren't copying off an old song? If not, could you do one?

@PamelaKyeiBaffour Ай бұрын

I love this channel thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤😊❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊❤❤

@suites.74 8 ай бұрын

I have a question. Many songwriters write lyrics based on the phonetics, syllables and consonants first and then fit a story to it. Just making the words sound nice and using language as a phonetic instrument on the melody. Do you have any videos on how to make a story with these nonsense words that sound pleasing to the ear?

@Friendship1nmillion 8 ай бұрын

( 1st like to your comment ) Maybe I am the Walrus by The Beatles 🤷 . Then again even though I've written songs ( & gotten some of them recorded ) I'm a student here , not 1 of the teachers . ♑️✍️🇳🇴🇦🇺

@whatabouttheearth 6 ай бұрын

You don't know how to use metaphors? This is showing you a metaphoric creation process. She is merely showing how to derive metaphors to use on your own. This is really basic stuff. Listen for metaphors in 'Suzzane', 'Merriane', 'Hallelujah'by Leonard Cohen, or 'Lungs', 'Flying Shoes' by Townes Van Zandt

@suites.74 6 ай бұрын

I am suggest a different video idea, one that talks about how certain words sound. @@whatabouttheearth

@FranklyCharlotte 7 ай бұрын

'School Night' - one of my favourite Ani songs. The guitar tuning is murder though but I figured it out - feeling chuffed.

@samseitz9937 8 ай бұрын

If you’re looking for a case study is amazing lyric writing check out David Wilcox (American musician). His writing on the album how did you find me here is one of my all time favorites

@joannasandquist1599 4 ай бұрын

Our love was a death trap: you placed roses on bear traps and left my blood tracked in the snow. Oh I think you know.

@patchrockit 7 ай бұрын

I'm old now. I recorded two songs I wrote a long time ago and just uploaded them. Just 2 songs. I'd love to just get any feedback. Please don't troll me, and I know i'm not a great singer. Just poking around songwriting channels in hopes of constructive critiques.lyric changes/i can commission an actually good singer and a guitarist to actually play the two songs well. Lyrics are in the description area of the two videos. I'm not trying to get views, I have maybe 9 subscribers that are random people or bots. i don't know. Just reminiscing on times and found an old phone i recorded the 2 songs with a bit ago. Thanks all!

@guitaring1 8 ай бұрын

The Bed Song by Amanda Palmer should come with a warning. I don't remember the last time a song made me cry.

@KosieRosie 3 ай бұрын

🤓☝️ akshully “anger is a storm” is a simile - point is still absolutely solid tho

@iquor 3 ай бұрын

Love is a boat ready to sink until it reaches another shore maybe I forgot that moving on is better than being abroad Maybe if I held tight I would of never left your eye sight

@jeremymorrisonmusic 8 ай бұрын

Ok just curious on part about Adverbs and Adjectives you said only adjective was Hard but isn’t Little also adjective and Hardly an adverb? Not meaning sound sassy just want to see if I am missing something here. Love your channel and content❤

@cheribarkman1784 8 ай бұрын

Shallow pool of mediocrity is a great line . Lol

@MrBosum 29 күн бұрын

😂

@ViktorVanRiver 8 ай бұрын

Nick Cave's O Children line "Forgive us now for what we've done It started out as a bit of fun" kills me every time

@htws 8 ай бұрын

We are, probably unsurprisingly, massive Nick Cave fans ;)

@aoeulhs 8 ай бұрын

Anyone here a fan of John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats? He's a very prolific songwriter and as a lyricist he's relentlessly astounding.

@htws 8 ай бұрын

Well - I AM! ;)

@vincentgagnon8892 29 күн бұрын

In the Phoebe Bridgers song, "hardly" is an adverb, no?

@daisy.yannone 5 ай бұрын

i want to write a song for an audition but i don't know where to start, nor have the inspiration to do so. what do i do?

@JammieDodger1080 3 ай бұрын

If you want to do it then you will do it. What do you want it to be about? Create a title capturing the essence of your message. Now free-write, free-writing involves you sitting down and removing any expectations of perfection by writing whatever comes to you, write about your song. Motivation isn’t something that just comes to you. We create our own motivation. Motivation is just momentum in motion.