How to Write Songs - Creating a Great Chorus
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
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A great chorus is more than just the bit where the lyrics repeat. This video dives deep into the craft of finding and writing great chorus lyrics.
We look at what a great choruses really do (beyond merely repeating), and look deeply at one of the most important concepts in great chorus writing: RECOLOURING. We reveal our favourite writing prompts for getting to a great chorus idea, and play a song that shows these ideas beautifully.
NOV 24/25 2022 ///LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP: HOW TO WRITE A GREAT CHORUS\\\
Info here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/songw...
CONTENTS:
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - What is a chorus?
03:13 - Chorus writing prompts
08:47 - Song example: "Stranger in His Kiss" by Lori McKenna
16:23 - Seeking emotional clarity
18:18 - What is a song good for?
NOTES:
* You can a PDF of the chorus prompts here: howtowritesongs.gumroad.com/l...
* Some of the chorus writing prompts I learned from taking Robin Frederick's online lyric writing course. You can find out more here: robinfrederick.com/workshops/
* Learn more lyric writing gold from Pat Pattison here: patpattison.com
SOME MORE FROM ME:
* I write about songwriting and creative practice here (and you can also sing up to receive my monthly newsletter of guaranteed non-rubbish):
howtowritesongs.org/
* We can be buddies on socials here:
/ keppiecoutts
/ keppiecoutts
* My own music and co-writes are here:
www.keppiecouttsmusic.com/music
ABOUT KEPPIE:
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. I teach for the Berklee College of Music (online, from beautiful Sydney, Australia), for 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.
ABOUT BENNY:
Aside from being a killer lap-slide player, Benny is a founding member of one of Australia's best and most bearded country-bluegrass-folk bands, THE GREEN MOHAIR SUITS. He is the Founder and Head Producer at SILAMOR STUDIOS, releasing contemporary music and collaborating under the name SILAMOR.
Benny studied Guitar and Composition under Jim Kelly at Southern Cross University before receiving a Postgraduate Diploma in Composition for Film & Television from AFTRS.
He currently lectures at JMC Academy and composes instrumental music for film, advertising, games, and other visual media.
The Green Mohair Suits: open.spotify.com/artist/7M3Zf...
Silamor: www.silamor.com/music
Work Flow Audio: / @workflowaudio-studymu...
MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:
"Stranger in His Kiss", by Lori McKenna and Dean Fields
© Hoodie Songs, Songs Of Universal Inc.
Intro and outro music by our very own Benny Romalis! You can find more here: www.silamor.com/music
#howtowritesongs
#choruswriting
#songwriting
#lorimckenna
Is this the best songwriting channel? I'm beginning to think so. Thank you.
Absolutely! It is.
You pair spin my 77 yr old head Your presentations ,a model in teamwork Each enhancing the others contribution. You’ve inspired this visually impaired music Ning Ning to get over his. distain for music theory & get serious about. PACKING. the GAP. ,engaging nmy snoozing endorphin vault ….my wick burning too quickly to waste opportunities like you put out there .
You confirm my belief that the best teachers are those who dare to share ..
Keep up the great work. John. Moffitt. NZ
This channel is so underrated. I’m primarily a metal/metalcore type esk fan. I REALLY have been trying to focus a lot on making better songs. A lot of people particularly in that scene think that just great riffs makes and sing good and to the average listener it just simply doesn’t. Great riffs and technicality is awesome and I love that but making the SONG the best it can be I think is where a lot of these types of bands fall flat.
All these videos get my wheels turning In a different way and I love every second of it.
All the metal/metalcore bands I love all have GREAT SONGS.
IE:
Ice Nine Kills-American nightmare (about Freddy Krueger)
Electric Callboy- We got the moves (about having a fun time partying at the beach)
Audience of Rain (my former band and I’m in the video. I contributed to helping write this but mostly for the guitar solo and other small additions)
-the war within
Which is about mental health struggles.
Sorry for the book, I’m just so incredibly passionate about music in general and appreciate people like you who take the time to appreciate one of the most under appreciated things in current society. 🖤🖤
i really enjoyed the conversation in this one! a chorus is a really big deal, and i think getting behind what the song is about really helps to build out the verses. i’ve heard many songs that really struggle to take off because the verses are either rehashes of each other, generic feelings that don’t use the chorus, or tell a story without showing the story of the chorus through imagery and metaphor in the verse. thank you for this video!
Great tips , thanks! Imo the chorus must FEEL like a release. Musically I find it feels best when it climbs up in pitch/register/energy
I can't finish songs. I can come up with the "sing along" chorus. But you just even came up with context of what the verses should be. You brought up many tips to help figure out what the song is about. Thank you so very much.
Thank you! Another great video. Fast becoming the best songwriter coaching channel out there!
That is very kind of you! Thank you!
what a great video! thank you so much. i also really liked your version of „stranger in his kiss“ i didn‘t know the song but the lyrics are amazing and they really prove your point
I always try to break some 'rules' writing music/song... However I like to use prompts etc to get going when I sit down and write lyrics.
These lessons are absolutely fantastic. I have been bingeing on your videos over the last week. They ALL deliver. Many thanks...
Great info. I’ve been a songwriter for 30 years and you’ve showed me a couple new ideas. Thank you, I’m glad I found this channel.
Awesome talk! I love those prompts!
I cannot even tell you how grateful I am to have recently found your videos. You guys are wonderful and you are answering so many questions that I have had for so long and you make it so much easier to understand! Thank you so much!
You are so welcome! If Chorus writing is one of the things you want more on, I am running a live online Workshop this Thursday evening (if you are in the US)! You can see all the info here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/355010434767 Much warmth to you :)
Great advices and great format! 20 minutes of straight forward talking about subject is just a great type of video! I think this helped me get through some struggles with my newest song. Cheers from Serbia
So glad to hear it helped. Thanks for the lovely comment!
I am really enjoying your channel! Thank you for sharing such high quality content for us here on CZcams for free - it sure beats paying for a class! :)
Really helpful and a thoughtful dive into songwriting. Thank you
Great insights, esp the concept that you could approach the chorus from multiple and varied angles. This reminds me of the Beatles’ process in the recent Get Back mini series - actually the title song Get Back is a good example of this technique (albeit more abstract rather than linear or consecutive in narrative) - state the premise, expand and escalate is a lovely emotional ride, particularly if this culminates in a celebratory chant in the chorus (whether emotionally cathartic or just a great melodious rhyme).
Just stumbled across your channel and have become an instant fan! 👍
This was outstanding. Thank you.
Wonderful, Wonderful thoughts and impetus to making progress in songwriting. I can't wait to try these techniques in my latest endeavor. Thank you.
mindfulness in songwriting. Dig it.
Critical exploration of personal thought and emotion around an idea is also a great tool for mental stability and well-being.
Plus i enjoyed the subtle Play school / Sesame street vibe in this vid. !
Good one
so incredibly helpful! thank you!!
I just stumbled across this, and it was exactly what I needed...thankyou so much, I will be back!
"Allows us to feel thought" That is profound
Love you two! 😌 great dynamic and wonderful format. I promised myself I was going to write and record a song this year. I promised myself I wouldn’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis” …buuuuut… your classes are so great I find myself tweaking and rewriting with new energy. 🤞two more days left😁
Share the song on CZcams. I'm curious to listen!
Such a perfect class 🖤🖤🖤 cheers from a writer from Brazil!
very helpful, and so cool you performed a little. Thanks!
Really excellent information simplified in a way that makes sense and is easy to understand. The way you identify the chorus as the core message and peak emotion of the song really strikes a chord with me! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 🤘
Glad it was helpful!
My definition of a chorus is the main point of the song. The main message.
Feelings are simply subconscious thoughts. Makes sense.
I landed on your site by chance. Glad I did. I am a writer and creator of songs, scripts and stories but have never seen where I could apply the three acts to song writing and how to import the emotion into that formula. You guys are a new pleasant revelation to songs and song writing. Thank you. You will have my views every time. Sharing you widely as I write.
You’re so welcome! You might be interested it the mini course we just released! You can find it here: www.udemy.com/course/how-to-write-songs-the-songwriting-process-start-to-finish/
really wonderful lesson. thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge will give this a go.
Such a high quality video. Taking so many notes. Thank you!
Thanks James, really appreciate the feedback! It's a great feeling when you've got pages of notes to analyse. Hope they help with your next batch of songs!
authentic instead of flash, my favorite yt'ers on this topic
Thanks Cool Shark!
Great content as always.
Amazing information. Thank you so much
Great lesson and performance!
What a gorgeous song
Excellent...thank you!
Terrific video. Thank you foe making it. I’m going to test drive those ideas immediately! :)
Thanks! Have fun test driving and please let us know which ones you had the most success with. Cheers
awesome ! Im gonna purchase the writing prompts
Excellent information for songwriters.
A great definition of what a chorus is and one that will most probably affect fundamentally the way I approach writing a chorus. One trick I’ve used in the past is to not give away the whole chorus the first time but rather in sections. So first time around I’ll use the most essential lines and then go back to verse, and the full chorus comes in the second time around. Depending on the song I can go to middle eight and come back to the chorus or just repeat the chorus to really hammer it in. On the other extreme, I’ve also occasionally changed the lyrics of each chorus keeping only key phrases or images; to my mind there was still no doubt which bit was the verse and which was the chorus. Indeed, in a lot of contemporary worship music (what I mostly play) there won’t be different verses. There will be a verse and a chorus and frequently a bridge or middle eight of some kind. It is almost universally clear which is which. Thanks, this was super helpful.
You’re so welcome! You might be interested it the mini course we just released here: www.udemy.com/course/how-to-write-songs-the-songwriting-process-start-to-finish/
Pat Pattisons book "writing better lyrics" is the single most valuable songwriting resource I have ever encountered. Your videos are great, heaps of refreshing of that knowledge and new insights. I feel like a well nourished nerd after this video.
Much appreciated! And if there's ever videos, tutorials, or topics you'd like to see (or see more of), please let me know here: facebook.com/keppiecoutts/posts/5788800087813751
theme vs emotion... such an obvious difference but so helpful to hear it articulated like that
This is the best video I've seen from you guys. So helpful and insightful, chockful of great, great ideas. Thanks, folks!
Glad it was helpful! If Chorus writing is one of the things you want more on, I am running a live online Workshop this Thursday evening (if you are in the US)! You can see all the info here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/355010434767 Much warmth to you :)
@@htws Thanks for the great answer. Unfortunately, I live in Scotland so the timing is impossible for me. Thanks for the offer anyway!
Wow this is so pragmatic! Thanks so much for making these videos, particularly this one
Thanks Dan. We're currently brainstorming another video about writing Choruses... so much to talk about on that topic. Cheers
@@htws Yay!
Very informative channel for anyone who is serious about songwriting❤❤
love this channel!
Thanks so much Bryan!
Good stuff.....I just discovered this channel, and I'm enjoying working my way through the recent videos. I tend to write very slowly these days........it often takes me up to a month or more to complete a song, but I'm fine with that. :)
Nothing wrong with taking it slow, as long as you're enjoying the process. Keep going!
Fantastic videos! Very insightful. Would you please make a video on how to create Chorus chord progressions? Can't wait to watch more!:)
Thank you for this excellent video! I've been attempting songwriting during the pandemic, but it's been slow. I tend to loose steam and sense of direction after the first verse idea. Can't wait to try these prompts and pointers!
Glad it was helpful!
Nice intelligent video, so awesome to learn some practices from professionals. Obviously you can't cover hours and hours of material all at once, and what you have covered is quite useful.
Thanks!
Awesome tips. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great Ideas! Thank you so much for this video and these writing prompts. I can already see how they will help me in my own writing. Thank you also for introducing me to "Stranger in His Kiss" by Lori McKenna. I really liked the song and enjoyed your commentary on it.
Thanks Cora, much appreciated! Glad you like the Lori McKenna song too, she has some beautiful material.
Thanks!
The chorus is the resolution/the catchy part that usually has 3 or four chords that start or end with the major chord in the key.
Every great chorus I've ever written most always ends up being my first progression and melody when sitting to write. Then I start with that and bring it back as the chorus.
I’ve been finding that out lately as well. Over time my brain has naturally come to recognize good “responses/punchlines” to create a journey around.
This was a great lesson. Most of my 'songs' are instrumental in nature, since I can't sing. But I want to to grow into a better songwriter, and write some words in the future, and this video really is great.
Thanks Greg, much appreciated! Please let us know if there are specific challenges you're having with lyric writing and we'll aim to address them in upcoming videos. Cheers
I started this video and it was great advice, I accidentally left it on when I went to get stoned. Came back and I was hearing some damn beautiful music
Thanks Terry, much appreciated!
just found you all. Love ya. My husband and I both write. Thanks
Thanks, much appreciated! Do you and your husband write together or on your own?
18:58 😂
Love this channel!
Essentially verse one and verse two are creating two entirely different contexts, hence the change in meaning in the chorus.
Dope jumper
The chorus is a rallying point to the song
Wow
Stimulating
Thank you.
Night and tide do not have the same vowel sound. The long I when followed by a voiced consonant or when it's the last sound in a word has a much more open "a" in the first half of the dipthong.
Try "tight" and "tide", or "bide", and then "bite" or "bike". Or "life" and "live". If you can't feel the difference in your mouth between those two, then record yourself saying both and trim off the ending consonant and just listen to it.
I'm sure there are some accidents in English who this is not true or is less true. But it's quite pronounced in your accent and mine.
I May have a new favorite channel here!
Thanks Gary :) I send out a free newsletter with my top songwriting tips and prompts, if you're interested! You can sign up here: howtowritesongs.org/
Nice thank you will try, do you have any videos about how you construct your verses?
We’ve got one in the pipeline…will be released in the next few weeks!
Great Video and Great Performance. :) \m/
To keep the song from being monotonous, the writers got to the punch line fairly quick, livened it up on the first part of the chorus with the major chord, but for not long and resolved it with a minor 7th to keep the 'mysterious'
mood of the theme.. kept it going on the 2nd line of the chorus with major chord n melody, then resolved the last line of the chorus back to the minor n the mysterious feel..
Great dobro
Really interesting, one of my favourite songs (Take A Bow - Muse) doesn't have a chorus and almost suggests that there is no response to the problem, enhancing the overall message of the song!
These are all for pop songs mostly I find love songs. How about doing an acoustic blues where one would only use I V IV chords all the way through
Before The Deluge by Jackson Browne is a good example
Hank, Jack did it all brilliantly with the feeling of hope throughout the song.. "Let the music keep our spirits high"..
Can you please provide the PDF
Here you go! howtowritesongs.gumroad.com/l/acezt.
Wow… just like that you just inspired a song chorus….
Wow verses was all ways easy but chorus's were more difficult now life should much
be easier
I wrote a sad song where the chorus is just oohs and humming. Would that be considered a valid chorus?😢
This woman is killing me
We shall rock you? We are going to rock you? We definitely plan to rock you? I feel like I'm soo close.
We might rock you
As Yip "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" Harburg said, "Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought."
6.41 mmm
Trouble is, if I'm not careful, I spend too much time writing notes on these talks rather than writing songs.
Can you discuss lyric writing when you are not particularly emotional? For me, I simply don't broo over emotions. I make a logical decision then move forward. That doesn't make for good lyrics. Writing "emotional" lyrics feels disingenuous.
Thanks Adriaan, glad it was helpful!
first
seriously just discovered and love your well-articulated & distilled content, lyrics are very difficult for me
Thanks James! Yes, there’s lots out there about chords and melody, so we’re trying to make some of the lyric stuff a little more accessible :) And if you’re keen on more lyric writing info and tips, I’ve written quite a lot about it over at my blog, kcsongstudio.com Happy new year!
If you're thinking that hard on it , you missed it.
Do you like Pina coladas??
If I am a dog, then you are a .....!
Help me out people; I don't know what to fill the blanks with!
Who goes birdhunting with a rifle?
For me the chorus is everything. I won’t listen if the chorus is wack just being truthful
I can’t understand the lyrics.🤔
Mic it next time
Verse one
My rage very intense even though my philosophy was complete nonsense Are used to embrace toxic masculinity but eventually Accepted The fact that that it would not benefit me
- [ ] Corus and Just like how Cupid spread love everywhere I will show all my dates well that I hold dear I may not know what my type is yet but I promise you will find I am left evil chapter that Really far behind
- [ ] Verse two
- [ ] I wanted To rule in a way that is extremely krool and am handicapped so I was defeated from the start but that doesn’t matter now that had total A change of heart
- [ ] Bridge
- [ ] I was very persistent even though I was inconsistent even though I hated romance I wanted to move to Paris France That makes no sense
- [ ] Corus
- [ ] so just like how Cupid spread love everywhere I’ll treat all my dates well that I hold dear I may not know what my type is yet but I promise That I left that evil chapter really far behind
you're all about the lyrics here, not a word about the melody. i think you got it all wrong, the melody is THE thing. i think this one of the main reason artists/songwriters don't get anywhere, they focus more on the lyrics than the melody. i call it over intellectualizing.
I agree with you. I remember how I used to love popular songs even without knowing the essence and lyrics when I was young. It was all melody! That doesn’t mean lyrics should be relegated too, especially for the matured audience
Was hoping for chord progression help. This video only dealt with lyrics. A bit disappointed.
Now I see it too....
There's a Kangaroo...
Hoping past the two of you...
Shouldnt he be in a zooooo sooooo oooo?!!
Two Ausies singing American songs...
Just doesnt belong...
No it's just plain wrong...
A didgeridoo. A melody or two...and you got it made, you'll be on the hit parade...you'll be doing fine...one step at time, it'll all work out...I have no dou....owwwww...out....
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
IMO, ok lyric, bad melody, and music... and i think, to have a great song you have to have all three or at least two of those things
Great advice. Terrible hairdo.
Yeah, Benny should shave more often.
Great Content!!! Has helped me a lot in the studio. See you have lap steels, need something custom don't hesitate to contact me, glad to help. melobarted