Resource Library
Downloadables, how-to articles, and creative tools—all in one library.
Writing Lyrics
Video tutorials, free downloads, and articles to help you generate, develop, and finish your lyrics.
Chords
Resources to help you write more interesting chord progressions and song structures.
Melody Writing
Learn go-to techniques for writing beautiful and memorable melodies.
Finishing Songs
Learn simple, repeatable processes to move past unfinished ideas and finally finish your songs.
Music Theory
Learn how chords work together and how to use music theory to make stronger songwriting choices.
Songwriting Prompts
A treasure trove of songwriting prompts and exercises to spark your fire and focus your creative energy.
Our Latest Videos
Finishing Songs
Why You Can’t Finish Your Songs
October 23, 2026
Let’s look at a trap many songwriters know well: starting one new idea after another and finishing few…
Melody Writing
The AABA Formula for Writing Melodies
September 16, 2026
A pattern, not a set of notes Melody writing can feel mysterious, but many memorable melodies share a…
Music Theory for Songwriters
“How to use the DIMINISHED chord in your songs”
September 4, 2026
Where the diminished chord lives The diminished chord has a beautiful, slightly mysterious sound, yet many songwriters aren’t…
Recent Articles
Browse by Category:
Lyric Writing
Wisdom from Songwriters
“This Lyric Writing Trick is 4000 Years Old! (and it’s EASY)”
August 29, 2026
An ancient technique Some of the most useful tools in lyric writing are thousands of years old. Alliteration,…
Lyric Writing
Lyric Writing: 3 Exercises for Generating Endless Original (and excellent) Lyrics
August 3, 2026
Some lyrics arrive like lightning. Most don’t. Most begin as something much less impressive: a half-formed image, a…
Lyric Writing
How to Write Better Lyrics—Now
July 26, 2026
I’ve put together a short-and-sweet playlist of lyric-writing tutorials today. The tutorials are designed to show you—quickly and…
Lyric Writing
Power Positions in Lyric Writing
July 21, 2026
Power positions are lines of lyric inside your song (and any song you listen to) that naturally command…
Finishing Songs
Lyric Writing
How to Use Song Maps to Finish Every Song
March 25, 2026
Using Song Maps has been one of the most transformative tools I’ve ever learned to take any idea…
Lyric Writing
Beyond the 4-Line Verse: Structural Techniques for Songwriters
January 19, 2026
Writing emotional lyrics doesn’t have to be hard. Discover how lyric structure shapes feeling—and how to break free…
Lyric Writing
Did You Know You’ve Been Writing Lyrics Backwards? Stop Now!
November 24, 2025
Most beginners try to write their lyrics from the top down — first line, first verse, chorus later.…
Lyric Writing
Here’s the Solution to the Enormous Lie Beginner Songwriters Believe
November 17, 2025
“Lyrics or music?”…Wrong question. If you’ve ever asked, “Should I start with lyrics or music?” you’ve bumped into…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
What’s Your Song’s Focus? Find Out with The Campfire Test!
August 24, 2025
Imagine you’re sitting around a campfire with a bunch of your friends. The sun is setting, and someone…
Analyzing Songs
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Song Form
The Unexpected Secret Behind this Popular Song
June 15, 2025
Many songwriters think that there are only a few traditional song forms which they can use to write…
Analyzing Songs
Song Form
“The Songwriting Trick No One Notices … but Dylan was the Master!”
April 23, 2026
A song without a chorus Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’” has five sections of roughly the…
Analyzing Songs
Songs I Love
Wisdom from Songwriters
“5 Reasons EVERY SONGWRITER Needs to Hear This Song!”
December 1, 2025
A song worth studying Willow’s “Symptom of Life”, the lead single from her sixth album, empathogen, blends so…
Analyzing Songs
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Song Form
The Unexpected Secret Behind this Popular Song
June 15, 2025
Many songwriters think that there are only a few traditional song forms which they can use to write…
Analyzing Songs
Paul McCartney’s Secret Technique for Beautiful Chords
April 2, 2025
Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, but it’s also…
Analyzing Songs
Chorus Writing
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Uncovering Songwriting Techniques with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”
March 19, 2025
Joni Mitchell is a songwriting legend whose techniques continue to inspire musicians and lyricists around the world. In…
Analyzing Songs
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Lyric Writing
Music
Songwriting is “Easy” According to John Lennon
May 6, 2024
In a 1983 interview with Molly Meldrum, David Bowie talked about how much he admired John Lennon’s songwriting…
Analyzing Songs
Music
Music Theory for Songwriters
10 Essential Chord Progressions for Songwriters
October 8, 2023
If you’re a songwriter looking for inspiration then look no further! In this article, we take a look…
Analyzing Songs
Chorus Writing
Music
Song Form
Songwriting Tip #7 – Using Unconventional Song Forms
September 24, 2023
In songwriting, it’s common practice for most of us to adhere to common or popular song forms such…
Analyzing Songs
Music
Music Theory for Songwriters
Chord Tips to Learn from “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
September 18, 2023
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is one of the Beatles most popular and well-known songs. Buried within…
Analyzing Songs
Chorus Writing
Music
Song Form
Songwriting Tip #6 – Keep It Short
September 17, 2023
A common issue that songwriters often struggle with, is how to determine the length of their song. In…
Melody Writing
Podcast Ep.#5 – “Ok, Let’s Talk About MELODY”
September 26, 2026
Overview Melody is one of the parts of songwriting people most often ask for help with, and one…
Melody Writing
The AABA Formula for Writing Melodies
September 16, 2026
A pattern, not a set of notes Melody writing can feel mysterious, but many memorable melodies share a…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
What’s Your Song’s Focus? Find Out with The Campfire Test!
August 24, 2025
Imagine you’re sitting around a campfire with a bunch of your friends. The sun is setting, and someone…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Melody Writing
Music
3 Expert Tips to Write Killer Choruses Instantly
May 15, 2025
Crafting a memorable chorus can feel intimidating for many songwriters – even the most experienced ones. But what…
Analyzing Songs
Chorus Writing
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Uncovering Songwriting Techniques with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”
March 19, 2025
Joni Mitchell is a songwriting legend whose techniques continue to inspire musicians and lyricists around the world. In…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
Song Form
How to Write a Song – 5 Simple Steps
February 23, 2025
Have you ever struggled to turn your lyrical or melodic ideas into a complete song? Whether you’re an…
Chorus Writing
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
Write Stunning Lyrics And Melody With This Remarkable Technique
January 14, 2025
One of the hardest technical and creative challenges for songwriters is creating a natural relationship between lyrics and…
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
writing
A Songwriter’s Main Struggle and How to Fix It
December 22, 2024
Every songwriter has 2 main struggles: Struggle #1: To consistently make work you are proud of. Struggle #2:…
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
5 Practical Tips For Beginner Songwriters To Embrace
April 22, 2024
Over the years, a common question we’ve been asked by budding songwriters is “What are some of your…
Chorus Writing
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
Musical Onomatopoeia – The Secret to Writing Amazing Hooks
April 9, 2024
If you’ve ever heard a catchy, relatable hook from a songwriter you like and wondered how you can…
Creative Practice
Podcast Ep.#6 – “The Big Question… Music or Lyrics First”
October 16, 2026
Overview Whether you start with lyrics or music may be the question songwriters are asked most often. Keppie…
Creative Practice
Podcast Ep.#3 – “How to Train Your ‘Creativity Muscles’”
September 2, 2026
Overview A songwriter in our community asked a question Keppie and Benny have been talking about for twenty…
Creative Practice
Finishing Songs
“3 Unexpected Songwriting Tips (for beginners)”
January 6, 2026
Finish more songs, even when they’re bad Many beginner songwriters start with a burst of inspiration that fizzles…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
What’s Your Song’s Focus? Find Out with The Campfire Test!
August 24, 2025
Imagine you’re sitting around a campfire with a bunch of your friends. The sun is setting, and someone…
Analyzing Songs
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Song Form
The Unexpected Secret Behind this Popular Song
June 15, 2025
Many songwriters think that there are only a few traditional song forms which they can use to write…
Creative Practice
Habits of Success
Music
Stuck? This One Change Made Me Write 20 Songs in a Year
June 2, 2025
A few weeks ago, I asked some songwriters here what was stopping them from writing more.Here are just…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Melody Writing
Music
3 Expert Tips to Write Killer Choruses Instantly
May 15, 2025
Crafting a memorable chorus can feel intimidating for many songwriters – even the most experienced ones. But what…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Music
Unlock Powerful Rhythms with These 12 Fingerpicking Patterns
May 2, 2025
If you’re a songwriter who uses guitar as your main instrument whilst songwriting, you may have run into…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Music
Make Your Songs Twice As Good with Power Positions
March 12, 2025
Every songwriter dreams of creating lyrics that not only tell a story but also resonate emotionally with the…
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Music
Lacking Motivation? Here’s How to Reignite Your Passion for Songwriting
March 4, 2025
For many songwriters, a big question they ask themselves on a daily basis is “Should I even write…
Music
Music Theory for Songwriters
Here’s 2 Simple Ways to Erase Music Theory Confusion Forever
June 19, 2025
If you’ve ever found music theory overwhelming, you’re not alone. Many songwriters feel frustrated —bogged down by dense…
Creative Practice
Habits of Success
Music
Stuck? This One Change Made Me Write 20 Songs in a Year
June 2, 2025
A few weeks ago, I asked some songwriters here what was stopping them from writing more.Here are just…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Melody Writing
Music
3 Expert Tips to Write Killer Choruses Instantly
May 15, 2025
Crafting a memorable chorus can feel intimidating for many songwriters – even the most experienced ones. But what…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Music
Unlock Powerful Rhythms with These 12 Fingerpicking Patterns
May 2, 2025
If you’re a songwriter who uses guitar as your main instrument whilst songwriting, you may have run into…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Lyric Writing
Music
Make Your Songs Twice As Good with Power Positions
March 12, 2025
Every songwriter dreams of creating lyrics that not only tell a story but also resonate emotionally with the…
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Habits of Success
Music
Lacking Motivation? Here’s How to Reignite Your Passion for Songwriting
March 4, 2025
For many songwriters, a big question they ask themselves on a daily basis is “Should I even write…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
Song Form
How to Write a Song – 5 Simple Steps
February 23, 2025
Have you ever struggled to turn your lyrical or melodic ideas into a complete song? Whether you’re an…
Creative Practice
Habits of Success
Music
When “Do What You Love” Fails You
January 21, 2025
One question I’ve been asking songwriters who feel stuck is “what gets in the way of you writing…
Chorus Writing
Lyric Writing
Melody Writing
Music
Write Stunning Lyrics And Melody With This Remarkable Technique
January 14, 2025
One of the hardest technical and creative challenges for songwriters is creating a natural relationship between lyrics and…
Chorus Writing
Creative Practice
Generating Ideas for Lyrics
Lyric Writing
Music
The Zoom Method: Secrets to Better Lyrics Under 10 Minutes
January 7, 2025
What does the classic Joni Mitchell song, ‘The River’ (1971) have in common with neo-RnB song ‘Super Rich…