My #SongwriterAccelerator mentorship community is filled with Paramore superfans, so we recently analyzed this song!
In this episode, I go into three songwriting tools you can consider for your next song.
And join me at my next free live training, by registering at http://www.connorfrost.com/chordtraining
Dear Songwriter,
You’ve been writing songs for a while now, but you can’t seem to break out of the conventional Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus structure.
If this is you, try incorporating one or more of the following transitional pieces to your song. All broken down in this episode of dear songwriting.
And join me at my next free live training, by registering at http://www.connorfrost.com/chordtraining
Love or hate this song, it was an absolute hit.
And it’s a tune that uses just four chords throughout.
So what are the elements that make this song so catchy?
Listen to this episode for the full breakdown, so you can use these tools for your next song.
And join me at my next free live training, by registering at http://www.connorfrost.com/chordtraining
So yes, you know how to write lyrics, but how do you take them to that next level?
Here are three quick tips to help you do so.
And to help you really get started, snag my free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Chord Progressions into FINISHED Songs” at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining .
My client Mike, met me and my band at one of our shows in Orlando, FL, on this most recent tour.
Mike was on an adventure of his own.
What happened next might inspire you to take action on your own music and songwriting.
So take a listen to this episode to hear what happened.
And to help you really get started, snag my free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Chord Progressions into FINISHED Songs” at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining .
So you have a few songs you want to get started on, and/or finish.
But you can’t seem to find the time.
Everything gets in the way - job, family, relationship, etc.
There are a couple solutions!
Here are two time-management strategies to try out in the next couple of weeks.
Listen to this episode for the full breakdown, and to help you really get started, snag my free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Chord Progressions into FINISHED Songs” at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining .
If you're having trouble finishing writing your songs, consider trying to BUILD your song.
I break down this reframe in this episode.
Snag my free video training "How to Confidently Turn Your Chord Progressions into Finished Songs" at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining
In this episode, three song structures are discussed:
the “Dolly Parton”
the “Pop Punk”
the “Taylor Swift”
Try one of these structures for your next tune and let me know how it goes! You can message me on IG at @connorlfrost.
And if you’d like to claim your free video training, “How to Confidently Turn Your Voice Memos into Release-Ready Songs”, you can do so at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining.
In this episode, we discuss the topic of melodies and why they can often be hard to create.
Some common reasons for this include:
worrying about being original
not knowing how to piece ideas together over the course of a full song
feeling repetitive
We also define and clarify three terms:
Note
melody
motif
We also discuss what makes a good and catchy melody.
Claim your free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Voice Memos into Release-Ready Songs” at http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining
Writer's Block is real.
But it can be controlled with the right systems, exercises, and mindset.
In this episode originally recorded via the Bandhive Podcast, I break down what exactly needs to happen in order for you, the songwriter, to break through Writer's Block.
Enjoy!
PS - to access my free video training "how to confidently turn your voice memos into release-ready songs", head to http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining.
So you sit down to set some goals for your music for the month, year, or next five years...
You've even got a pencil and paper in hand to write it all down...
But you have no idea what to put.
Of course you have these ideas of where you want to be, but are you setting the RIGHT goals for your music?
In this 2021 interview with James Cross of Bandhive, I dive into how to set the right goal for your music.
Enjoy!
Tour Dates - http://www.dizzybatsmusic.com/tour
There’s no ONE way to become a full-time musician.
But because I get asked the question so much, I thought I’d share my story for all to hear.
It’s not for those looking for a quick hack - that was no my situation.
It took me a decade+ to make music my full-time thing. Take a listen to this episode to hear about it.
I cringed when I first heard this song lol.
But upon further review and analysis, I actually found it to be really interesting - there are a lot of cool things happening in this song.
So I decided to break down three main takeaways I have for this song, which have to do with melody, structure, and lyrics.
As well as a summary to help you take those takeaways and implement them into your own songs.
Look, I get it.
There are beliefs we have as songwriters, because we care.
But some of those beliefs, and some of those things we tell ourselves, could be keeping us from moving forward in our careers.
And I say this from experience! I’ve said all of these myself.
So the next time you’re about to utter one of these three phrases or beliefs, I urge you to reconsider.
To find out what they are, take a listen to this episode.
Simon O’ Moore, AKA “Mount Pelier” spent the better part of a decade having trouble writing, making, and releasing music.
But in the last year and a half, he’s taken matters into his own hands, by investing in my mentorship, and going on to write and release his debut EP.
In this interview, we get into his songwriting process and overall journey, from early struggles to eventual release.
Can you imagine your life without songwriting? And music?
This episode of “Dear Songwriter” involves a recorded mentoring session with one of my clients, Christina. Halfway through the conversation, I had the thought - “wow this would make a good podcast.”
Christina started her journey with songwriting a little less than a year ago. We discuss our ongoing insecurities related to music and otherwise, as well as what songwriting means to us.
To claim your free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Voice Memos into Release-Ready Songs”, head to http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining.
Do you feel very “untrained” when it comes to your songwriting?
Do you feel like you just go based off of what’s in your head, but you’re not really sure what you’re doing?
I certainly felt that way when I got started.
A good way to learn is not only through listening to other artists’ songs, but through analysis.
But what does that even mean? And how would you go about doing that?
That’s exactly what I dive into, in this episode of “Dear Songwriter”.
To claim your free video training “How to Confidently Turn Your Voice Memos into Release-Ready Songs”, head to http://www.connorfrost.com/videotraining.
Call me a huge songwriting nerd, but I absolutely love this stuff. It started in college when I took a Music Analysis course for my Music minor, and I’ve never looked back.
Before we really dive in, we need to answer the following question:
Aside from the pure enjoyment of it, there are three main reasons as to WHY you should analyze other songs. It’s pretty simple:
If you can just acquire one new tool from the song you’re analyzing, then it’s a win. Continue to build up that tool belt!
A song can go any number of directions, and at the end of the day, it becomes a tangible product through a series of creative decisions. Take note of the ones you like, especially if they’re unconventional.
Once you’ve collected your new tools and made notes on creative decisions, you can try setting any or all of your findings to your next song.
Listening to a song for leisure and listening to a tune for the purposes of analysis are not only two very different things, but you’ll want to be clear on what you’re looking for, and specifically the elements that actually make up a song.
Melody
Motif
Verse
Chorus
Pre-chorus
Bridge
Interlude
Outro
Song structure
(By the way, if you want a free comprehensive training on how to go from your Voice Memos to a release-ready song, go claim it at this link.)
Once you’re clear on the above terms, now you can get to work. Listen to the song three times through, and each time, answer the following questions:
Let’s use Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” as an example:
Intro
Verse
PreChorus
Chorus
Interlude
Verse
PreChorus
Chorus
Interlude
Verse
Chorus (you could perhaps call this a Bridge)
Chorus
Outro
For this, let’s use Nirvana’s “Drain You” as an example:
Verse: 1 motif (more dynamic melody, high to low notes)
Chorus: 2 motifs (more stagnant melody, emphasis on lower notes)
Bridge: 1 motif (stagnant melody, low notes)
Let’s take a look at Ed Sheeran’s Song “The A Team”:
Verse 1:
White lips, pale face
Breathing in the snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, days end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men
heavy use of imagery
Not giving much of the story away, yet
Verse 2:
Ripped gloves, raincoat
Tried to swim, stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone
still strong use of imagery
shifts from describing surroundings to more items
Progresses the story by choosing words that suggest a bad situation
We’ll stick with Ed Sheeran for this one:
Verse 1 (see above):
heavy use of imagery, not giving much away, yet
no clear “point of view”
PreChorus:
And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since 18
But lately, her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
introduces character
less imagery, starting to tell story more
shifts to third-person point of view
Now comes the fun part. Next time you start on a new song, try using the template you’ve created for yourself, whether you’ve realized it or not. Happy writing!
Connor Frost is a professional musician, songwriter, and mentor who helps songwriters to write and release their first album or single, so they can effectively start their Artist journeys.
Connect with Connor for a Songwriter Strategy Session here.