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There are too many variable for a set answer, but I find in a major key, using a relative minor (such as the VI minor) can change the feel enough to distinguish the bridge. Sometime, the IV can work (depending on if you are already using the IV for the chorus). I think the key in writing a...

I normally copyright a collection of songs on an audio CD perhaps once every year or two (depending on how often I shop my material to publishers, etc.) If a publisher expresses interest in a given song, I will then copyright that song separately (vs. part of a collection)

I don't enjoy offering feedback to other writers - each of us have our visions and I prefer not to judge someones art - it can be very awkward if the writer presents something that offers litlle to be positive about. That bing said - I like your lyrics, they tell a clear, relatable story. The...

Hearing aids do not provide a "golden ear" - far from it! Hearing aids amplify sound, plan and simple. However, depending on the level of hearing loss, it may not "improve" sound. Hearing loss impacts defferent people different ways - normally loss of high end and clearity/definition are the...

Hearing aids do not provide a "golden ear". Hearing aids amplify sound, plan and simple. However, depending on the level of hearing loss, it may not "improve" sound. Hearing loss impacts defferent people different ways - normally loss of high end and clearity/definition are the first things to...

I own the 179 but have never used the Spark. The 179 is reasonably versatile, with decent specs. I use it as a go to mic for recording group harmony vocals. It seems to capture the spread of the voices with little coloration and helps them sit well in a mix. I don't use it for solo vocals (I...

Grim - You're on a roll recently with thought provoking questions! I try to be very careful to avoid this. I have on a couple occasion, heard a song that addressed a certain subject - and it inspired me to tackle that same topic but tell the story in a different way. As DM60 posted - is that a...

I try not to repeat myself - but every once in a while I've write lyrics and then realize that a line (or part of a line) is something I already used in a previous song. If the line works in the new song and helps to tell the story - I'll keep it we perhaps just the slightest shame). I've...

Over the years, I've tried recording through a mic'd amp, through a DI, through a simulator, etc. - I've finally settled on the following: Bass Guitar -> Sans Amp Bass Driver -> D/A interface. The Sans Amp allows a lot of tweaking to the pre-recorded sound - and then I have an insert on the...

Since I am more of a traditional writing with a deep appeciation for the "Brill Building", Tin Pan Alley" writers - I do work very hard to make lines rhyme. That could be line 1&2 and 3 and 4 - or just line 2 and 4 - whatever the song calls for. I also look for opportunities to use "inside"...

Good question! Often as I write I am thinking about arrangement (as I build song structure I'm thinking where drums may come in, if I'll need pads sound on a chorus, etc.) - so to a degree I have a hard time drawing a line between composing vs. arranging. That being said, I do thing in the...

I think there is a difference between re-writing or re-arranging a song that has some potential vs. walking away or taking a break from trying to force the creation of a song when the muse simply is not there. I beleive at times, writers try to force the process, hoping to turn a sows ear into...

A couple of people has indicated if a song doesn't start to click early - move on. That is good advice but also a very difficult discipline to learn/abhere to. Like many writers, at any given point I have a few chord progressions or melodies or snipets of lyrics floating around, so if I can't...

So for about $90 you get a chance for 5,000 to possible hear your music and learn about your band. Maybe, just maybe acouple of the 5,000 may be A&R people using the mag as one of many ways to discover new talent - or perhaps a producer who scans industry mags looking to keep up on new talent...

As I read the various responses I find it interesting how different the approach is from many people. I'm one of the "old guys" (60 plus). 7 years full time in my teens and early 20's and then almost 40 years "part time (which was anywhere from 1-6 gigs a week while holding down a day gig). I...

Maybe it's because I consider myslef a song writer - but I really focus on lyrics - and I've found that lyrics tend to fall into a couple of categories (at least based on my personal assessment 1. Lyrics that are so mindless or simple that that actual detract from the song (regardless of how...

As has been pointed out, charge too little or give recording hours away and the client with expect that to be the norm. I've been burned on more than one occasion (I'm slow to learn) - but I finally decided I would rather record my own material than give my studio time away. I now charge a...

This morning I found n Electro-Harmonix Russian made Big Muff for $3. It's dirty and showing some rust on the case - and I did not really expect it to work (but for $3 it was worth a try). I just put a 9-volt in it and fired it up and it works great. I did not really need another distortion...

Maybe 1 in 20 come out "easy" - although I still spend a fair amount time in the re-write process trying to improve them. To me "easy" means, the chord progression and melody seem to present themselves as one in a relatively easy flow and whatever guitar riffs form the "hook" fall into place...

This is a valid point! I include wording in the my Agreement form that I maintain all rights related to decisions on publishing, licening, etc. As asession player, I've almost always taken a basic session fee and waived any rights to future royalties. I have done some projects were I acted as...