How to Write Songs — Creating a Great Chorus

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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!

Fantastic videos! Very insightful. Would you please make a video on how to create Chorus chord progressions? Can't wait to watch more!:)

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.

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 <3 All the more reason to listen to your advice
..and to subscribe obviously ;)
Keep up the amazing work! <3 peace n love

theme vs emotion... such an obvious difference but so helpful to hear it articulated like that

Wow verses was all ways easy but chorus's were more difficult now life should much
be easier

What a gorgeous song

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.

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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.

awesome ! Im gonna purchase the writing prompts

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.

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

authentic instead of flash, my favorite yt'ers on this topic

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!

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.

Can you please provide the PDF

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!

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I May have a new favorite channel here!

"Allows us to feel thought" That is profound

These lessons are absolutely fantastic. I have been bingeing on your videos over the last week. They ALL deliver. Many thanks...

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We shall rock you? We are going to rock you? We definitely plan to rock you? I feel like I'm soo close.

If I am a dog, then you are a .....!

Help me out people; I don't know what to fill the blanks with!

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

Very informative channel for anyone who is serious about songwriting❤❤

Trouble is, if I'm not careful, I spend too much time writing notes on these talks rather than writing songs.

I wrote a sad song where the chorus is just oohs and humming. Would that be considered a valid chorus?😢

Wow… just like that you just inspired a song chorus….

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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.

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really wonderful lesson. thanks!

My definition of a chorus is the main point of the song. The main message.

For me the chorus is everything. I won’t listen if the chorus is wack just being truthful

Feelings are simply subconscious thoughts. Makes sense.

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

very helpful, and so cool you performed a little. Thanks!

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Excellent...thank you!

Essentially verse one and verse two are creating two entirely different contexts, hence the change in meaning in the chorus.

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.

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. 🖤🖤

This channel will birth lots of great artists around the world!

Great advice, great delivery - thank you

It helps to write these things down! However, if the song is about a 3ed person talking to another person then these prompts might not work because these are built on action verbs