10 Signs You're Overthinking Your Songwriting

[@Trandofir]

Great points. I think "reasons you can't finish songs" would be a great topic. How people get lost in the woods with it.

[@SongTownUSA]

Good idea! We’ve touched on it but could do an episode on it. 👍

[@richardridings1126]

@@SongTownUSAPlease do.

[@johngilmore1968]

I’ve been listening to you guys for quite some time and🎉 this, for me, was the best songwriting advice I’ve had what a great great session. I think you guys hit it by not overthinking your KZbin videos ! This is probably one of your best. I didn’t overthink my comments either my daughter bought me a T-shirt that says professional Overthinker. 😅 hit me hard thank you.

[@claymillsmusic]

Thanks for letting us know John! Hope you have a great Christmas and you didn't overthink the gifts you are giving ;) Write on! CM

[@sachetsofrelish]

Really useful, thanks. A quote I heard on writer's block was "Show us your bad stuff".

[@FrederickLewisDeAngelis]

Great set guys. Thank you.

[@SongTownUSA]

Thanks for listening! Write on! CM

[@jimlapointe4661]

Great advice, thank you!!!

[@CircuitDeFilet]

Great advice as always!

[@SongTownUSA]

Glad it was helpful! Write on! CM

[@CohenCowling]

Pretty cool stuff man definitely helpful

[@paulgerard347]

I love your channel guys. Great advice always. I have always, as a singer songwriter like airing ideas at my regular Friday night gig. I find playing live really sorts out songs. I’m a fan of great intros And especially having a wonderful opening line. I love great opening lines. I have regular audience people who enjoy hearing a song settle in over a few weeks. Cheers From Tasmanian Australia.

[@tomblaze2]

i love these videos as a songwriter - such gold

[@SongTownUSA]

Awww thanks ❤️. Write on! CM

[@lifesjumpmusic]

Waiting till January and I'm joining you guys in some fashion. Ive always been behind the scenes under a pen name, and pretty private with my work. Just learning to share a bit. Appreciate you guys being here. Brian-

[@SongTownUSA]

Write on! CM

[@bobwerber2984]

Love the intellect/auralect thing. I once saw a talk/interview with Rosanne Cash and when somebody asked her "what's the best advice you would give a songwriter?" She said "just don't listen to that editor in the back of your head too early in the process." I think she was saying something quite similar to what you're saying here Clay.

[@SongTownUSA]

Rosanne is a legend. 👍

[@homestudiohaven]

Some great tips in this one! Thanks! Jody

[@SongTownUSA]

Merry Xmas buddy! CM

[@jcmacmusic]

Thank you ❤

[@SongTownUSA]

You're welcome 😊

[@dynamicalan]

T'hat's the 7th of the chord. At around 9:51 the chorus starting note should be the same for all the choruses and the also the verse note being the same for all the verses but they should not be the same for the verse and the chorus. This is what we understand, correct?

[@SongTownUSA]

Yes, we’re talking about creating contrast between different sections of the song. Verses, prechorus, chorus, bridge, etc

[@smokespun]

Everything is a rough draft for me. Super easy to overthink, so sometimes underthinking is a nice tactic. What the words are saying is more important than forcing meaning on the words.

[@SongTownUSA]

Good points!

[@thesongwritersjourney]

"Aurilect" - great word! Hope I spelled it right. Loved Fix #1 about having a good reason to fix it or leave it alone.

[@SongTownUSA]

Thanks! I spell it Auralect in my book :) CM

[@thesongwritersjourney]

I'll make sure I use the MIlls-Dodson Dictionary going forward!!

[@SongTownUSA]

That could get you into some trouble 🤣

[@thesongwritersjourney]

@@SongTownUSA I'm gonna not over think that 😂

[@Newfoundmike]

Stay on your theme ‼️Say what you mean, mean what you say ! And don't try to get too cute ( of course rules are meant to be broken)but first we must know the Rules.Have a Theme and stay with it ❣️ The verse thing reminds me of Leonard Cohen. He had many many verses to Hallelujah

[@SongTownUSA]

Absolutely!! CM

[@DavidPennybaker]

As a (newly retired) petroleum engineer, how could I ever be accused of overthinking something? Ha! I do tend to approach songs as a "puzzle" to be solved. I have 3-4 minutes to tell a story, typically in two verses, a chorus, and a bridge (though I've written songs well outside that format . . sometimes you have to think "outside the box"). So I tend not to start a song until I have some idea how I might do that (mainly trying to avoid having the second verse just be a repeat of the first). But it's interesting to me that often a song starts to go in a direction I never imagined . . and I typically just let it go that way. And I've found that I often end up writing things that later mean something to me that I hadn't necessarily thought about writing . . almost like my subconscious is writing something instead of my conscious mind. As to unfinished songs . . . I don't have a lot of those . . . I hate starting a song and not finishing it. It's hard to start working on a different song when I'm still thinking about another one.

[@SongTownUSA]

Write on! CM

[@officialWWM]

I don’t know how you write with other people. I can’t do that at all!

[@SongTownUSA]

Takes practice. But it's not for everyone :) Write on! CM

[@Newfoundmike]

Just Bounce off

[@officialWWM]

@@Newfoundmike I think I’m too much of a control freak :/

[@HeatherDMorris]

Yes on the option paralysis. Kills me

[@SongTownUSA]

Been there! CM

[@jimmystuckeysongs3859]

Dad Gum it Clay & Marty, y'all have been profiling me for episode content; LOL ! Cheers

[@SongTownUSA]

Haha! Merry Xmas!

[@jinzo664]

"Songs are too complex" How would this relate to genres that incorperate complexity, such as Progressive Rock, Jazz, or Metal?

[@SongTownUSA]

Great genres and they are not “too” complex for their audience… and when done well the audience knows exactly how to feel. Write on! CM

[@TCOBaG]

"do the laundry" is a euphemism? ;-) For me, it's not always about 'how can I top this' as much as 'is there another good idea in me'? (or to be honest, any idea)

[@SongTownUSA]

I hear ya. I used to feel that way. But the more I learned to tap into that creative river that is constantly flowing, I realized that there is always something worthwhile to write about. Ideas are everywhere if we keep our antenna up and build our confidence. I learned it from hall of fame writers and pass it down with my SongTown students.Write on! CM

[@officialWWM]

11:04 great songs aren’t written. They’re re written.

[@ronnyskaar3737]

But some of the best songs are challenging. Not meant to give you instant feelings. Like Dylan. They are not hits, but they get you the Nobel price of litterature 😂

[@SongTownUSA]

Love Dylan! CM

[@ronnyskaar3737]

@SongTownUSA I saw him in England a month ago. Happy Holidays, CM. I love to listen to you guys. I will join Songtown soon.

[@SongTownUSA]

Happy Holidays!

[@tomcoryell]

Please try a different microphone setup.

[@paulgerard347]

I love your channel guys. Great advice always. I have always, as a singer songwriter like airing ideas at my regular Friday night gig. I find playing live really sorts out songs. I’m a fan of great intros And especially having a wonderful opening line. I love great opening lines. I have regular audience people who enjoy hearing a song settle in over a few weeks. Cheers From Tasmanian Australia.

[@SongTownUSA]

Write on! CM