15 Practical Tips for Songwriters, Composers, and Producers of ALL Genres

[@GameEndeavor]

That shirt is amazing. I need one.

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Beardstank designed it! I put a link to buy it from him in the video description

[@GameEndeavor]

@@SignalsMusicStudio Yooo! Just bought one. Thank you! 🤘

[@r0bophonic]

Came here to make the same comment 💀🤘

[@darrencook7168]

Same.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Thank you, oh Demon Lord, for the gift of the Tritone (and the b2) … 🤘🏼

[@kozmobluemusic]

i see Jake Lizzio i click i do not ever regret

[@garrettplumley]

This!

[@mdderrek9280]

Exactly!!!

[@pedrod.7576]

Jake is awesome!

[@DarioTinucci]

"Ultimately, what we're doing here is just making noises, organized noises" is esaily going to be one of my favorite quotes ever

[@madnessbydesignVria]

My only comment on the 'embracing technology' tip would be: Use technology as a tool, not a crutch. I'm a drummer, and I often sequence a drum track to act as a place holder. Then, I compose the majority of the piece. At some point, I go back and record 'my' drum tracks (playing live on my midi drums (I live in an apartment, and midi drums are pretty amazing now)). This gives me something better than a click-track to compose over, while still allowing me to add my 'real drummer' dynamics and feel later. When you do vocals, don't just bang out some garbage tracks and 'fix them in post' with autotune, try to get the best takes you can - then fix what you have to with autotune. Also, don't be afraid to not use autotune, or go light on it. A little imperfection can feel way more authentic... :)

[@yoremusic6920]

Your comment deserves more likes.

[@madnessbydesignVria]

@@yoremusic6920 Thanks! :)

[@牛油果-y9v]

agree

[@bipedal_earth_roamer]

I'm so glad you're posting again.

[@fathuman]

I started appreciating the wisdom behind Tip 2: Record yourself, about 8 years ago. It was amazing how dismissive I was of anything I played in the moment, but when I just recorded something, anything, threw some basic drums behind it and just played it back my ears heard things differently than when my fingers were involved. For example you might just hear a small 2 beat fragment that locked with the drums in a certain way and you can grab that and develop it into a 4 bar riff. Something that you might've completely overlooked when you're thinking of theory and your tone and how much your fingers are hurting or whatever.

[@martynspooner5822]

So pleased Jake is posting again, he has helped so many people in so many different ways

[@yuzurihamoon805]

I don't play any instrument or know anything about making music, but your videos are always fancinating to watch even if I don't understand many of the things you are talking about. It's like watching well produced scientific documentaries about space ships or human body, you don't need to fully understand the topics to enjoy the narrative itself. Thanks for the great work Jake.

[@kozmobluemusic]

the best part is everything Jake teaches is very easily applicable and you can get very quick and satisfying results

[@CraigCarl728]

"Equal temperament" ruining music. WOW! It is absolutely profound and hilarious. Great vid as always

[@user-mv6wz3pp7w]

Some people are born with tremendous talent but also tremendous humility. Thank you for making the world a better place by sharing your knowledge.

[@BenLevin]

So much top tier advice here!

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Hey Ben! thanks for attending my lecture 😁

[@ELLIOT8209]

​@@SignalsMusicStudiohey, can you make a video on retrograde and inversions?

[@infectedgoat7775]

@@SignalsMusicStudioLecture uh oh… is there gonna be like a test or somethin’ lol (great channel thank you it inspired me to write actual songs again instead of plodding at the rec button or tone chasing believing I’m doing work).

[@infectedgoat7775]

Or how to incorporate Orwell Tuning into songwriting or guitar tuning. I love the sound of it and the theory behind it I just can’t apply it. Thanks!

[@ColsScotland]

Love how you talk to camera/viewers in a straightforward way. not condescending or 'aloof', (like I find some others doing)! I'm a Frank Zappa fan, also love loads of other music too of course - Black Sabbath, Queen, Rush, SLF, CCR, GnR .... You make everything about writing/producing, even music theory(!) so clear to understand. Thank you! 😎

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Bravo. I just love your videos. I always learn so much. Make Music. Produce. Record. This is really key. The great artist Chuck Close-who worked really hard and painted daily-said, "When I look at a finished painting, I can't tell which parts I painted on my good days and which parts I painted on my bad days. I paint every day."

[@drummermomcjs]

I have and love The Chord Progression Codex. I have already learned so much and am only half way through. It has brought me to a whole new playing field in songwriting and improved ny understanding and skill on the piano and giutar.

[@whatbreaksthesilence8508]

Thank you Jake! I’ve been watching your videos since you did that Kokomo analysis videos and now our band is releasing 3 live performance music videos. Your advice, teachings, and insights played a huge part

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Sounds like you've been on quite the journey! Glad to have been some help :)

[@kozmobluemusic]

@@SignalsMusicStudio seriously, Jake, you’re the reason some of us are gigging, songwriting, and confidently playing music in general i have an intuitive understanding of modes because of you and now I’m on my way to developing intuition for chord extensions and jazz reharming

[@wolfnews1788]

Wake up babe, new signals video

[@edubs9828]

I'm here to agree.

[@staceywilliams4181]

😅😅😂

[@mrobsolete530x4]

I have been in a coma for 2 years, perfect timing

[@unktopia]

I fully endorse the bonus tip. Jakes music theory and songwriting course is a fantastic way to get some theory under your belt.

[@Mujcanal]

Jake, you are a real gem for us, thank you. ❤

[@zerozucker]

don't be afraid to have some fun with organised noise, thank you brother

[@guitaring1]

I love your videos. They're chock-full of good ideas and insights and are well thought out and executed. I'm glad you're back from your hiatus.

[@spotlight-kyd]

Tip X: Take part in composition / production challenges, either online or organized by you and your friends locally. These force you to finish songs within a given time frame and let you try out styles/instruments/software you wouldn't maybe otherwise have tried. And they teach you to accept that sometimes you have to stop working on something and say "it's good enough" and move on to something else. And if you do this regularly, you'll be probably surprised that you finished many more tracks than you did before within a given time period.

[@andrewdavies8328]

@spotlight-kid Great point! About 18 months ago, me and two mates decided to meet every 5 to 6 weeks to unveil our own response to a songwriting challenge set by one of us - we’d take turns in setting the challenge. Only one of us had written songs before, so for the other two, this was new turf. The challenge might be to use a title, or a set chord progression, a genre, a key or time signature. So far, none of us have failed the challenge. We come together and play our songs for the others. ALL OF US are getting better at our craft.

[@markkthought]

Dude, I'm so glad when your videos hit the feed.

[@timbarth7850]

Good to have you back. Your channel was a part of my musical journey for a long time and these advice come at the right time for me to progress. Thank you for that great advice.

[@stevenmonte7397]

That's what I love about KZbin. I've watched so many interviews about how songs came together. I realize exactly what you are saying.

[@mongrelhead1]

Thank you and your supporters for an amazing video!

[@Insert_Bland_Name_Here]

"If you've got amazing vocal skills, I don't want you to just sing low notes sustained." Unless you're an amazing bass vocalist. These are few and far in between, especially in rock and metal, so if you are an amazing bass vocalist, definitely lean into that. There aren't enough amazing bass vocalists out there, who actually own that range. Most of them tend to stick to the upper end of their range, and sound like okay-ish tenors as a result.

[@thejontao]

Cross-medium inspiration… yes!!! My girlfriend and I see a lot of contemporary dance shows (which also tend to have great experimental soundscapes). I get a lot of inspiration (both musical and literary) from dance shows. Seeing how a problem is approached and addressed in one medium can be a great way to finding a new way to approaching or addressing a similar problem in your chosen medium. My art history professor (back when I was in university almost 30 years ago) used the phrase “let paint be paint” when talking about certain art movements. This one sentence has brought more insight to my own musical practice than anything I’ve found in music itself, ever.

[@davegannon9058]

I took his advice on tip number 10 and purchased his Music Chord Progression Codex. It’s quite excellent so far. Like his KZbin posts, it’s very practical and down to earth. It’s really helping me understand WHY things work and why others don’t. I highly recommend it.

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Thanks Dave!!! Thrilled you're enjoying the book :)

[@Open_Mike_B]

Jake’s explanations are so complete. Covers all basis for understanding. One of the best educators on here.

[@markusszelbracikowski956]

One thing that really works for me to finish a song is to focus on finishing at least one small section. You might have the general idea of something recorded and all, but once you listen to a fully arranged section, that thing is going to show you the potential of the rest of the song. It will be a nice appetizer and will trick your brain into thinking "Oh this sound awesome! I want more of this!". At least that works wonders for me haha

[@shumookerjee293]

Good stuff, Jake! And very timely for me. Been stuck finishing a song for the last few weeks..so this helped.

[@bongjovi4928]

Very useful reminders. Understanding the software and technology is my biggest hurdle.

[@kozmobluemusic]

learn what you need to solve a problem you care about don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to learn an entire DAW if you don’t care about producing, but do learn how to record if that’s all you need to do learn how to EQ if that’s all you want learn about the number of inputs of different interfaces if you care about the hardware you use for your instruments learn only what you need to pick and choose to learn specific things, and the snowball of curiosity and mastery will continue to grow

[@Jesse615]

Yes! Thank you Jake! I am a musician/songwriter and, for my day job, a graphic designer. And I am always saying that very same thing about creativity! Being creative means just sitting down and creating -- doing the work. If it sucks, so be it! At least I got it out of the way and out of my head. There is no "right time". The best way to start, is to just start! And I'm going to vouch for all your tips. My own experience has taught me the same exact things! ::Great minds think alike!::

[@Alex-no3co]

Thanks Jake. I am so glad to see you are making KZbin videos again. It's always an inspiration to me.

[@johnhazlett3711]

I like how you occasionally have a change in the viewing when you make comments, or answer hypothetical questions. Your videos are practically an art form, and informative, in of themselves. Thanx.

[@lazershark0910]

Thanks man, I really needed to hear this ❤

[@EtheRenard]

Great video! For the tip number 3, people should also understand that 3 minutes is the industry standard, but there are tons of songs that doesn't fit that time. It can be a soundtrack or a song for children, the time of it can totally vary very quickly. Good criticism should give you the willingness to learn and be better, while bad criticism destroy your motivation. You also have to want to be criticized. If you get critics without wanting to, because you just mind your own business without specially wanting to improve right now, it becomes a unsolicited comment. I started as a drummer when I was 13, and when I wanted to put my exercises in a software, I accidentally discovered MIDI and musical composition with Tux Guitar then Guitar Pro 5. I had a hard time understanding chords and all, but with time and with the good videos, it's always easier! My goal is to be a professional composer, maybe for video games. I'm almost 28 and I'm starting this project... even if it's really hard finding clients!

[@infectedgoat7775]

Good point! When my band was being scouted by WB we had to re-edit every song down to 3 min and 50 sec. These days it’s probably less. I also was studying modern country the structure is ALL THE SAME it’s creepy. Almost every song chorus hits exactly at 30 sec. Verse 2 all harmonies. After Chorus 2 Bridge. Then solo. Then chorus 2x END.

[@ochreJ]

Solid advice! Things I would add based on my own experience: - Seek music theory that relates specifically to songwriting/ composing vs performance. - Enter writing or remixing contests as a way to practice your skills. Having existing material to work from provides a different focus. But do not expect to ever win! It’s just a practice tool. - Don’t get distracted by technology. A lotta producers obsess over sound design and production quality. THESE ARE DISTRACTIONS.

[@atejgeeth]

This is amazing !! Very helpful for me at this moment as a budding artist🤩

[@TuckRob]

Great advice. Listening intently to the indivdual parts in other people's music can be enlightening but mostly it's hard to see the trees for the forest (to reverse the metaphor). It occurred to me that stem separation software is mainly used to make use of or alter parts of a song but to just hear and analyse is pretty invaluable. It beats slowing down the tape recorder for those of old enough to remember such a thing. As a PSA - Music tech tuition channel did a shoot out of stem separation software and very highly ranked was the freeware DemuxGUI. Nothing is cheating if it speeds up the creative flow and I really believe it's all about process and that has to be enjoyable above any expectations of outcome.

[@Shortybeard]

So happy to be seeing videos from you again Jake! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge! =)

[@braxal6983]

Jake, You always have the best ideas and a very good teacher. I am glad I joined your Patreon!!!

[@Dystxnn]

Man you've been very helpful. I really appreciate these tips. I've been trying to record, mix, and master my unfinished songs and I managed to put one "full" song so far lol. Most of my self-recorded songs are like a minute or two. I find recording pretty easy, mixing and mastering them to actually sound at least half decent is the tough part. Doing those songs for self-satisfaction only.

[@feyyazakkus]

These tips are pure gold!

[@piticooki4334]

okay you have motivated me to try to make my first song! thanks you !

[@zerozucker]

you are gonna crush it! and if not.. well try again who cares :)

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

godspeed, soldier!

[@LilLingLing6789]

I love this channel I've made my first song using a daw . It took me 5 months and it was grueling but I did it Telling people to watch out for a song and not wanting to let people down motivates me to finish

[@luisrocha26]

3:07 definitely my bests song came out this process: writing a riff/phrase/full compass, archiving it for like 1 year because I thought it was shitty, then redescovering it and thinking "wow this riff's nuts" and turning it into a full song by creating minor variations and doing basic arrangement. We need this time to look at our ideas with less negative criticism

[@GranPaMark]

I'm happy you're back - I'm yours for life. ( I prob only have 10 left at most - lol )

[@turtleCalledCalmie]

Here's to at least 20 more to that friend! 😊

[@infectedgoat7775]

Thanks for the Amadeus clip! I love that film!

[@samarsa.]

man i'm glad you're back!

[@latheofheaven1017]

So glad you're back on KZbin doing videos, Jake. You always have something useful ans interesting to say. I had to laugh at your tip #7 though. Most of my musical tastes seem to be different from the mainstream! My trouble is making myself sound different from my influences. 😄

[@daviddavidson1355]

So nice to see you posting again Jake!

[@JB-ti7bl]

Love that you mention Audacity. Yes, I use it all the time for my own recording/editing! In fact, I just started a project tonight with a field recording track (percussion) sized to a 60 beats per minute click track (which I later removed). Saved the project and will revisit later for the next layer. Oh, and here's a tip about Audacity: If you live outside the US and use a different language keyboard, it may cause glitches. Change your keyboard setting to "ENG". It's a life saver.

[@MATCHLESS789]

What completely changed things for me was putting down guitar and leaving all the complicated riffs alone for a time being. I bought some cheap midi keyboard to mess around with.. And lo and behold, suddenly actual songs started coming out. The ability to play both chords and melody at the same time is very helpful. I could also record midi stuff, move stuff around and really analyze harmony and why does certain scale sound good and why some doesn't without having to split my brain in half and do this while playing, etc, etc. I feel like I finally understood music. I still had problems writing vocal melodies.. So, I recorded midi for like 100 of my favorite songs (verses and choruses) and analyzed what the hell is going on. Everyone keeps saying "simplify, simplify, simplify". And I tried to, I just needed to simplify it like 10 times more. I don't know why, but actually most melodies are deceptively simple, but don't sound that way during regular listening. Anyways, I recommend getting a midi keyboard and composing on that. Start by actually playing, then mess around with midi roll to hear how little changes impacts your song in real time.

[@brandonprescott5525]

I purchased the chord progression codex book from Jake's website and it was totally worth it. Its the most comprehensive chord book i have. I rate it higher than the Ted Greene jazz books which i also have and use. Great atuff and well worth the purchase!

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

I LOVE TO HEAR THIS! It means it was worth all the hard work. Thanks for this comment!

[@octaneuro]

I noticed in Tip 13, (Avoid puritanism) that you mentioned we should use AI. Wow, that's a pretty hot take. I'd love to see a video/response about why you think that AI would be good for composers. It would be interesting to see a counter-argument to the AI Panic. I've seen AI's like "Suno" and "Udio" as more a replacement to production. But I'd love to hear how you think we could use AIs in music.

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

this warrants its own video, but I totally think AI is an awesome tool to use as a composer. come up with some quick lyrics, try out some melodies with a AI vocalist that sounds better than you, etc. I don't think that AI can come close to replacing a human composer at this point. that might change soon, but right now, stuff like suno is just fun for idea generation and not finalized art. I think the role of the composer and artist will only be strengthened as AI becomes more popular, and people mistakenly think they can prompt hack their way to creating art. but who knows, I could be totally wrong!

[@tauzeroii-jayg1226]

Beginning at 2:20: "[Technology] is going to happen whether we like it or not..." :D @@SignalsMusicStudio kzbin.info/www/bejne/on_SkKBvbLGLZ6s

[@tauzeroii-jayg1226]

"We've got to make [AI] work for us, not for itself." --Terry Gilliam

[@StevenDiLeo]

Great video as always Jake ❤😊

[@MeszarosWreckords]

Thank you 👍

[@pedroterra476]

Through you content, I have been able to recycle my theory knowledge and start finishing some new songs in the last 2 years. Thank you very much, Jake

[@yotu9670]

Crazy good ad every time. Love your channel!! Completely agree. Consuming inspired me so much!!!

[@secondwindmusicproductions]

A way to incorporate a few of your suggestions at once is to form a songwriting club. I once belonged to one where at each meeting we split up into small groups of 2 or three and were given 2 hours to co-write a song. Then the groups got together and performed their songs in front of everyone and invited critiques. Of course the songs were not polished but often the writers got back together later to finish them. A few good songs came from that club but also a lot of new friends were made.

[@stevenmonte7397]

I recently analyzed 125 songs one day at a time. It taught me SO MUCH. I broke down lyrics, the structure of the song, counted out the measures, listened to the changes in each instrument. It was worth the effort. It's definitely something I will continue to practice.

[@infectedgoat7775]

Hey man late to the party but that’s amazing congrats! Was there something that really helped or stuck out you use now? Has songwriting become easier when you write? Again congrats!

[@stevenmonte7397]

@@infectedgoat7775 Thanks! Yeah, it has definitely been the most informative dive so far. It really helped me hear details and how there's a push/pull going on that highlights important aspects of the song. As for my own writing, my journey has been a hard labor to bring many parts together. The past year has probably been one of the hardest in my adult life (all good now). So I'm finally at a point where I'm hoping all of my efforts come together to really pursue my dream. I'm still really new to it all, but my goal is to write and produce and just see what ends up being my strongest skill set. I will start breaking down songs again album by album. It really is worth the effort for me to open creative doors. I really want to do Songs in the Key of Life next.

[@Tsa-SONGS-ABOUT-BEING-a-DAD]

So glad you're back mate - really helpful video. If anyone is interested I'm writing songs about being a dad

[@GodspeedHaywire]

Hey Jake! Would love to see you do a video on songwriting with 7-string guitars. There are so many creative options outside of chugging away on the low B string and it would be cool to see your take on it. If I remember correctly you’ve done only one video with your 7-string. Thanks!

[@FiveFigsDigital]

Glad to see you back!

[@stupidgus123]

The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that the shot of the orchestral score he showed at 4 minutes in is part of The Right Of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. This page is about half way through 'The Augurs Of Spring - Dances Of The Young Girls' I noticed it straight away as I am a huge Strav fan! Nice one Jake! X

[@chrisbrokaw2131]

You're back!!

[@repeat2fade]

Great video. Learn (a little) music theory resonated. Been playing for years, always knew what to play, always knew how to play it (more or less), but never knew why i played it. Until i gotta little music theory!! Now I'm composing, recording and uploading. Love it!!

[@sickflow_tunes]

I started learning about music writing recently and I'm so glad i found your channel... Thank you for doing this and thanks for your return to KZbin 🙏

[@djn48]

Just a word of warning for #5... Be very careful about critiquing professional mixes when you are a beginner. Mixing is a lot more complex than beginners realise and something that sounds too loud may not actually be too loud. It may be that volume for a very good reason, for example, it draws attention to it rather than making it get lost in the mix, or it may sound like crap when it is lower in volume due to masking. In that respect, critique song arrangements and performances: yes. Critique mixes: probably not if you are a beginner (or even intermediate level).

[@martinchocoo]

I find your channel insanely helpful, thank you, really

[@jeanb4483]

Wise and timeless advice.

[@idlevinyl]

Very well said. It only took me thirty years to learn what you talked about in this video. Thanks!

[@vietanh266lmao]

You've helped me out so much with music theory that I can't even thank you enough.

[@JohnnyOlsson]

Related to a couple of your tips about analyzing and critizing I would add that by finding flaws in your favourite pieces also takes away alot of pressure. If even the best are imperfect, than we can accept our own imperfection. And also, don't just critizise your own music. Analyze it! Find out what worked and why it worked so you can do it again.

[@henrique88t]

1:25 that's eye-opening for all things in life, honestly

[@812cp]

I would expand on tip #14 (Go Get Inspired) by adding that it's okay to lift or borrow musical ideas from other composers. Fire up a Spotify playlist of a genre you like, but that is full of songs you don't really know, then start trying to play along with them and see where it takes you. Do this for a few songs, or even just portions of them, then turn it off and let your hands and ears filter, extract and expand on what they have just been experiencing.

[@Kudal196]

Great To See You.....Song Writing is Learned for The Majority

[@jansestak954]

Thank you for the story at the beginning! Some people have this mindset that you've got to be gifted to make music which is just ridiculous.

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

Jake awesome Video. I have not checked in on your videos in a while. Keep up the good work. Your friend Bill

[@SenseTheWhiskey]

I love your content, Jake. Thanks for all you do.

[@ringbalk4615]

Thanks Jake! I always criticise and really deep dive in what really makes a music my favourite.. that alone has made me change how I view music in general, but also make me picky about them 🤣

[@Jeremy_Kinsey]

Though I am far from being a beginner, I enjoy watching your videos. Great job, keep them coming!

[@darrens2387]

Great vid Jake. I will add one more thing. Embrace your own style. Be yourself, write what u think is appropriate. Dont try to sound like anybody else

[@resinlawn]

I've learned most of the theory through your channel. Thanks for the work.

[@dmc549]

This is incredible advice Jake ! Thank you ! you have taught me so much about how to make my own music.

[@billhinsperger8120]

Great video one other thing I would mention is write and play what your good at I write and record all different styles of music. But my strength is metal and down picking so your talent will shine when u do what your good at

[@trebmaster]

In order to stimulate creativity when you have an open canvas at the start, intentionally limit your options with random parameters whether it be chord progressions or whatever. That's a tip right out of Andrew Huang's playbook. He even uses pieces of candy and shuffles them to represent different pieces of a random pattern that will "work" musically, then he just does it and sees what shakes out.

[@markoszouganelis5755]

Thank you very much Jake! Thank you for helping music composing to continue existing, these days we need it most! I have you modes poster and I love it, you can't imagine how much has helped me inspiring for music theory education!🎵🎵🌈

[@zacharyluhman9022]

Alot of these are so true and I'm glad I already follow some

[@mdderrek9280]

Thank you Patreons!

[@dreamingacacia]

I composed quite a lot of songs. But most of them are around 1 minute long. It's like "this is not good", so I tried to wrap things up quickly instead of prolonged the suffering. With that in mind, I tried to find answers about how to express my feelings into the music properly. For me compose music is more about expressing myself as an artist rather than to compete with someone or other reasons. Maybe that's why I just used AI to help me explore the possibilities. I mean normal songs are kinda the same over and over again and I already listened enough of them. AI is kinda wild and sometimes crazy enough to make something out of norms. It's a good way to help us exploring our ways.

[@JosephGallagher]

Thank y'all Patreons ❤❤

[@jhonklk]

Thanks for all the quality information you provide. Much appreciated from DR

[@Superkeyruns]

Very well said! Essential advice.

[@VinFetty]

Amazing tips! My question, if you play live and unplugged but recorded your song using heavy technology, like pitch correction. Should you use pitch correction? I am currently taking your rhythm course, which I am super grateful for and I'm about 30% through working on it every day. After that I am saving up my money to purchase the songwriting and theory course. Jake is amazing at music and his teaching style is super easy on the brain, you will not go wrong with his courses.

[@paulinskipukprogressive4903]

Thanks man, I find many of your points very relevant to my composing situation and very useful

[@bustacap3791]

I love that last tip!

[@C_Zwaluw]

Always the best teacher thank you

[@theamazinbazin6068]

The last point is SO important.

[@ranradd]

Thanks Jake, always the best tips and advice!