5 Songwriting Things You Are Doing Wrong

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Holistic Songwriting is the most relevant resource for modern Songwriters/Producers on the net.
Friedemann Findeisen is an award-winning songwriter and the author of the bestselling book "The Addiction Formula". As a musical profiler, he coaches some of the biggest producers in Germany.
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[@bjarnyg]

i too have a problem finishing what i've sta

[@syedaitzazanwar3585]

poppy paul I see what u did there

[@antoniestan]

poppy paul ye u just did it right now u friggin Iyot

[@hiphopaneer]

lol

[@PowerThirteen]

lma

[@FOXGLUVS]

oh yeah, that happens to me all the ti

"People come for the sound and stay for the story" is one of the most insightful lines I've heard in a long time. damn, thank you

[@axel.lessio]

Second only to "What's up everyone Fridjksdjfoprihahnasdfkjl holistic songwriting..."

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Yeah that's a great perspective.

[@Bachrules]

Couldn't agree more. Gave me goosebumps.

[@aldermanswe392]

word. quoted on my instastory immediately :D

[@jjszor4359]

Cool saying

[@schalkdb4533]

There are no rules But you need to learn them before you break them So make your own rules And then break your own rules

[@Jackspiring]

XD thats what happens when you take ALL advice given to you, just take the bits that work for you

[@architectsmusicgroup]

Not really! the listener is already accustomed to certain things , formula , formats , sound etc ,hence the listener might not listen if the song is out of this world.

[@Jackspiring]

@@architectsmusicgroup True i bet psychology could help with songwriting for that reason, not in a manipulative hook-y way. More like knowing which sounds release which chemicals and using them throughout a melody or an album in order to illicit that desired response. Psychology could definitely help actually i'm going to look it up

[@architectsmusicgroup]

@@Jackspiring yes , I guess most song writers are striving for this , if u have a working formula then u got a hit on your hands !)

[@architectsmusicgroup]

@@camara1194 I'm sure u have! It's all the good things you like in all your favourite songs !)

[@qwertyasdf66]

I wish I could write lyrics as good as "Baby, baby, baby. Oooh baby, baby, baby".

[@willemdegrebber7227]

Sorry Halojen, i have tried IT as well. But this is something that is only reserved for the musical geniusis of our time. I got writersblock after the second baby, and had Trouble with spelling oooh🤪😉😂😂

[@AFTERDARK7776]

@@willemdegrebber7227 😂😂

[@collinjamesguitar]

Melody, man! That’s how those mofos are getting away with that haha. T Swift could write a pop song about cheeseburgers and those melodies would have us all singing

[@Filmgirlphilosopher]

Halojen sometimes it actually takes more skill to write something so simple, yet make it work. Sometimes it’s just pop crap 💩

[@MrVleker]

Good songs are not always popular and popular songs are not always good

[@W1ese1]

#1: I don't finish songs I start writing

[@wayneshoes3539]

Quote from John lennon. When you start a song finesh the song.

[@666wurm]

Guilty too...

[@officialWWM]

You have to finish the song...otherwise, it's not a song.

[@mjjremasters3237]

Music Islife I can write an instrumental, it’s the lyrics I can’t do, sometimes I don’t even finish an instrument

[@officialWWM]

Christopher Jasper sounds like you need a writing partner...

[@wayneshoes3539]

It's harder write a happy song than a sad song.

[@officialWWM]

Wayne Shoes speed it up. Start with a faster tempo. It's hard to write a fast sad song.

[@oliverconlon4687]

Music Islife tell that to a majority of punk bands lol I get what you’re saying tho

[@melodysamplelibrary9032]

This is quite true. Everyone pack their sad past into songs

[@Breakbeat90s]

its hard to write both

[@mariosilva7675]

@@officialWWM it turns like a black metal song or something... "I'm cutting my wrists, I'm falling through the void inside my soul (...)" - imagine this both at 60BPM and at 140BPM... ah ah!

[@tav095]

Your channel is like a free Masterclass. Thanks for everything!

[@johndoe_1984]

There’s no free meal, don’t be naive

[@sparkleon4love27]

@@johndoe_1984 spam...

[@tobiasrodrigues1]

I finally learned the lesson to focus on quantity instead of quality. I wrote two of my best songs and did the production in 7-10 days. You can focus on quality in the end stage of the songs. Just be ok with wroting bad songs. After a while the good songs will be written too. I've been writing songs for twenty years and I only just realised that quantity is better than quality. Finish them, and learn from your mistakes.

[@jofkamiglaregidor5568]

"if it doesn't sound professionally made, people aren't going to listen to it" bedroom pop artists: 👁👄👁

[@sybellanikas9182]

Clairo’s *Flaming hot Cheetos* is *shookith*

[@happyswiftie6075]

Billie eilish : Joins convo

[@slunkzilla]

@@happyswiftie6075 Billie Elish's song structures aren't very unusual and her music sounds professionally made

[@Briggsy251]

My biggest problem is finding the words to use in a song. I’ve got concepts I‘m excited to write about but I really struggle putting them into words :/

[@theundefinedgamer1574]

I have the exact same problem

[@oenwilson2486]

Same

[@daderizzo4567]

Try to read more book (novels) in general.

[@Briggsy251]

@@daderizzo4567 How has that helped you?

[@daderizzo4567]

Briggsy251 books helps you to think more about something and they can give you interesting topic to write song about

[@K.Jerico]

You mentioned that people should listen to their own song more. I think the main problem here is when you listen to your song so much you'll almost be immune to actually pick up the errors. The best think to do then is to allow yourself to take a pause and revisit it later. (This is just my own experience and may not necessarily work with everyone).

[@mikebarnacle1469]

Same... and it always turns out that revision 1 was way better than revision 50 when I do that haha.

[@dennisramirez1989]

100% true

[@pameliemusic]

reading poems helps a lot, also reading in general, romance and story...i found much inspiration because I absorb the language/style of the writer

[@silvercranium]

"What's up every one FIDANAFIDAFROMHOLISTIC songwriting"

[@jameseverett9037]

I had to replay that part 12 times......then gave up and went to his home page to see if I could find something that might fit.

[@Breakbeat90s]

@@jameseverett9037 its actually simple to understand if you familiar with german

[@a_green_cat]

Pangeaner as a german speaker, I have no idea what the fuck he said there

[@RIKIwariacie]

@@a_green_cat ich aber schon 🙂

[@a_green_cat]

RIKI was hat er also gesagt? :o

[@gigimota9540]

This is exactly why I subscribed and became a Patron! It's not just about making a sell, he really cares that whatever you're doing, you do it right. Great video.

[@Holistic-songwriting]

GIGI MOTA Music thanks! :)

[@benaaronmusic]

So comforting to hear these helpful tips. I've completely written and shared over 150 songs, and I have improved SO MUCH since I first started. I never had a lesson on any instrument or music production, but people like you, and videos like these have helped us songwriters tremendously. It really takes a lot of practice no matter which side of music you come from. Thank you very much.

[@jumhed994]

Good video. There's a similar thing in movies. You can watch an amazingly shot movie with a massive budget but the story sucks. Or you can watch a budget movie where the direction sucks but the story is amazing.

[@richardgiannelli134]

Step 1: buy my book. Step 5: do not buy songwriting books.

[@Axiom_Link]

Richard Giannelli step 1 is actually song structure/story telling 😅

[@goatsurgeon]

I left a Stevie T video for this

[@thesuncollective1475]

Love Stevie T

[@baxterwise2971]

I’d love Stevie T if he wasn’t so fucking annoying

[@me6271]

@Gennady Golovkin I like it that he is so wild. Not boring arse ahit

[@owlofathena1247]

@@me6271 to each their own, I prefer someone like Friedemann who at least teaches me something, instead of a hyperactive hamster who constantly flexes his guitar skills and teaches me nothing.

[@Rhekluse]

I love that you mentioned that it is OK to initially keep away from music theory. As the years have gone on and I have improved/developed as an songwriter/artist/producer I have kept close to theory because I was afraid to venture out of those guidelines. It has become restricting and a terrible habit.

[@Kamy.GG.Official]

*_Man, your tips are always helpful. Everyone can learn from you._*

[@nzurithesongwriter]

Yes

[@surgekush]

This book is great. The way you lay out the formula makes sense of everything i know while teaching me the missing pieces to make a whole bigger picture. That’s great.

[@patrickjorgensen]

The book is actually awesome !! :)

[@happycompy]

Does the book teach you how to choose chord progressions? Like how to build a verse, pre-chorus, chorus etc with the "I IV V" type of labeling? I'm thinking about picking it up. Thank you.

[@surgekush]

happycompy the theory not so much. It’s more of an overall blueprint for assembling a song. He uses examples from current music that you should listen to as you read. He then references those songs with the techniques they use and explains everything. Good luck!!

[@ShaeDistrict]

Is this in reference to "The Addition Formula" or the "Tracking Journal"?

[@TheEntrepMan]

I actually start writing songs since 2005(parody ones) when I starts to learn in playing guitar, then till 2006 I start writing my own original songs up until now 2019. For all I remember, I already wrote almost 700 songs in span of 14 years

[@DMichaelAtLarge]

"5 Ads For My Products Disguised As a List of 5 Things Songwriters Do Wrong."

[@marcusjayallen]

this probably my favorite video of yours. laying it down! reading your book for the 2nd time currently. thank you for helping me to be a better songwriter

[@Neotoribaru]

In France, "chanson" which litteraly means song is a genre. The most important thing is lyrics and the music inside each words. Then music and production. Listen to Brel Gainsbourg, Trenet, Brassens...

[@dgrjazz]

Neotoribaru thanks for those names. I know Brel pretty well, but the others are not familiar to me.

[@stylesdangerfield]

I've been starting to do an exercise where I write songs in 1/2 hour.

[@joshuaswonke3126]

How do you go about writing these 30 minute songs?

[@stylesdangerfield]

@@joshuaswonke3126 I've been doing 10 mins on chords ( Verse, Chorus, maaybe Bridge ) 10 minutes on Melodies, and 10 minutes on lyrics. You don't have enough time to second guess anything. So it makes you experiment.

[@jordanfiction]

Your point about song 100 vs song 1 was so inspiring. I’m going to write a whole song tomorrow

[@jaymason2493]

There is nothing like the perfect song, so there is NOTHING you can do WRONG when writing a song. Unless you start comparing it to other songs, than you start seeing there might be room for improvement with certain aspects. But there is nothing wrong with any song. Happy writing y'all!

[@CleanFamilyVideos]

Nothing wrong with any song? Have you heard radio in America?

[@jaymason2493]

@@CleanFamilyVideos Yeah, most of the stuff is probably formula songwriting with a lack of creativity & depth. But what I meant was that Friedemann is addressing the viewer with his video title and suggesting that YOU are doing something WRONG feels like a bit of a discouragement for any beginner songwriter.

[@joanbautista]

I'm literally going to finish 100 songs to go to your material, That's a good way, Thanks!

[@jameseverett9037]

And fortunately they don't have to be "quality" songs. Just 'songs'. Incidentally, how many hits did this guy say he had?

[@graced.6711]

What the hell!!!! I looked at you and I thought "there's something about you that feels very German" but then your accent is SO neutral which is very rare when Germans speak English. And then I read the description and you ARE actually from Germany. What a journey my mind has been on 😆😆

[@nonamesneededofficialpage7576]

Holistic Songwriting I just wanted to say thank you for helping me take my writing to the next level. I'm a hip hop artist and I was trying to figure out how to implement your techniques to my genre, I used your writing sheet and made the best song to date using your methods and even had it played on the radio. Look up "N3 Act Right" on youtube, it has a black screen with white letters and please recommend further techniques. I didn't put the link because I don't to distract people from what's really important, your content. Thanks again man!

[@KaitavSapreMusic]

The explanation for #2 and #5 is just perfect. Thanks for this and all the other brilliant videos you have been sharing!

[@ambralemon]

*be me, trying to get into composing music while having a poetry background* *video says his advice isn't for people who have been into poetry and are trying music out after that*

[@_UtkarshaBora]

😭😭 saame

[@minty9003]

A poetry background is so special! I forgot how much I wanted to get into poetry. Hope you have a great day!

[@jameseverett9037]

It's a great background, in my opinion. Look at Bernie Taupin. Lyrics and poetry are pretty damn near the same thing.

[@scarlettjersey307]

Mariah was a poet

[@justinlobaton5371]

This guy really knows how to make guides and education not boring, but fun.

[@nzSkitzo]

Thank you this is the message I needed right now, I’ve have been writing for 15 years and I never finish anything. I always get stale and move on to the next idea. I have downloaded your song structure template which will come in handy to visualise the complete song 😎

[@elihowden6948]

This is awesome , I bought the audiobook and have listened to it twice back to back. You have laid out such a Brilliant platform and structure for the information in this book. Thank you! I appreciate you !

[@hangroover]

Hello The Heisenberg of the music community :) by the way that book of his is very usefull great job!

[@electroturi]

Hey thank you for the good content! I'm reading the addiction formula on audible too! I just watched the 2 videos about pros and cons of writing albums vs singles, you said you were going to do one about EPs, I'm looking forward to hear your opinion on writing EPs! Keep up the great work!

[@coltenwigington7296]

Hey man thanks for uploading all this knowledge. Incredible all this is free. I’ve got your book as well. Keep up the excellence and thank you for what you do!!!!

[@TrumanBest]

this is so helpfull!! you've taken away alot of wrong thoughts and doubts that I had about my songwriting. Thank you so much! :)

[@kodexik]

Dude honestly your channel became my favourite. You inspired me and i love every single video. Never stop Man , great job

[@Bermuda495]

Dude thanks for this vid. As ur videos teach much such as mashups and prechorus I'm glad to know that these are tools of the trade that are often overlooked as these new additions to the craft feels me anxious yet I see now there's not a serious matter of catching up and I agree lots of cheesy things lol. I definitely am one who "listens to their own shh lol" 🤘

[@Rrvgarcia]

FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THE NAME !

[@jenaeadams8067]

Wow this video has me excited about the book and the courses.

[@_Only_Zuul]

using the same key and sounds on every song i compose helped me a lot to get them finished. nowadays i only use piano, strings, bass guitar and electronic drums like an 808 or linn and thats it. it may seems kind of counter productive but the less i fussed about sounds the better and also make sure my DAW is set up to have a good working mix right from the get go.

[@shirleyfrederickson2280]

I am enjoying and sharing your videos with other writers and am a fairly new subscriber. I would like to say thank you and all the best in the new year.

[@lennyvangogh8006]

I absolutely love your book it really honestly opened my eyes and mind to what and the why I was and am doing what I'm doing. Thank you for making it and the audiobook. 💪🏾💪🏾🙏🏾💙💙💙

[@chaosresearch]

Re: point 5, this is something I haven't heard said aloud a lot. Through quantity does comes quality. In 2005 I tried to write 1 song a week for a year, including mixing and everything. At the end of the year I had 46 songs, obviously not all masterpieces but nothing else has improved my songwriting as much as that effort. It also helped me to find my "voice" in broad sense of the word. And I did have enough good songs for about 1,5 albums.

[@samuel1480]

Great video, you're doing a great job passing your knowledge ahead. Thank you.

[@ZoldarMusic]

This is so inspiring and motivating. Thank you very much for what you are doing. Keep on! :)

[@christophervincent3520]

Thanks for this, very useful. I guess you'd prefer not to have six points but perhaps I would also include is lyrical identity. Unique titles, hooks and themes do transform songs to a higher plain, although finding original ones can be somewhat problematic!

[@rickyputrawijaya5637]

The link for the workshop doesn't appear? :( or maybe i missed it. Anyone please kindly help

[@scarlettjersey307]

The description box

[@audiomiragestudios]

Thank you for these videos, very insightful and enlightening

[@heyjackieblue]

Can’t wait to sign up for your Patreon on the 1st!

[@yeah2953]

thank you for your videos... they give me a more clear view with songwriting

[@MegafunkDancer]

The sound / story formula is so true 🙏

[@MustafaBaabad]

I agree with the previous comment, this video is like the master class, almost provide you with every thing you need. Thank you chief! Cheers from Indonesia.

[@spudthompson1434]

You always wake me up to things!!! :) Number 5 is definitely me!!! Trying to sway from it!!!

[@Ast3rixMusic]

Wow very informative...I agree focusing on finishing is a big deal and me being a production type do find it difficult to structure things. I started templating things to stay on track, but find that I feel I have lost the movement of the song. It’s an on going struggle I will check out your book I’m always looking for ways to improve.

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

9:56 "to have a voice and never speak"...I agree. I just started speaking last December. 🐰❤️🎸🎶🤝✌️

[@jbasti227]

Thank you so much, I always appreciate and learn so much from your channel. Can you please do a video on how Alcest/Neige writes a song?

[@GirlNamedNino]

Really fantastic advice, really enjoyed hearing your hot takes on the subject! Thanks, Just subbed

[@YUJOYMusic]

Thanks Man for all your work. Really inspiring and helpful. Happy to find your channel.

[@mauriciomanino]

Thanks Fried! Your advices on the last point gives me a lot of motivation, because I have a OCD that doesn't allow me to finish my songs! Haha thank you very much.

[@cepheid4288]

Write more songs, finish more songs, you will get better with each iteration

[@timothyfalguiere7585]

Nice tips on song writing, I’ve been struggling with it lately, you got some good tips, thanks

[@colouredpages]

You have absolutely pointed out my mistakes. Great job done

[@alsweezy2046]

Which is

[@colouredpages]

@@alsweezy2046 From my songs someone cannot understand, where is in the song he is...!

[@jonashellborg8320]

He says to write 100 songs in a year. I tried in 2020, and wrote 57 songs. Now, seeing this video again (thanks youtube algorithm) it makes a lot more sense to me than it did a year ago. You need to apply advice in practise, over and over, and let your brain get some direct experience. One thing I’ve noticed via 57 songs is that I think about the vocals LAST, and I don’t think about the story well enough. Yes, an Instrumentalist here. :-)

[@DarrenGlen]

this is the first time ive seen someone describe the problem i see day in day out...songwriters choose crap sounds and DJ producers know all about what the right preset and kick drum to use but never have enough talent to write songs. You nailed it.

[@nestordvtapal8359]

This guy is so good. It helps me a lot. Subscribed and notify hahaha

[@thesuncollective1475]

I keep comin back to this..its my mantra..so useful ..Thank you

[@pielover-joe6290]

I agree, there are songs that have terrible lyrics but the sound is good and I listen for that

[@LilRing]

does anyone have any recommendations for a microphone for me to record my music with ?

[@blendi3825]

You’re great teacher, almost convinced me to buy your book 😊

[@frankmannino2752]

yes you are rite on man serious i know music your like a guru to great music thank u for caring about music

[@jordangrey8913]

Watched 3 videos so far. I'm jumping on the wagon haha, subbed. Love from New Zealand.

[@ghostuncle]

It all came together for me at 7:36 when you showed the dog with headphones. (Seriously though, very helpful video. Number 5 seems to contradict the first four, but I suppose it's a balance.)

[@atlastobin7837]

Im 16 and i want to be a singer & songwriter, i bought the addiction formula, that book is absolutely amazing, Thank you.

[@terabhai_boogeyman]

It's for songwriters (Hip hop) ?

[@jdstarek]

Picking up the book today. All 5 of these resonated with me. But #5 really clicked...in my first year I’ve written only about 6 songs.

[@oenwilson2486]

Same tho

[@kingsleyjoshua8680]

Great Teacher! ♥

[@ultimativesschaf]

last point really made me think about it totally different, thanks man

[@alifcherosli5569]

All the tips are genuine and really good.

[@humblepikin]

Tnks this is great hw bout the producing turturials

[@Gabriel_Mercado]

So write a lot of songs, don't worry about quality. What about wanting to release your songs sounding professionally mixed. Should I worry about that? Or should I let all that come in naturally?

[@kubaurbanski4388]

Last Wednesday I went to a Rammstein show. They really impressed me and made me courious about their writing style. Would you like to make a video about them?

[@mrmasrawy92]

I feel like you're yelling at me!! Don't yell at me!! 😭🤧

[@RoniLoud]

I wrote about 1000 Songs, about 800 of them were just half songs, verses or just hooks. I start writing and then end up searching for new instrumentals and starting new projects because I‘m not happy with the current one, what could help to ALWAYS finish a lyric?

[@jamrhein2]

Discipline

[@fisheatsyourhead]

Write the music before the lyrics

[@adrianchavez7873]

Man, thanks for this video. Cracked my head.

[@JavierAvilaCortez]

3:55 Clairo, Drims, every bedroom pop, every surf band

[@cat-zh5ut]

12:35 dont mind me just timestamping something

[@ShaharHarshuv]

About "good performance" vs "quantize everything" - if I may add my personal intake on this - I don't think it's black and white. I often correct my timing but not "quantizing", i.e. leaving the imperfections of the performance but consciously deciding whether to put it exactly on the bit, or a bit later or earlier. This is especially important when playing chords on a keyboard - making all the notes play at the exact same time will sound fake, but if you just move the notes around a bit to tight the rhythm without quantizing it still sounds good.

[@emma9800]

My biggest problem is that I’ll start writing something and I’ll forget how I wanted the rhythm to go, and I usually start off with chords and when I figure out what I want my lyrics to sound like in a song I’ll change the chords to make them sound more fitting, but I haven’t been successful with it yet...

[@ShaharHarshuv]

About writing without thinking about theory - man I can so relate to that. If I don't let myself do whatever my hands, my voice or my mind wants to do and play with it I'm never gonna come up with new stuff. And I also know what you mean about analyzing your music retroactively. For example there was a song I wrote in 4/4 and I couldn't figure out how to write the rhythm for a specific part and than I found out I skipped a beat so I had on 3/4 measure, and it made it sound really cool. Never would have done it I would have though about theory and notation in the first place.

[@mramazing9568]

I've watched a bunch of videos on songwriting tips, and it seems the secret is to just keep writing song and to finish them.

[@futureghostsmusic]

When you say "finish" a song, what do you mean? I always have a hard time drawing the line as to when I should move on from a song or keep working on it.

[@Yanayofficial]

So on point!! 🙌🙌 Just do it! 🙌🙌

[@JoyriderTV]

This is massive. Best video in the topic on KZbin, thanks.

[@mosesmorales2173]

Thanks man, you're great at teaching!

[@RandomVelocity]

Just ordered your book. One thing though. Number 5. Yes. Write as many songs as possible and work on the craft of songwriting. But I think also maybe learn 100 songs first. And study their structure. And I should say I’ve been stuck in a world of 8 bar guitar loops. Need to break out if that.

[@DamnTastyVegan]

Another fantastic video filled with priceless advice. Now, off to finish my songs I have saved as voice memos in my phone

[@codyrap95]

I'm on the technical/dj/producer side but I really think most people can easily ignore the sound/technical part if the songwriting and the substance of the song is good. Just think about how many people used to listen and ENJOY music on cheap radios or cassette players with trash speakers/headphones or nowdays on smartphone/laptop speakers. Also there are a lot of indie/bedroom songs that have popped up lately with basically no mixing and mastering and people still love them for the melody, lyrics, feeling etc. So while the sound is very important and definitely a big boost please don't stress too much on it and definitely don't prioritize it over the substance of the song.