Songwriting, ep 3: Write a Little Lyric Everyday

[@JillCline-ff3ui]

I am 73, former librarian. Newbie guitar player, but a poet since I was in elementary school with hundreds of poems on scraps of paper, the backs of envelopes, in long forgotten apps, and learning a bit about the guitar and playing old beloved songs (albeit poorly) has set my brain on fire. A dozen songs in a month…mostly in the people’s scale, as you call it. Lovely to find your patient, understandable videos about music theory and the song writing process and opening up the potential of the fretboard. I may not have time to take up pickleball after all. Keep up the inspirational work. You are an oasis of calm in a sea of frenetic Utube videos that promise much and only confuse….

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yay! That's what I love to hear!

[@aanchaldogra]

There is this tv series navillera You remind me of the main character ❤

[@B3ASTBANDIT]

Don’t stop doing these, they are super helpful and it is rare to truly get an intimate look into how a song is created!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I will! It's a subject near and dear to me! Next up "...You're not a bad singer, You just need to find your voice"

[@brushstroke3733]

"I want to love ya, I want to love and treat you, love and treat you right....Is this love, is this love, is this love, is this love that I'm feeling?" An example of lyrics that look and sound dumb when written and read, but sound magical when sung in a song. They're from a well-known Bob Marley song.

[@RobertGrayMusic]

Great tips, as always. Here are a few more: 1. spend five minutes writing down EVERYTHING that comes into your head, regardless of how weird. I always get some gems that way and it gets your conscious brain out of the way. 2. don't always decide in advance what the song is about. See where the journey takes you. 3. Get a rhyming dictionary - a real one (e.g. Sammy Kahn), the free online ones are crap. 4. Only write stuff that you can imagine yourself actually saying. Otherwise you'll sound like Spinal Tap. 5. Live with a song for a few weeks before you perform or record it. You'll always find yourself accidentally singing something different (and better) to what you wrote. Off to check out your album now, Eric :)

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Oooh this is GOLD

[@JadedJet]

Nice! Almost 150k subscribers! I've always said you're a hidden gem among guitar youtube channels, not so hidden now.

[@padovann]

Man I love this channel! We are so lucky to have you here on KZbin. Hope you’re having a great day!

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

Thank you, Eric 🙏 I have a whole tub full of lyrics written out on notepads, scraps of paper... some have come to light as songs. Others sit waiting for me to go through and find them again. Enjoying this series. Much appreciated Be good to you ✌🍕

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Me too! So many old notebooks and notepads! When I'm hard up, I'll flip the pages until I find something I can expand upon.

[@azbluesdog]

My takeaway from this lesson is, "What does this song want to be about?" The muse is a teaser. She might give you a magical phrase or unexpected rhyme, but you have to unravel the puzzle.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! It's definitely a puzzle - you try one corner, and then the other, slowly the image becomes clearer!

[@boundlessspirit121]

Love this :) I agree 100%

[@TheNeonRabbit]

“John gave me a handy tip. He said, ‘Once you start to write a song, try to finish it straight away while you’re still in the same mood.’ Sometimes you go back to it and you’re in a whole different state of mind" George Harrison

[@levindy6]

Hey, Eric. This series has really meant a lot to me. Just wanted to say thanks :)

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

It's a subject that is near to my heart! Next up: "..You're not a bad singer, You just haven't found your voice!"

[@shawn_edwin]

Reminds me of Ecclesiastes! “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ So write, and write and write some more, because there's no need to fear your words!

[@bigjimi845]

So helpful, just too see others view point and methods to the madness. Great job with the videos and thank you!

[@smithy7034]

Brilliant! Thank you very much ❤️👍🏻

[@richardlynch5632]

Scenes, using the minimum amount of words to adequately describe and at the same time using a cadence that fits the mood helps bring the music and words together for me. Getting lost in that zone is...therapeutic😉 😎👍❤🖖

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Well put, Richard!

[@charlielamson3883]

Thanks Eric and good to learn about your process. I myself am a slow writer and tend to land on a starter line and melodic phrase first. From there I will play a mental game of following what my mind is telling me until it’s done. Sometime this is a few days, sometimes it can be years. I don’t write anything down and will obsess on minutia like the grammar, phrasing, adjectives etc. until it all feels right from every angle. Not until I record is the song finally baked in. Love your album.

[@TD-ir4wb]

I have the "curse" you jokingly described. 😂 Decades of bits & scraps. Lyrics that won't do yet, chord ideas & licks that might go somewhere someday, strewn about caught w/ tech or non tech, ha. Notebooks, cassette tapes😮 sticky pads, thumb drive files to present day smart phone apps. All of it taunting me. Undone. 30 years have passed since the guitar became my sparring partner & best friend. A self- taught nitemare- me! Inspiration-you are that Eric! I turn 60 this year & have challenged myself- finish 6! 6 songs for 60 years!! Your ideas are so helpful. You make me feel I can do it. If I can just give the people that I love & have tortured with my wee hours musings something finished to listen to. At last! 😊 Thats all I hope to achieve. Thank you for this song writing series & motivation!

[@rextopher]

Dude. This was great. So real, so human. Nailed it

[@jaronjammer7516]

The song writing videos are my fav series you've got going right now. Thanks for the tips.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

It's a subject that is near to my heart! Next up: "..You're not a bad singer, You just haven't found your voice!"

[@brushstroke3733]

Great tips! Creating frees the soul!

[@ericagner6420]

I have both of those books, they're both great. Of course my favorite part of this video was the little chordal licks you played. But thanks for putting songwriting videos out, it's helpful.

[@ashthegreat1]

Prosody - i like it! I always learn something from your videos. You’re an articulate human being.

[@ithicus]

“Just puke it out, write right through it”. Fantastic advice for writing. 5:20.

[@Dannybars420]

I enjoy these songwriting vids and I have shared your music theory vids with others who didn’t have that knowledge.

[@hampusheh]

Getting into the habit of writing without demands is very important. Just creating a little hook, a little refrain, anything really. But I'm also a believer in actually finishing a started song in quite a short time span. It doesn't have to be perfect, and the words can be complete nonsense, just place fillers, but writing it all in one go has been a key for me to actually write and finish songs.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! I do the place-filler thing too! And then I go back and see if any of those stream-of-consciousness phrases happen to point to the thing that the song is about.

[@brushstroke3733]

Great comment and reply! Very good tips!

[@MikeWh]

Many years ago at university someone asked 'what should I write about of I can't think of anything to write about?" That's when you stop. If it's in you it will come out, if it's not in there in the first place, well.... so think about what you want to say.... we all have that...

[@Vladtheimpaler5211]

Dude you are so smart. Appreciate you and your clear on point advice.

[@OM10PYE]

Eric, you make me feel like I'm watching Mr. Rogers for guitar. Great video. Thanks for holding my hand through my expression journey.

[@lauriecox5564]

As always Eric your words were perfectly timed for what I’m wanting to do, cheers

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yay! Life is short and we owe it to ourselves to do cool shit if we have the slightest inspiration to!

[@dominykasraila]

Thank you

[@caleb9352]

this is really helpful, thank you

[@gaulpict]

I agree EH, the Tweedy one is a lovely little book. The way he builds up the walls to the song Gwendolyn to surround the book (she's the person who gets the hug from the group in art therapy, isnt she?) is beautiful.

[@CC-qb9sm]

Ace lesson. Thanks!

[@flamingjellybeans]

Wow, these videos are absolutely phenomenal. Thank you for being so honest about your process!

[@frankzelazko]

That's always been my biggest challenge to write catchy lyrics to the melody I had in my head. Cheers for the hints. Im gonna try them

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I feel ya! It's tricky because music can mean ANYTHING, but once you attach words to it, it becomes so much more concrete.

[@davidwarren5785]

Exactly what I needed to hear today, thanks!

[@FitzyStrings]

You're the man, Hogger!

[@paulcadwallader3000]

Thanks Eric. I really enjoy your thoughts on guitar.

[@van_alan_folk]

Thank you for producing these videos. These help keep the songwriting process in perspective.

[@MisiekgamerYT]

There is one exercice that my normative grammar professor taught me, which can destroy or at least let us face the cliché lyrics or texts in general. Take one phrase, a line, a whole page of any poet, a lyricist or a novelist, for example Lou Reed, Mark Twain, Percy Shelly, E.A.Poe...whoever you like. Try to imitate his style in the simplest way possible. Write for example about your cat, what you ate, whatever. Even one phrase. It will most likely be a cliché-like phrase (at least at the beginning). HOWEVER, this way you can get to what you appreciate the most about your favourite writers and imply it into your writing. It may be the vocabulary, the phrase structure, the way she or he concludes the text and so on. By analysing the style of the greats you will develop your own. Just find small elements that suit you best. Cheers Mister Haugen!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Oooh I like that! Robert Pollard, Gillian Welch, John Prine, Tom Petty, - those are some of my faves. I gotta do that exercise!

[@NonsensicalReality]

I like the idea of keeping a google drive folder. I have a folder on my phone of loads of notes about ideas for songs and lyrics etc but now you mention it, google drive is good because I can access it easily on my phone and desktop. Just setup a folder for that now and getting some ideas down for a song I started on a few months back.

[@davidadkins2563]

I just enjoy listening to you.. now going to eat Pizza..then grab my guitar. Thanks again have a great weekend

[@ELMENDORFX]

Thank You. Peas, Love and Las Vegas

[@Immortal_swine]

Hell yeah brother. I love this advice. This is inspires me to sit down every day and just write for 10 minutes. Those are some great references on exercises. Thanks buddy. Keep it up

[@coastercook]

Thanks, Eric. More of these song writing lessons

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

It's a subject that is near to my heart! Next up: "..You're not a bad singer, You just haven't found your voice!"

[@kitwarren2493]

Massively insecure when it comes to lyric writing - super appreciate you making this. Just got the 'How To Write One Song' and I'm going to give writing a bit every day a shot. Thank you!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Me too! it's so scary because musical ideas can mean anything, but the instant we attach a word to it a whole world of images and feelings enter.

[@WilsonRidge]

I've really enjoyed this series.

[@macsarcule]

Thanks Eric! This is so helpful to have some structure! Yes! Writing songs for years, that’s a thing and I’m feelin’ that. It’s cool to have you share your process, because this is a thing I do, but I don’t have a model for it. Thank you! ✌️🎸😌

[@thewrenchturner1]

I needed this one, thanks! Keep up the great work.

[@keep_it_light]

this is so authentic🌞

[@HoldenLeDinh]

Your lessons rock Eric!!

[@buckcornell]

Another killer instructional, Eric, thank you! Funny thing I noted: I have two books on writing lyrics...the two books you mentioned! So I feel like I'm in good hands. I've read all of Tweedy's How To Write One Song and really appreciate the exercises and constructs he outlines there. And full disclosure: I get derailed in following Pattison's Writing Better Lyrics by the initial core idea (that you espouse here, as well) of writing every day (my own issue, for sure), which is the first thing one needs to check off before continuing further in the book. Doing a short stint of creative writing EVERY DAY is one of my main goals for self-improvement. I enjoy prose and attempting to craft an elegant turn of phrase, but it's usually used in service of persuasive writing, subjective writing, or technical writing. Creative writing is a different (obviously related) muscle that I have trouble engaging. I appreciate the reminders to do a small bit every day. It applies to so much (physical exercise, meditation, journaling, to state several obvious examples). Cheers, sir.

[@gwlee7]

In my collaborative music project, I am blessed to have two very prolific and creative lyricists who can help finish anything I start. As the main “music” person, I actually have trouble keeping up with musical ideas without **inside joke to EH** sounding like Dickie Betts. It’s actually a good problem to have since we always have plenty of “words”.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Ooooh that's the dream right there!

[@sadeairbender1129]

Writing Better Lyrics is probably one of my favorite books! Another great book though it’s not a songwriting book is The Discovery of Poetry.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Oooh I'll have to check that out!

[@elijahconstantinescu1995]

This was a really awesome video, thank you for making these!

[@jeanallard7764]

Thank you Eric even if I will never write a song, way too old, it's great advise.

[@fdg6832]

Damn right it helps! So much out there to help us get the tone, the technique (yourself included, I'm loving your Truefire course...) but let's not forget that we have SOMETHING TO SAY! Thanks Eric

[@paulmundy8312]

Thankyou🙏🏻

[@tonyfdesign]

I find (for me anyway) a good "ending" or reason to finish a song is to record myself playing it. Nothing fancy, but a video start to finish.

[@FerrisFlyer]

Quality content

[@bennythebear0711]

i get all the lyrics down in very rough form first so i can see the structure and what the songs about. so ill start with a line like "then the day turns to night" then when im going back over ill try to keep upgrading every line to somthing better like"daylight loses to another evening"

[@mothman663]

I love these videos, they’re the first ones that have really helped. Happy Friday :)

[@Matt_Commodore]

Appreciate you! This is exactly the advice I was looking for WRITE now! Lol

[@mukeshpathak7302]

You're awesome

[@Jeronimo365]

Love the chilled no nonsense vibe of your vids. Yep, I can write a new tune every time I pick up the guitar but lyrics are like pulling my own teeth out with rusty pliers, so of course I avoid it. 😩 The daily thing, little and often and a low bar has to be way forward. No one said it was easy. 🤷🏻‍♂️😉😎

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

It's hard to get past that initial "..I have nothing to say.." phase. Like all things art, it's never easy! We just push right past that judgemental part though!

[@apriltoronto5254]

Hi Eric! No,mxmsn!!! Watched yur vid till 5:20... No, not what you teaching is, it's more a bit about what you're able to show/ demonstrate... the destillation of great artists and putting in your skills and efforts And-y our ;-) style for - what ? - like two to three decades??? ...... I love the guitar a teenie weenie little bittle... so, when I touch the thingy, you made but a difference on how I play, think about the neck, make it sound, and I even found some exercises to get better at guitar.... In other words; if I was to be famous one day (which I wouldn't want to be) and someone asked me what my influences were, I sure would recommend Eric... Danky you

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Thanks ol buddy :-)

[@michaelgaurnier3108]

I downloaded your album on Pandora. Great album! Super good sound quality. My favorite songs were Alright Alright, the Dimplomat, and Breathe Shadows. Very Voxy sounding beautiful guitar tone as well as all the other instruments. Definitely sounds like Tom Petty is an influence. That’s a great thing. The influences come through strong in all the greatest artists. Keep it up!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Thanks Michael! Yeah, Tom Petty is forever in my creative DNA - I didn't realize how much his style influenced me!

[@michaelgaurnier3108]

You certainly have totally you’re own style. Also very professional vocals. I love that the classic rock style has come back strong this decade like Black Keys and so many others.

[@Headlands_CalvaryChapel]

Your described day sounds nice. I think my three small children add a type of chaos that gives depth and range to my song writing….or maybe it’s why I can’t finish a single one haha. Thanks for great content.

[@jrmakawoody]

Thanks for sharing. I also recommend the book “Music, Lyrics, and Life” by Mike Errico. He very much encourages daily journaling and creative writing exercises similar to what you mentioned.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Oooh I'll have to check that one out!

[@AlexanderAnderson542]

Lol to the cliche thing, I never get mad at myself about them anymore, I just try to build around that familiarity of the cliche and try to make it as less tacky as possible. I think that’s how we know there will be some resonance with other people if the cliche was present to begin with, than kinda hidden if you will. Anyways great content as always!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! Me too - I'm always playing with the cliches!

[@fransenmusic]

Really enjoy the Bundle Up album!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Thanks so much! As you can imagine, I'm slowly and tenaciously working on the songs for the follow-up :-)

[@fransenmusic]

I've found your channel very inspiring. No one needs to hear another solo of cliche licks blazing by. I especially love when you talk about GH playing with purpose , every note thought out and intentional. I love to jam and flow but its wise to stop and think. Create melodies then if you throw a quick lick it will be all that more impactful. Thanks for what you are doing here!

[@blackfeather7686]

This is a really great series on songwriting Eric. I can come up with Riffs and guitars parts fairly easily but lyrics I find so difficult. Like you said you need to write a little everyday.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! And don’t censor yourself! Write a lot!

[@C.S.Argudo]

Having had a turbulent life when i was younger god i wish i still had all those writings and old phones with gbs of writing. Never thought of approaching it like reminiscing

[@misterknightowlandco]

I’m a music first guy. I’ll write down clever little one liners I have once in awhile, but usually I write music and “stream of consciousness” the lyrics while listening to the music. It’s terribly inefficient and I forget half of my clever bits I come up with so thanks for the video. I probably should be more formal and actually write stuff down and have a process.

[@ahsjsjsdhrhjrjrii911]

This is an old comment but I'll reply anyway. You should audio record your sessions so you don't forget the clever bits

[@clarkesinspace]

It’s Friday… but No pizza for me Necessarily… carb free Gentle reminders to serve our craft Anything but gratitude Would be daft Cheers!

[@chrishappe5410]

Really like how u stress doing the bare minimum everyday to be creative daily instead of putting on an unrealistic expectation, would love if u would post just a rehash of this lesson every once in a while as a reminder

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Oh I’ll keep going in this thread! Next up “Writing for Your Voice”

[@lowspotsound721]

Great series of videos and I make primarily electronic

[@lorenzofernandez7488]

Great video. Also you give me such a good vibe, hope you have a nice life

[@StupidEarthlings]

Cool.

[@bogotta]

1:39 I think it was nouns on one side and verbs the other. From different subjects.

[@Julianjazzaaaaa]

Eric I love you

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

🧡🤙🤙

[@desmondmoller1670]

You’ve got great tone!

[@martintursic238]

Thanks for this video man, I'm struggling to finish anything these days, and your video is helpful and inspiring.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I never would finish anything unless I book studio time! I remember an interview with Randy Newman where he said the same thing! Don't feel bad - the writer inside us all is VERY LAZY.

[@y4nic519]

watching a jimi documentary right now, but you are next!

[@74kevin1]

Little late to the party here, but if you want to write, don't forget to read good stuff. You need to steep your mind in the language. Real books aren't going to kill 'ya. In fact, there's no better place to grab a great phrase or idea.

[@ELMENDORFX]

Yeah thanks. Im back at it Day 2. Ive read Pat Pattinson’s “Writing Better Lyrics” …. Up until the first chapter… (I barely read past 1st chapter)..100+ days, 10 minutes per day later… (during first coffee in the morning). I stopped somewhere around Covid year 2020. I had done it almost exactly 100 times in the morning, up until my girlfriend was home from work -because they closed Disneyland (she worked for disney). Watching this video four days ago im back at writing 10 minutes in the morning. Ive downloaded a new writing app: Bear (i can use it interchangeable/sync with my apple devices: iPad, iPhone, iMac ). I am again using a timer app for those ten minutes(MetroTimer). A little excited, I even got up earlier this morning to write 10 minutes of “Object Writing.” (This morning’s object: my Celestron telescope, yesterday my surfboard). Hopefully, tonight and/or every day ill do as yourself … write another 20+ minutes. Thanks, Dude.

[@jixxxxer17]

Thumbs Up and Subscribed , gerat stuff as usual , Peace !

[@BrunoOrtizMachado]

Hey I'm a firefly guy too! I can't finish a song in one sitting even if my life depends on it. The idea (lyric, section, whatever) needs to sit with me for a few days before I develop the next part of the song. It's the only way I can tell if something is actually good or if it's something forgettable.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! That's a very subjective thing - does this lyric FEEL like something?

[@dwaboutit3550]

It’s so interesting because I’m the opposite. I have the writing part down pat, but the music part alludes me. Like I’ll here full on songs in my dreams or when I’m falling asleep or as I’m waking up but I don’t yet have the skills to take that from my brain and write it down. I’ve started ear training so hopefully that’ll help. But it definitely gets frustrating knowing it’s there but not out.

[@bruzrkgro-malog2953]

I find when I hit on the right riff or progression the first few lyrics or vocal hook just kinda pops out. Then I'll write the rest of the lyrics loosely tied those first few lines.

[@JasonClute]

I wonder what the percentage of songwriters are music first vs lyrics? I'm for sure music first and maybe music only. Saying that, I've never completed a song. I guess I thought one day I would meet a great lyricist and singer, then I'd be set 🙂 At one point I thought I would be an instrumental songwriter for creepy TV, movies, docs. I would love to write instrumental parts for true crime! That being said, I just love lyrics. Sure I focus on music first. I have a hard time understanding lyrics, so I listen more to the melody and the vocal performance. Then I look up the lyrics and I'm blown away by whats being said. I thought I just would give up on lyrics, but you changed my mind! Gonna have to get that Tweedy book cause he and Wilco are at the top for me. Its not anything I can take on right now, but sometime in the future I will attempt it again, but this time armed with some methods!

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I'm the same way! I can never understand lyrics! It's actually a thing called "auditory processing disorder." I can't follow verbal directions for shit!

[@JasonClute]

@@EricHaugenGuitar So there's a scientific explanation of why I don't listen to my wife when she asks me to do something?!🤣😂

[@chaoinspace2]

I'm a "music first" kinda poerson too, and the main issue I have with writing lyrics is there doesn't seem to be much theory or rules to writing good lyrics, it's just whatever you think sounds good. So I think I'll try what you said and see if it works for me.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah! There is definitely not one formula for "good." What works for some kinds of music doesn't work for others - it's all very subjective!

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

I listened to the Jeff Tweedy book on audible. Awesome book. I still can’t write lyrics very well but that’s not the books fault

[@TomClancyBingBong]

I am going to try this daily writing practice... I have a question though if you have time. I find that I will sometimes feel inspired on a walk or something and a lyric will come to me, often just a few lines or a chorus/verse worth of words. Then I hurry home and try to write the song that goes with it.... only to find that the additional lyrics kinda... ruin the whole thing in my head/heart. Have you had this experience? What've you don with it?

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I just keep writing and writing and writing! Because I'm such a guitar guy first, I really think of it like making up a guitar solo - I try licks and licks and licks until I have enough phrases that flow together to make a section.

[@KoontzBand]

Pat Pattison is great! Also, "popular lyric writing" by Andrea Stoeple

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Yeah I love her stuff!

[@KoontzBand]

@@EricHaugenGuitar I've been listening to Bundle Up, fantastic album man!

[@thesaltybeard1793]

Bob ross of teaching music ngl

[@Trickedwizard]

He’s the bob ross of music writing

[@stevedunn2621]

Eric have a question about your Tele with the Bigsby. Is it an anniversary edition? Curious because I have an anniversary tele with the bigsby and I haven't ever seen another one. Can't recall which anniversary mine is (maybe 50?)

[@petergoddard1960]

Fender Vintera 60's Telecaster has a Bigsby, man. Available now in a store near you. Not what Eric has though.

[@jukejointjack]

Eric, How do you know when you are writing a bridge or a verse ?

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I kinda think of bridges as mini-verses - they follow the same "rules." As in, they don't have to anthemic and catchy. That being said, I can think of some bridges that are. THERE ARE NO RULES!

[@FrankLafone]

I'm dying to know.... what Fender strat is that? I just adore that burst! It's stunning.

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

I should've mentioned - I always list the gadgets in the description box below the vid. It's a 2018 MIM Classic 50s Lacquer Strat and I lurrrrrve it.

[@chrisharrison6797]

Do u have a similar technique to writing down / recording guitar riffs/ ideas/ chord progressions etc?

[@EricHaugenGuitar]

Iphone videos! I save anything - any cool little idea that happens. Later on, I can change the key or groove to match with any of my other existing parts.

[@chrisharrison6797]

@@EricHaugenGuitar yeah that’s were I’m at, iPhone videos and the voice recorder.