Tips and Techniques
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
What is alliteration, anaphora, and other “ear worm” secrets to lyric and melody writing?
Anaphora EXAMPLES (Because You Loved Me) (For You I Will) (How Do I Live) (Have You Ever) (If You’re Not The One) (How Can We Be Lovers) (How Can I Be Falling)
In writing or speech the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora.
Anaphora possibly the oldest literary device has its roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain words or phrases Gradually Elizabethan and Romantic writers brought this device into practice Examine the following psalm:
“O LORD rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure
Have mercy upon me O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD heal me; for my bones are vexed My soul is also sore vexed: but thou O LORD how long?”
The repetition of the phrase “O Lord” attempts to create a spiritual sentiment This is anaphora
CONTRAST To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures purposes etc of:
-“Because You Loved Me” “Strength when I was weak”
-“All Of Me” “drawing me in and kicking me out” / “end and my beginning” -Use of “me” and “you” – “All Of Me” / “Never Get Over You”
Repetition the golden rule of songwriting
-Repeat as much as you can especially lyrical never miss a chance to use -Have them suggest a song and deconstruct it
-Use it in every way
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences and together with alliteration and consonance serves as one of the building blocks of verse Assonance does not have to be a rhyme; the identity of which depends merely on sequence of both vowel and consonant sounds
Assonance occurs more often in verse than in prose It is used in (mainly modern) English-language poetry and is particularly important in Old French Spanish and the Celtic languages
Examples:
“That solitude which suits abstruser musings” “on a proud round cloud in white high night” “With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony”
Consonance is typically used to refer to the repetition of ending sounds that are consonants but it can refer to repetition of consonant sounds within the word as well Often consonance is used to create a rhyme or cadence
Consonance differs from alliteration and assonance Alliteration remember is the repetition of a sound at the beginning of a word Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound
Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound and is typically used to refer to the repetition of sounds at the end of the word but also refers to repeated sounds in the middle of a word
Example:
Pitter Patter Pitter Patter-repetition of the “t” and “r” sounds
The lint was sent with the tent-repetition of the “nt” sound I think I like the pink kite-repetition of the “k” sound
Alliteration (GIVE EXAMPLES) (You’re My Miracle) (Blue Eyes Blue) (Live For Loving You) is a term that describes a literary stylistic device Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close together) have the same first consonant sound
Examples: “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore” or “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” are both alliterative phrases In the former all the words start with the “s” sound while in the later the letter “p” takes precedence Aside from tongue twisters alliteration is also used in poems song lyrics and even store or brand names
RHYMING
“There are no rules” Darren Keddy
Perfect rhyme also called full rhyme, exact rhyme, or true rhyme — is a form of rhyme
between two words or phrases, satisfying the following conditions:
The stressed vowel sound in both words must be identical, as well as any subsequent sounds.
For example, “sky” and “high”; “skylight” and “highlight”.
The articulation that precedes the vowel in the words must differ.
For example, “bean” and “green” is a perfect rhyme, while “leave” and “believe” is not.
Also – Rhyme of two words spelled or pronounced identically but differing in meaning, as rain, reign; rich rhyme.
Imperfect Rhyme – A rhyme in which either the vowels or the consonants of stressed syllables are identical, as in eyes, light; years, yours.
SONG STRUCTURE
Most Common
Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Bridge Chorus
Verse Pre Chorus Verse Pre Chorus Bridge Chorus
-Shortening the second verse (cut in half) “Miracle” -Always Keeping flow
-Give people time to breathe (break) “Sorry 4 My Love”
REINFORCING THE SECOND VERSE
-Brain goes in withdrawal, wants to get back to the chorus -Use Anaphora like Diane “For You I Will” / “Have You Ever” -Sometimes shorten it “Miracle”
-Tell them something they haven’t heard
CONTRAST To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc., of:
-“Because You Loved Me” “Strength when I was weak”
-“All Of Me” “drawing me in and kicking me out” / “end and my beginning” -Use of “me” and “you” – “All Of Me” / “Never Get Over You”
THE MONEY NOTE
-Verse/Chorus Transition -Chill verses
-BIG chorus
-Highest note at choral epicenter
-“Since You’ve Been Gone” -“Escape” Enrique
-“Piece Of Me” Ashley Simpson
CONCEPT
-Find an original one and STICK with it
-Everyone has said: I love you, I miss you, I need you, I want you -Always try to be clever
-“Grenade”
COLLABORATION
-Strength in numbers
-Walk away with something you’d never have on your own
-People pop randomly
-Track driven time
-A great way to “get on” by working with someone more successful -Laws on collaboration / In the room vs track and top liner
-Always good to have a songwriting split sheet (provide them with)
KEEPING IT REAL
-Keeping up with current music
-Creating music for TODAY
CREATING A BODY OF WORK
-Always keep writing, create a catalog -One hit, they ask for everything -Story of Matteo
-Single to Single to Album
-“Miracle” wrote years ago / “Sunshower” less than a year ago
THE KILLER LINE
-“My Life Would Suck Without You” – Kelley Clarkson
-“Jesus Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood
-“We Found Love” (In A Hopeless Place) –Rihanna
-Can’t copyright a title “Because You Loved Me” / “I Need You” Tim/Leann
COPYRIGHT LAW
-Protects you instantaneously
-Prove who wrote it first / Technology / Time Stamps -Still: loc.gov to be safe
The Bridge, a break or musical solo
-Why? -Importance of…
A Muted Crescendo – Drugs for your brain
-“I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston -“From This Moment On” Shania
-“My Heart Will Go On” Celine
-“I’m Your Angel” – R / Celine
Key Change
-Add more intensity
-See above “I’m Your Angel” R / Celine
BACKGOUND VOCALS
-Sometimes male / female texture nice
-Know difference between and lead and a background singer -Play background vocals for “LAY DOWN WITH ME” -American girl male/female texture
Gospel Choir for final chorus Why?
PRE HOOK
-Adds drama / powerful / uplifting -Would the song be the same without?
-“Man In The Mirror” -“Lay Down With Me” -I Believe I Can Fly” -“We Are The World” -“Don’t You Ever Wish” -“Drugs Or Jesus”
-Extension of the hook -lift energy
CHORUS #2
-“Irreplaceable” – “To the left to the left”
MALE / FEMALE
-Women listen to lyrics -Men listen to melody/music
MIKE G TECHNIQUES
-First line: Tell the entire song
-It all starts with a hook (or concept)
-I usually start with the hook
-Everyone has said “I love you,” I miss you,” “I need you”
-Always look for a second hook or adlib to reemphasize first hook -Second verse: Keep telling the story
-Bridge: Tell me something I don’t know, summarize, go somewhere new
