What elements make a song great? Ask a million people and you’ll get a million different answers. I’ve always believed that great songwriting is a delicate balancing act; harmony, melody, rhythm, form, lyric, arrangement, production, and countless other variables must come together in just the right way. And when everything falls into place, it’s one of the greatest joys you could experience.
I’m writing this blog to assist songwriters in finding their muse and reaching their full potential. I’ll discuss song structure and forms, melody and part writing, harmonic theory, ear training, arrangement and production techniques, lyric writing, rhythmic devices, song analysis, commercial writing, and anything else that might be of assistance to writers.
I believe that music is the purest and most unfettered form of expression. Whether it’s the trying strains of a teen’s first love song or the edgy anger of a protest song, music breaks down barriers and gets the message across. Songwriting is a true craft, the goal being to instill an emotional response in the listener. The road to that point requires being a perfectionist, being self-critical and making a strong commitment to learning the craft. With the right mindset, your songs have the potential to change the world. I’m here to help you do that.
-Max Isaacs
