From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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Introduction to lyric writing

Introduction to lyric writing

From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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Introduction to lyric writing

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So this first group of rules is all about lyric writing and when I think about lyric writing, there are a couple of things in general, that I like to keep in mind and the first of these is what I like to refer to as the Hippocratic Oath of lyric writing which essentially means "Do No Harm" and here's what I mean by that. Other than our friends and family, very few people pay close attention to the lyric the first few times they listen to a song. However, they will notice if something doesn't sound or feel good or natural. So the whole idea of a lyric first and foremost, is just to sound and feel natural. We'll talk more about that in greater depth when I get into the particular rules. Another thing to keep in mind always is to remember that in your lyric, you are telling a story in the most concise and memorable way possible. There are various songwriting practices that you can use that will help you be both concise and memorable.

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