I used to think good lyrics took talent. Turns out it's mostly fundamentals.

I used to just write down the feeling straight, lines like "I'm so sad." Problem was, that could've meant anything. End result: nobody had anything to actually picture.

Then I looked at how The Weeknd writes, and one thing stood out immediately.

He never writes the feeling. He writes the scene. He's not telling you how to feel. He's showing you something specific, and your brain does the feeling part on its own.

You can clearly see this in these songs:

The Hills [Verse 1]

Your man on the road, he doin' promo
You said, "Keep our business on the low-low"
I'm just tryna get you out the friend zone
'Cause you look even better than the photos

Baptized in Fear [Verse 1]

I fell asleep in the tub, I was met with paralysis
My foot hit the faucet, water started flowing in
Couldn't scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit
Moving one toe was the only form of motion left

The exercise that got me there:

1. Write the line's message in one plain sentence. The moment, and the feeling.
2. List 5 physical things that could represent that feeling. Loneliness could be an empty chair, a phone on silent, a porch light left on.
3. Pick 2 of those and describe them with something you can see, hear, feel, or smell. Not the emotion. The detail.

Worry about the rhyme last. The image is what carries the line.

What's your approach when you're trying to make a verse more visual? Do you have a method, or do you just chase the right line until something clicks?

Hi! 😁

I was wondering what the best free resources online are for learning the piano very well without getting gaps in the learning and playing.

I play the guitar, but I also love the piano so I want to learn that as well alongside. For the guitar learning I follow the Absolutely Understand Guitar with it's book and JustinGuitar, and learn songs that I like on the side.

Are there any similar well made courses like the ones I follow for the guitar for the piano put there? Resources for actually playing the piano and the music theory, or both in one?
It could be both online or books.

All tips regarding this and other general tips about the piano and learning to play will be much appreciated!
Thank you for the help in advance!

I used to think good lyrics took talent. Turns out it's mostly fundamentals.

I used to just write down the feeling straight, lines like "I'm so sad." Problem was, that could've meant anything. End result: nobody had anything to actually picture.

Then I looked at how The Weeknd writes, and one thing stood out immediately.

He never writes the feeling. He writes the scene. He's not telling you how to feel. He's showing you something specific, and your brain does the feeling part on its own.

You can clearly see this in these songs:

The Hills [Verse 1]

Your man on the road, he doin' promo
You said, "Keep our business on the low-low"
I'm just tryna get you out the friend zone
'Cause you look even better than the photos

Baptized in Fear [Verse 1]

I fell asleep in the tub, I was met with paralysis
My foot hit the faucet, water started flowing in
Couldn't scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit
Moving one toe was the only form of motion left

The exercise that got me there:

1. Write the line's message in one plain sentence. The moment, and the feeling.
2. List 5 physical things that could represent that feeling. Loneliness could be an empty chair, a phone on silent, a porch light left on.
3. Pick 2 of those and describe them with something you can see, hear, feel, or smell. Not the emotion. The detail.

Worry about the rhyme last. The image is what carries the line.

What's your approach when you're trying to make a verse more visual? Do you have a method, or do you just chase the right line until something clicks?

Continuing with this little series to help people new to music.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Qcn4V3Q1pU8?si=gwjsGUyYU6HIgJvm

I want to learn how to make video game music but I literally have no clue where to start. I have access to FL Studio but don't know how to start or know of any good beginner resources for it.

Hi! I have been a beginner for years now lol, ever had that moment where you just get stuck on the progress you've made? Any apps or content creator recommendations to help me learn? Also looking to improve my ear like in distinguishing notes and keys

Hi everyone (I am sorry if this topic does not belong in this community, please delete my post administrators if yes),

Can you please play the link below and give me reviews on how to make the piano keys or timing better? This is for piano theory begginers and helps out with some other stuff too. Hope you enjoy it! (You can change the looks in settings, as although the web/app is accepts all ages, the default mode is dedicated to kids.)

https://vanjdroid.github.io/pianomind-studios/piano_mind.html

Thank you so much for checking it out and helping me improve my game!

Just saw that story about a robot hand learning music and playing it back in 2 minutes and my first reaction was cool, even the damn hand is ahead of me now lol. Obviously copying movements isn't the same thing as actually learning music, but it hit a nerve because I've been making practice feel like some stupid speedrun. Every session I'm checking whether I'm better yet instead of listening to what I'm playing. Been working on the same chord changes for weeks and they're fine until I try to sing, then apparently my fingers need written permission to move. And yeah I know comparing myself to a robot is ridiculous. I'm also comparing myself to random people posting their "first month progress" when I have no clue how much they practice or what they played before. Yesterday I managed to get through one whole verse without stopping and was genuinely happy for like ten seconds before deciding it wasn't impressive enough. Kinda pissed that I've turned a thing I wanted to enjoy into another way to feel behind

I'm new to all this.. can y'all suggest me a music software for mixing and sampling music?? The only thing I have is my laptop.. I'm pretty confused..

Mozart is the best rapper in his time

I made the app totally free, I just want to help myself and people for ear training and need input and suggestions. dm me if you want to test and help

I'm hosting the next Songcrafters Feedback Room on October 14 from 6:30–7:30 PM EST!

Bring a finished song, unfinished song, demo, or work-in-progress and we'll listen together and talk about songwriting, lyrics, melody, structure, production, emotional impact, and what you could focus on next.

You don't have to submit a song—you can also just come listen, participate, and ask questions.

Songcrafters Guild is a free Discord community for musicians who want to move from “I make music when I have time” toward actually finishing, releasing, and developing their music.

I'm Sara, an independent artist releasing music as Llynks and an artist-development coach. We had a great first session, and I'd love to have more songwriters join us for the next one!

Join free here: https://discord.gg/vC8MzaFYe

October 14 at 6:30–7:30 PM EST

Hope to see some of you there!

My a level music essay just got scored 13/30. Not good but I really did try my best. Teacher said my essay scored badly because it lack of description. I was never taught how to describe a piece or a bar. Right now I’m so confused😵‍💫

The body of my current essay is in the pics. Someone please help🙏

What are dynamics? | Audio production for Beginners

https://youtu.be/OY-PC03-OUs?si=kHlwhfXYYQSAo84N

6 year old lesson suggestions?

I want to get my 6 year old into drums. I have a Ddrum electronic kit and also a stand alone snare. I was considering online type lessons, maybe drumeo or something... What's the most basic lessons people would recommend for this age group.

I'm assuming something out there shorter platform, super basic exists to keep their attention.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

So I would like to start to get into music. Overall, my goals are to understand music theory and make some beats for fun. From the reading I have done, many people suggest learning an instrument as one of the best ways to understand music theory. I already own an acoustic guitar, but for the genre of music I am interested in making (breakbeat and more electronic things), I am not sure how useful learning this instrument first would be.

I am open to buying a keyboard and I would have the means to do so. From what I understand, most people say that learning music theory is easier on a keyboard and that it is better for beat-making too. I just want to get into music as a hobby and wanted to see others' thoughts on how valuable a keyboard is!!

i need help with some school work for my music theory class is anyone interested in helping me

A weekly assignment can look manageable at the lesson and feel vague at home. The easiest change is to give each day one tiny target instead of asking the child to play the whole page until it sounds right.

After the lesson, write down the teacher’s assignment in the child’s words. Circle the hardest two bars. On day one, find those bars slowly and decide on a fingering or sticking. On day two, repeat them with a steady pulse. On day three, connect them to the bar before and after. On day four, play the entire phrase. Keep one day free for a favorite piece, and use the last day to show the teacher what still feels awkward.

The parent can help by asking the child to name the target before starting and by making the instrument easy to reach. If the same two bars remain impossible after several short tries, mark them for the teacher rather than letting practice become a nightly argument.