Peter,

I think this is a very interesting idea, of course, being a member and regional coordinator of a large and well known songwriter's association (Herb is part of our group).

Personally, I love songwriting sites (Gary Ewer has a great one) but I am not sure I have ever run across a great songwriting forum that had real substance to it. So I am intrigued. And also curious.

One thing I have noticed though: the majority of people I run across who say they want to become better songwriters become almost angry when you gently suggest that they may want to learn more than a G, C and D chord or read a book on lyric writing. I.e., when you tell them that songwriting is hard, and requires study, they actually get mad at you. But I know that without a basic and growing knowledge of theory--baby steps mind you--you simply will never be able to advance in your skills or take full advantage of a tool like BIAB.

My own best education in songwriting comes from my daily study of the style demos in BIAB--and finding amazingly cool chord progressions I never would have thought of. But that is after I already know what a I, I maj7, ii, iiim7, vi is...and so forth. I know why those chord progressions I find in BIAB demos are so cool because I already know the basics. So I know when someone has "broken a rule"--but done it in an ingenious way.

Then there is melody. That happens two ways. One way is you are born a genius like Paul McCartney and you can whistle hit melodies in your car as you go around the roundabout. The second way is you learn how to play an instrument and spend countless hours fiddling with notes until you find something that is catchy.

So, I am extremely interested in this idea, and would be your most avid reader.

But I do wonder, sometimes, if people realize how hard songwriting is and how much work and study it takes to become good.

That might not be the case here on the BIAB forum because there are so many talented and hardworking people here, but out there in the wider world you will find a lot of people who simply do not want to put forth the effort.

Just a few random thoughts. I would like to hear what other folks have to say about this. It could be wonderful if people took it seriously.

David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

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