<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TMFBBP" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"> Sonicbids Blog - Music Career Advice and Gigs | Songwriting
Expert Music Career Advice For DIY Musicians
4 Times You Shouldn't Take the Gig
The Number One Mistake Bands Make Right After Booking a Gig
The Ultimate EQ Cheat Sheet for Every Common Instrument
15 Reality Checks Young Artists Need to Hear

Songwriting, Honing Your Craft

Apr 8, 2019 06:00 AM

Caleb J. Murphy

4 Ways to Murder Your Song

Image via Shutterstock

You’re probably a murderer. I know I am.

A murderer of songs, that is. We’ve all done it, even the great songwriters.

These were songs that could have been great. They had potential. But, alas, they passed away before their time. It’s a sad reality, but it is a reality. Songwriters (including me) often kill a song that has a good chance of being great. They kill it by making some pretty common songwriting mistakes.

So, if you want to write a bad song that doesn’t engage the listener or evoke a strong emotion, do these four things.

Read More

Songwriting, Honing Your Craft

Mar 27, 2019 06:00 AM

Caleb J. Murphy

7 Songwriting Errors That Could Ruin Your Song

Image via Shutterstock

Songwriting is hard. It’s not easy for anyone, not even Paul McCartney.

“I don’t know how to do this,” McCartney told NPR. “You would think I do, but it’s not one of these things you ever know how to do.”

So it’s okay if you make a couple songwriting errors, as long as you’re able to recognize them and adjust. To help with that, here are seven common mistakes songwriters make that you should avoid.

Read More

Songwriting, Performing, Honing Your Craft

Feb 13, 2019 06:00 AM

Caleb J. Murphy

Make Terrible Music (It's Good for You)

Image via Shutterstock

Yes, I’m saying we musicians should make crappy music. Let me explain. Obviously, we shouldn’t purposefully make bad music. I’m just saying it’s inevitable. If you want to get to a place where you’re making great music, you’ll find that you first must go through a season of making low-quality music.

But you should make the music anyway. Here’s why.

Read More

Songwriting, Honing Your Craft

Oct 31, 2018 06:00 AM

Dan Reifsnyder

The 5 Best Songwriting Competitions (And 3 Key Tips for Success)

Image via Shutterstock

Songwriting competitions are an excellent way to raise your profile, get a little cash, and boost your confidence all in one shot. The sheer amount of songwriting competitions out there, however, can be overwhelming. Which ones are reputable? Which ones aren't? Not to mention that the crème de la crème, so to speak, can be potentially intimidating to apply to.

In this post, we'll walk you through the process and give you some pointers – as well as highlighting five of the more important competitions.

Read More

Songwriting, Honing Your Craft

Jul 2, 2018 06:00 AM

Dan Reifsnyder

4 Ways Songwriters Can Get Their Songs to Artists

Image via pixabay.com

Many songwriters who are just starting out struggle with having a drawer full of songs they feel are ready, but they don't have the resources to get them to an artist. I'll admit this can be a daunting task. To help guide songwriters through that sometimes stressful process of connecting with artists who might want to record their songs, we've compiled these four helpful tips. Have one of your own? Let us know in the comments!

Read More