For those who want to listen to their own songs the way songwriting group members critique one another in song circles, I have taken the best of what I have seen and pasted the checklist items below.
The songwriting checklist would be from the perspective of the "listener" but I think it helps to get in the habit of removing yourself from your song and listening to it as a stranger, and being brutally honest with yourself before you say you are done.
I would love for others to pipe in with suggestions, and then I could create a link to this thread in my song responses on the forum. The questions are pretty much the same every time. If you go through the list, and think you are good, you are probably good.
All we need to say after that is great job!!
Mixing and Songwriting Checklist
Be Honest With Yourself Before Someone Else Beats You To it!
A. Mixing Checklist(Just the Bare Bones Basics)
1. ) Are my vocals (if I have vocals) up front? Have I used an EQ tool suitable for vocals or had someone show me how to make vocal presets?
2. ) Did I remember to ride the fader, so that my vocals go up and down with the loudness of the track?
3.) Did I EQ my bass so it is not sounding too muddy in the mix?
4.) Does my acoustic guitar have enough midrange? Are my main instruments well recorded and shining through in the mix? Is the stereo signal balanced, or did I pan too much to one side? Is the panning of the instruments interesting? Did I use automation so stuff goes up and down?
5.) Did I double or triple my drum track? Can I hear the kick thump on one, and the cymbals on another? Did I EQ these channels to bring out these characteristics?
6.) Was I careful with effects so that that I am not over-compressed and making a metallic sounding mix?
7.) Are my vocals too dry? Too wet?
8.) Did I listen to how everything sounded with just the drums, bass and vocals, before I started layering in other instruments?
9.) Is there anything I can cut? Do I have too many tracks?
10.) Is there anything I should re-do, or did I just decide to “live with it”? The “live with it” decisions will kill me, I know—and I will hate myself later.
B. Songwriting Checklist
1.) Do you think this song is pleasing as an original composition or singer/songwriter piece? Yes No
2.) If you liked it, what did you like about it?
___________________________________________________________
3.) If you did not like it, what did you not like about it, or what bugged you as a listener?
(Everybody likes different genres so this is a very subjective question, as it should be, but you need to hear the "marketplace" speak. Listen to your own song as if you were a buyer. Be cold. Stand back and pretend you did not write it--you are just a potential buyer.)
Examples:
Seems like it needs more work
Doesn't seem original enough
Your reason for not liking it here:
__________________________________________________
Hard Evaluation
(Extra Questions in addition to the ones above)
1.) Would you buy this song and listen to it? Yes No
2.) If so, what makes you like it enough to want to buy it?
_____________________________________________________
3.) If not, why wouldn't you want to buy it?
_____________________________________________________
4.) Can you see a major artist recording this song? Yes No
(This does not have to be your goal, but it is a good question to ask yourself to keep yourself honest. If you wrote it just for yourself and your own voice though that is cool. But the general rule with a song is that it should be something someone else would like to sing or hum--or will get stuck in their heads and not go away.)
5.) If you don't think anybody else would be interested in your song, or playing it, or buying it, or just singing it in the shower, what needs to be improved in order to get this song to a more professional level? Circle all that apply.
A.) Better music (For example, more original, less monotonous, less copycat, more current).
B.) Better lyrics. (For example, more original, better story, better use of imagery and sound.)
C.) A more memorable melody
D.) More energy and momentum
E.) More differentiation between verse and chorus
F.) Better production
G.) More originality overall--with everything
H.) A better hook
I.) Better use of multiple hooks
J.) More Passion
Other:_________________________________________________
6. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, how would you rate this song as a professional, polished song that other artists might want to cover?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7. Next to last: give any specific thoughts you have for improving the following:
A.Title:______________________________________________________
B.Verse:_______________________________________________________
C:Chorus:______________________________________________________
D:Bridge:______________________________________________________
E:Melody:______________________________________________________
Now, here is the most important question and final one:
8.) Are YOU happy now?
If you have answered and addressed everything above and you are 90% to 100% happy (depending on your personality type) you are done. Move on to your next tune.
Songwriting Checklist 
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